Darkseid Might Be Coming to the DCU Sooner Than You Think

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After years of mixed reviews and a confusing storyline, Warner Bros. Discovery decided to reboot DC’s movie and TV universe with a new, more organized plan. They created DC Studios, led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, to oversee this fresh start. Gunn and Safran are building two separate paths: a main DC Universe and standalone stories called Elseworlds, like the upcoming The Batman Part II. While they’ve confirmed that projects like the Supergirl series with Milly Alcock and the Lanterns show starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre are part of the main DC Universe, some previously announced projects were left uncertain. One of these was a much-anticipated animated Mister Miracle series, based on the critically acclaimed 12-issue comic book by Tom King and Mitch Gerads.

Because of its unusual and mind-bending style, many fans first thought Tom King’s Mister Miracle was a separate story, existing outside the main DC Universe timeline – an ‘Elseworlds’ tale. However, James Gunn recently announced on social media that Mister Miracle is now officially part of the main DC Universe. This is a big deal because it means the powerful cosmic characters and mythology of the New Gods will be central to the new universe from the start. It also suggests that the villain Darkseid will appear much sooner than expected.

What’s the Story of Tom King’s Mister Miracle?

The Mister Miracle comic series by Tom King and Mitch Gerads is widely considered a brilliant reimagining of the classic Fourth World stories. It centers on Scott Free, a master escape artist and a New God who was given to the villain Darkseid as a baby in a failed attempt to bring peace between the planets New Genesis and Apokolips. While the original comics by Jack Kirby emphasized Scott’s daring escapes and impressive technology, King’s version delves into Scott’s inner life, starting with him trying to end his own life. This act represents his ultimate escape attempt, as he deals with the deep emotional scars from a childhood spent being tortured by Granny Goodness. The series is also notable for its distinctive nine-panel layout, which creates a feeling of confinement, mirroring Scott’s internal struggles as he tries to live a normal life on Earth with his wife, Big Barda.

The story builds to a renewed and terrible war between New Genesis and Apokolips, bringing Scott and Bardato back into the conflict. Darkseid’s threat is presented in a chilling way, emphasized by the repeated phrase “Darkseid is” shown on black screens – suggesting he’s an unavoidable force, not just a villain to fight. Eventually, the plot centers around the Anti-Life Equation, a concept that can steal free will, and this begins to distort Scott’s sense of what’s real. The upcoming animated series intends to capture this same complex and character-focused tone, establishing the DCU’s New Gods with a mature, dramatic foundation.

DC Studios Is Not Saving Darkseid for Later (And That’s Great!)

Introducing Darkseid early on in a project like Mister Miracle is a daring move, breaking away from typical superhero movie patterns. Fans generally expected DC Studios to build up to their biggest villain slowly, similar to how Thanos was handled in the Marvel movies – keeping him hidden until a major Justice League event. The previous DC cinematic universe struggled with this, teasing a villain but never fully developing them before the series ended. But by showcasing Darkseid through the complex world of the New Gods and the concept of the Anti-Life Equation, James Gunn is letting audiences grasp the scope of his threat intellectually before he even arrives on Earth. This way, Darkseid won’t just be another computer-generated villain for the heroes to fight at the end of a team-up movie.

Introducing Darkseid in a story that isn’t immediately about a full-scale invasion allows for a more detailed exploration of his disturbing motivations. In the history of Mister Miracle, Darkseid isn’t just a conqueror – he’s a being who thrives on despair, and witnessing his impact on his own son, Scott Free, is truly frightening. This approach means that when Earth’s heroes finally confront the ruler of Apokolips, the audience will already understand the extent of the pain he’s caused throughout the multiverse. Essentially, the DC Universe is using its most famous villain to establish the high stakes of its new story right from the start, rather than saving him for a climactic showdown.

Although we don’t know exactly when Mister Miracle will come out, filming has begun, and it’s currently expected to be released in 2027.

Is James Gunn making the right move by potentially introducing Darkseid in animation before a live-action appearance? Share your thoughts and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-15 19:43