Summary
James Gunn’s newDCUwill likely be featuring actors from Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise. It’s just a matter of who and how many. With Gunn’s newSupermanmovie currently shooting with a 2025 release date, the dawn of the new DC Universe is certainly on its way. To that end, several MCU actors from theGuardiansfranchise could certainly be recast in brand-new DC roles in the near future.
There are alreadya select fewGuardians of the Galaxyactorssuch as Sean Gunn who have planned roles in the new DCU. That said, just as many have voiced their interest in joining the upcoming universe including Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and more.To that end, here are 10 perfect DCU roles for members of the MCU’sGuardians of the Galaxycast.
DCU Chapter One Gods And Monsters: Every Movie & Show In The New DC Universe
James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe begins with six movies and six shows that open the DCU’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters”.
10Zoe Saldana
Zatanna
Having confirmed that she’d be interested in one day joining Gunn’s new DCU, Zoe Saldana would be a very exciting addition to the new universe in the works. Beyond playing Gamora in theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise, Saldana is best known for playing Neytiri in James Cameron’sAvatarfilms. To that end, it might be nice to see her in a major franchise role that doesn’t require green (or blue) skin.
A very dynamic role for Zoe Saldana could be Zatanna Zatara, one of the most powerful sorceresses in the DC Universe. While is a card-carrying member of the Justice League, she’s alsoa leading member of the more supernaturally-focused Justice League Dark, a film project Warner Bros. has been trying to get off the ground for years. As such, perhaps Saldana could provide WB and Gunn with the major star power needed to make one of DC’s darkest and most compelling teams a reality.
9Dave Bautista
Bane
Beyond his role as Drax the Destroyer in the MCU,Dave Bautista has long been campaigning to play Bane in a future Batman project. As such,Bautista has confirmed his interest in Gunn’s new DCU(having joked that he’d join for free). Likewise, Gun himself recently asked fans on the internet whom Baustista should play, receiving answers such as the leader of the Red Lanterns known as Atrocitus, Etrigan the Demon, a new Black Adam, and even the major villain Darkseid.
That said, many are in support right alongside Baustista himself that he’d be a great Bane. Although Tom Hardy’s Bane seen in Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight Riseswas iconic, there’s something to be said for a Bane portrayal that’s not even to learn into all parts of his comics history, including the Venom serum that grants him his increased strength. Likewise, Bautista could also provide Bane’s nuanced gravitas and seriousness as a very calculated villain, one who knows exactly how to bring Batman to his breaking point.Bane is far more than brute strength alone, a dynamic challenge Bautista would love the chance to tackle.
The Dark Knight Rises
Cast
The Dark Knight Rises follows Batman as he returns to Gotham City eight years after the death of Harvey Dent. Now pursued by law enforcement, he faces new challenges from Selina Kyle and Bane, a formidable terrorist leader who threatens the city’s safety, compelling Batman to defend a city that sees him as a foe.
8Chris Pratt
Booster Gold
Chris Pratt has also voiced his interest in joining James Gunn’s DCU. Having played Peter Quill’s Star-Lord, Pratt needs the kind of character who doesn’t take himself too seriously but also has some awareness of his flaws. To that end,it’s been suggested that Booster Gold could be a perfect hero for Pratt in the new DC Universe.
7Bradley Cooper
Green Lantern/Green Arrow
Bradley Cooper has gone on record saying,“I go wherever James Gunn tells me”.As such, that does seem like a very strong sign that Cooper is in for the DCU should Gunn have a role in mind. Likewise, it would certainly be very exciting to see Cooper playing a superhero in live-action after so many years of providing the voice of Rocket Raccoon in the MCU.
Keeping that in mind,it’s not hard to imagine Cooper playing a new version of Hal Jordan, the most prominent human member of the Green Lanterns who is set to be featured in theDCU’s upcomingLanternsseries alongside Green Lantern John Stewart. He’d also likely have some great chemistry with Nathan Fillion, who’s already been cast as Green Lantern Guy Gardner and will first appear in James Gunn’sSuperman. That said, Bradley Cooper could also play a very dynamic Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow.
Superman
Superman (2025): Superman follows the dual life of Clark Kent, a journalist in Metropolis, as he endeavors to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Set against a backdrop of personal discovery, the film explores his journey of identity as he navigates his existence in a complex world.
6Pom Klementieff
Mercy Graves
Technically, Pom Klementieff has already been in a DC film with James Gunn’sTheSuicide Squad, having been a background dancer during the movie’s bar scene. That said, it shouldn’t prohibit her from playing a more prominent DC role even though the movie will still have some canonicity with the new DCU. After all, Nathan Fillion was also inTheSuicide Squadas the (now deceased) T.D.K. Likewise, the Mantis actress recently confirmed that she’s talked to Gunn about a specific DC role.
Beyond playing Mantis in the MCU, Pom Klementieff recently played Paris inMission Impossible: Dead Reckoning.As such,playing the incredibly skilled combatant helps prove how great Klementieff could be as the DCU’s Mercy Graves, Lex Luthor’s highly skilled bodyguard and chauffeur. Graves is also a powerful cyborg as well, a dynamic part of his character that was ignored with Graves being greatly underutilized in the DCEU, something Klementieff could certainly help rectify.
The Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad: Released in 2021, The Suicide Squad features supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, and Peacemaker, among others, as they join Task Force X. The team embarks on a mission on the enemy-held island of Corto Maltese under the direction of Amanda Waller in this entry of the DC Extended Universe.
5Vin Diesel
Kilowog
Vin Diesel has voiced every variation of Groot that’s been seen in the MCU thus far. Whether it’s been regular Groot, Baby Groot, Teen Groot, or even Groot speaking in other languages for different regions, Diesel’s been the voice. While impressive,it might be nice to see Diesel lend his voice to another cosmic character in the DCU, albeit one who can speak more than three words: Kilowog.
Responsible for training new Green Lantern recruits he tends to call “poozers”,Kilowog is one of the most popular Green Lanterns from DC Comicswho isn’t human. Incredibly large and very strong, Kilowog is bound to be featured at some point in the DCU, most likely in the upcomingLanternsshow, provided Jordan and Stewart spend any time on the Green Lanterns' central headquarters located on the planet Oa. At any rate, it’s not hard to imagine Diesel lending his signature and iconic voice to someone as intimidating as Kilowog in the new DCU.
4Karen Gillan
Poison Ivy/Batwoman
Having confirmed that she’d love to work with James Gunn again in the future,Karen Gillan has also revealed that she’d love to play a version of Poison Ivy. Likewise, she’d particularly like to play an Ivy in a relationship with Harley Quinn as they have been in the comics as well as Max’s animatedHarley Quinnseries. Much like the MCU’s Nebula,Poison Ivy could be a very interesting role for Gillan as it could similarly see her starting as a classic Batman villain before eventually receiving more redemptive qualities over time.
However, it would also be very exciting to see Gillan play Kate Kane, Bruce Wayne’s cousin who became Batwoman. It’s been teased that the DCU’sBatman: The Brave and the Boldwill finally be providing the Dark Knight with an expanded Bat Family of allies as he does in the comics. As such, it would be very cool to see Gillan’s Batwoman helping the Caped Crusader protect Gotham as well.
3Benicio del Toro
Ra’s Al Ghul/Vandal Savage
Having played the Collector in theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise,Benicio del Toro could easily play the perfect Ra’s al Ghul in the DCU. This would be especially true if the DCU’s Demon’s Head leaned into the more comic-accurate elements such as his supernatural longevity via baptisms in the rare pools known as Lazarus Pits. Likewise, Benicio del Toro would undoubtedly provide an incredibly unique charisma to the role, one that wouldcertainly help distinguish himself from past portrayals of Ra’s al Ghul.
In a similar vein, Benicio del Toro could also play a great Vandal Savage in the DCU. In the comics, Vandal Savage was a Cro-Magnon who became immortal and incredibly strong after interacting with a meteorite. From that time on, Vandal became a conqueror and major villain throughout history, not unlike Ra’s al Ghul himself (though much older). Either role for Benicio del Toro could be quite captivating in the DCU.
2Lee Pace
Brainiac
The first major villain in theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise, Lee Pace’s Ronan the Accuser sought the Power Stone to decimate the world of Xandar. A major Kree fanatic, Ronan’s desire for vengeance and absolute power made him nearly unstoppable as he acted in defiance of Thanos himself. Although his portrayal was quite impressive,one could also see Pace in a villainous role that holds more of a sinister calm, perhaps in the form of the classic Superman villain Brainiac.
Dedicated to the collection and preservation of entire cultures and worlds at any cost, the Colluan known as Brainiac is a Superman villain whom many have wanted to see on the big-screen for years. To that end, the twelfth-level intellect is a major force to be reckoned with, and his brutal desire for absolute knowledge is on par with Ronan’s quest for power. Seeing as howBrainiac is rumored for James Gunn’sSuperman, perhaps Pace could provide the voice and/or face for the iconic DCU villain.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring Chris Pratt as Peter Quill. Abducted from Earth as a child, Quill navigates intergalactic adventures, becoming entwined in a conflict centered on a powerful orb coveted by Ronan the Accuser.
1Djimon Hounsou
Martian Manhunter
Djimon Hounsou played Korath the Pursuer in the firstGuardians of the Galaxy, an agent of Ronan’s. While he also played The Wizard in the DCEU’sShazam!movies, he could certainly play a much more prominent role in the upcoming DCU from James Gunn and Peter Safran.To that end, it would be very exciting to see Hounsou play someone like J’onn J’onzz aka The Martian Manhunter.
A major member of the Justice League in the comics, the Martian Manhunter hails from Mars with the impressive ability to shape-shift at will. However, J’onzz was never fully realized in the DCEU, even thoughZack Snyder fully intended to have the Manhunter join the Leaguein future films following his brief appearance in his version ofJustice League. That being said, perhaps the new DCU can redeem this loss with Hounsou playing the iconic DC superhero.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a reimagining of the 2017 film, where Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assemble a team of metahumans, including Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg, to defend Earth from a looming cosmic threat, following Superman’s previous sacrifice. Released in 2021, it continues the DC Extended Universe narrative.
