Does the DC Universe already have its first “big bad”? James Gunn sets the record straight about his mentality for the reboot at DC Studios.

The term “big bad” is one that’s only been popularized over the last few years. It’s meant to represent the conflict that a given era of a shared universe is building up to (even if they don’t always reach it). While the most famous example is Thanos in the MCU, the DC Universe actually had its own big bad Zack Snyder setting up a confrontation with Darkseid. However, all of those plans were obviously scrapped once James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios.

This led many to wonder if James Gunn had a big bad of his own being brewed up for the DC Universe. A lot of candidates have been thrown out regarding who DC Studios could use as their villainous poster child. Darkseid is the obvious name, especially given how much groundwork has been laid for the character on the silver screen. However, some other candidates include the Legion of Doom, Brainiac, and Amazo.

Who Will Be The DC Universe’s First Big Bad?

James Gunn was asked about the DC Universe’s potential “big bad” during a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz. The director gave an answer that most fans wouldn’t expect, revealing that the big threat being set up is….no one! Gunn explained that DC Studios is taking a different approach with their upcoming reboot, and that their focus is on building a cohesive world, not a cohesive story.

“These are interconnected stories but people are always going to be [saying], ‘Who’s the big bad?’ Are there big bads for connected films? Yes. But is this all about, ‘Hey, I’m telling this one story about this big bad’? No.”

“This is about a connected universe. We’re world-building. We’re not story-building. We’re not writing one story that has a beginning, middle, and end. We’re creating a universe where people in which can go and join in and experience it. It is much more like Star Wars.”

It’s good that DC Studios isn’t rushing into setting up a villain before they’ve even laid the groundwork of creating engaging stories with a dedicated fanbase. However, it’s always possible that James Gunn could be lying. Rumors suggest that The Centre is being eyed as the first “big bad” of the DC Universe. That being said, even if there is a big villain coming to the franchise, Gunn’s mindset assures that it won’t be anything like fans have seen before.

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