Warner Bros. recently announced that there will be an eight-episode limited series based on The Suicide Squad character Peacemaker. Not only that, but there'll be not one but two TV show spin-offs of The Batman too, both of which will be made for HBO Max.
With all these big moves that Warner Bros. is making, there are other characters from the DC Extended Universe that deserve the same treatment. Between shows on Suicide Squad characters who were killed too early, specific villain-led series, and even another Commissioner Gordon-driven drama, there are characters with so much potential who are just sitting there.
10 The Joker
Jared Leto's depiction was polarizing, to say the least. His gangster rapper-like attitude and his obsession with bling and material things lacked any depth. However, Suicide Squad wasn't about the Joker, and it seemed as if the character was going to be further developed later in the DCEU. But that didn't happen and the character was unfairly abandoned, as Harley casually mentioned that she broke up with him in a throwaway line in Birds of Prey.
Though Leto should have gotten his own movie, his portrayal of the character can still be told in an HBO Max show. As Suicide Squad hinted at him running the criminal underworld in Gotham, the show could be a crime drama that follows Joker building his empire.
9 The Amazonians
The Amazonians have shown time and again just how much of a force to be reckoned with that they really are. Between the opening ceremony in Wonder Woman 1984 and when they attempted to keep Steppenwolf from getting his hands on the Mother Box, the Amazonians have lowkey had some of the most epic battle sequences in the DCEU.
An Amazonian movie has been hinted at, but the best format for the warriors would be TV. There are so many characters and the world of Themyscira is too big for a one-and-done movie. The series could borrow a lot of cues from Xena: The Warrior Princess, a show that is also about a warrior and led by a strong female protagonist.
8 Lex Luthor
One thing that the DCEU did wrong was getting fans excited by setting up all of these rivalries and introducing iconic characters, only for it to lead nowhere. Lex Luthor is another character that the DCEU abandoned, but what made it worse was that he was brought back at the end of Zack Snyder's Justice League in such an exciting way.
Luthor had just escaped from prison, sitting on a yacht like some sort of Bond villain, and making deals with Deathstroke. Though there's no word that the character isn't returning, it seems unlikely, as Superman is getting rebooted. An HBO Max series could pick up exactly where ZSJL left off and follow the billionaire villain getting up to his old tricks.
7 Shazam
Shazam would make a great lead for a DCEU HBO Max show. But not Billy Batson's Shazam. It should be about the Shazam who recruits Billy - the only surviving member of the Council of Wizards.
The series could go in several different directions, as it could span centuries, following Shazam using his powers to fight evil. But it could also see the wizard summoning all the different people to his lair who he thinks could take on the mantle and all the trials and tribulations that follow. And, as the character is wacky and unpredictable by nature, he'd make for an exciting character to follow for a limited series.
6 Deadshot
Will Smith is one of the best things about 2016's Suicide Squad, and he pretty much carried the film on his shoulders along with Margot Robbie's portrayal of Harley Quinn. The actor unfortunately didn't return for the much better sequel, but there are other ways the character can be used in the DCEU.
As Deadshot is a mercenary, an HBO Max show could focus on his profession and even depict his ongoing feud with Batman. The show could even see Harley pop in there, as their chemistry in Suicide Squad was electric, and it's something that fans wanted to see more of.
5 Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth wasn't always Bruce Wayne's sobbing babysitter. Not many people know, but Pennyworth is actually a former member of Her Majesty's Secret Service, so he actually has a lot of ingenuity and combat skills. That has never been depicted in the movies, except for in Batman v Superman and The Justice League.
The movie saw the butler being more than just a comedic foil to the caped crusader, as he actually worked on Batman's gadgets and supported batman and the rest of the league in the battles. A Pennyworth-based series could be a prequel and follow the character during his time as a spy.
4 Katana
Katana was criminally underused in Suicide Squad, as she was introduced with a brief line of exposition and all but disappeared thereafter. But even to non-fans of the comic books who don't know who she is, the character seemed unique.
Being that she's a samurai warrior, a show based around Katana could be one of the most thrilling and action-packed DC series. The show could incorporate a gun-fu and be a samurai epic, and it could also go into detail about her tragic backstory as he dead husband's soul is trapped in her sword.
3 Commissioner Gordon
There has already been a show based on Commissioner Gordon, but Gotham didn't have anywhere close to the production value that Peacemaker will have. And there is currently another show about the character in development, which is a spin-off of The Batman that will focus on the Gotham City Police Department.
However, that show isn't a part of the DCEU, but J.K. Simmons' portrayal of Gordon is a part of the DCEU, and being an actor of such high caliber, the franchise left so much talent unused. Simmons should lead his own show, especially as the actor has proved that he can do kindly just as well as he can do angry and intimidating. Sadly, fans didn't get to see any of that, but a TV show could change things.
2 Savant
It would again have to be a prequel given that Savant had one of the most surprising character deaths when he and the other characters stormed the beach of Corto Maltese. It isn't so much the character that would make the show great, but the fact that he's played by Michael Rooker who brought so much gravitas to the quiet character.
Just Rooker's stoic face alone in the jail shows how much of a sordid past he has. On top of that, the character was much like Batman, as he had a huge fortune and moved to Gotham to become a vigilante.
1 Deathstroke
Between Bloodsport, Deadshot, and Deathstroke, there are so many characters in the DCEU that not only have similar names, but are very similar characters too. Deathstroke is a mercenary for hire, but unlike the other characters, he had the most potential in the future of the DCEU.
The character is willing to do anything to get his hands on Batman, so much so that he's willing to do Lex Luther's dirty work for free. His vendetta against the bat was hinted at, but it still remains a mystery as to why, and it'd be great to see a cat-and-mouse-like thriller show where, for once, Batman is the hunted.
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September 24, 2021 at 12:00AM
