A new project announced by the DCU could finally bring to fruition a story both the MCU and the DCU have been teasing for years. James Gunn and Peter Safran's plan for new projects for the revamped DC Universe has sparked excitement and speculation. One announced project is a film about Batman villains Bane and Deathstroke, which could signal a major development.
The DCU is going well and with the upcoming DC movies Superman and Supergirlthere's a lot to look forward to. Among the announcements is growing buzz about projects centered around DC heroes Bane and Deathstroke. This has sparked theories that DCU Chapter 1 could set up something that both Marvel and DC have struggled to pull off in the past: a successful supervillain team-up movie. If done right, this upcoming DC movie could finally realize a dream that has eluded the power of both comic books.
DC's Secret Six Movie Theory Explained
The Secret Six is DC's villain team
One of the most intriguing rumors about the future of the DCU is the possibility of a Secret Six movie. The Secret Six is a supervillain team that has had several iterations in DC Comics. Although there are various lists, one of them the most popular lines include Bane and Deathstroketwo characters are reportedly being developed in the new DCU.
In the comics, the Secret Six are often portrayed as anti-heroes, mercenaries brought together by a mysterious figure known as Mockingbird and given dangerous, morally ambiguous missions. The Secret Six movie will allow DC to focus on a unique team dynamic unlike typical superhero teams like the Justice League. In contrast to the overt villainy of the Legion of Doom, the Secret Six operate in a gray area where their motivations can change from personal gain to feelings of fairness.
Bane and Deathstroke – two of DC's most formidable, strategic villains – will give real weight to the team at the heart of this. The prospect of seeing these characters team up opens the door to a gritty, intense storyline that can delve deep into the psyche of these characters. instead of just portraying them as one-note villains. This would coincide with James Gunn's penchant for exploring flawed, complex characters, such as in Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy.
DC's Previous Lost Supervillain Team-Up Movie Explained
A Legion Of Doom Movie Presented
The idea of a DC supervillain team-up movie isn't new. Back in the days of the DCEU, there were plans to introduce a group of villains that would rival the Justice League in power and menace. In the 2017 post-credits scene Justice LeagueLex Luthor escapes from Arkham Asylum and meets Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke on a yacht. Their conversation teased the formation of a new teamWith Luthor hinting at creating “a league of our own”, which many fans have interpreted as the start of the Legion of Doom.
Unfortunately, the film's poor performance at the box office and subsequent behind-the-scenes turmoil at Warner Bros. meant that this Legion of Doom film was never fully developed. Working alongside Luthor was a charming mockumentary of Deathstroke A missed opportunity for DC to create a darker, villain-centric storyline. This could set the stage for a film that follows villains working toward their goals rather than being foils for the heroes. Although the Legion of Doom never materialized, the foundation of a villainous team was clearly there and disappointed many when they left.
Sony has tried to make a bad six movies several times
On the Marvel side, Sony has made many attempts to create their own villain-centric team-up film, most notably with the Sinister Six. The Sinister Six are a group of Spider-Man's most dangerous enemies, united by their hatred of the webslinger. Plans for a Sinister Six movie have been floating around since those days The Amazing Spider-Man series. after The Amazing Spider-Man 2 introduced various villains, and hinting at the formation of the Sinister Six, Sony announced that a standalone film focusing on the villainous group is in development.
But then this project was canceled The Amazing Spider-Man the franchise was rebooted and Sony signed a deal with Marvel Studios to integrate Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The specter of a Sinister Six movie isn't dead yet. Sony continues to develop its own Spider-Man Universe (SSU) and deliver films focused on individual villains like this one. Poison, Morbiusand the upcoming Kraven the Hunter.
It's highly likely that these films will set the stage for the Sinister Six, but the main problem Sony faces is the lack of a coherent, unified vision for the universe. Without a clear Spider-Man figure in their universe, it's hard to imagine a Sinister Six movie that feels cohesive or meaningful. Furthermore, the struggle of SSU films to perform at the box office makes it doubtful that Sony will be able to pull off this ambitious team.
Why DC's Secret Six Movie Looks Like It's Coming Sooner Than Sinister Six
Comparing the two, it seems more likely that DC will manage to release a Secret Six movie before Marvel's Sinister Six project lands anywhere. James Gunn's DCU seems to favor darker or less mainstream characters already. Suicide Squad and Peacemakerand The Secret Six are perfectly suited to Gunn's storytelling helm. He excels at bringing together unlikely characters and exploring their complex relationships, making him the ideal person to oversee The Secret Six.
Meanwhile, Sony's Sinister Six plans are stuck in development. While the SSU films have introduced several key members of the Sinister Six, they have yet to convincingly bring these characters together in a way that could lead to a team. Moreover, SSU's record was shaky at best, with films like Morbius being critically panned and financially floundering. Unless Sony can dramatically improve the quality and coherence of its universe, a Sinister Six movie seems like a distant dream.
In contrast, the Secret Six movie will allow the DCU to continue its focus on villain-centric narratives without relying on a more traditional hero-versus-villain dynamic. It could also follow a trend that has worked well for Gunn in the past, which is to highlight lesser-known characters that create unexpected and interesting team dynamics when combined. Combining interesting characters like Bane and Deathstroke, focusing on a more grounded and emotional story, DCU Marvel has a real chance to pull off what the Sinister Six and DCEU's Legion of Doom couldn't.