Following the success of HBO's Peacemaker, TVLine proposes 10 underutilized DC characters worthy of their own television series to expand the DC Universe. The list highlights opportunities for both live-action and animated formats, balancing lesser-known heroes with fresh storytelling potential. This comes as DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn emphasizes building audience familiarity through TV before big-screen projects.
Background on Peacemaker's Impact
Peacemaker, starring John Cena as the foul-mouthed antihero Chris Smith, redeemed the character post his role in The Suicide Squad and became a hit for HBO Max. Showrunner James Gunn, known for elevating obscure comic figures like the Guardians of the Galaxy, has signaled a strategy favoring TV series for C-list characters to gauge interest before theatrical commitments. Excluding major icons like Batman and Superman, who have upcoming films, the suggestions focus on characters primed for episodic storytelling.
Suggested Characters and Concepts
The article outlines 10 DC characters ideal for series development:
- Jonah Hex: A gritty Western antihero bounty hunter, better suited for TV than the failed 2010 film. Johnathon Schaech's Arrowverse portrayal showed promise; Thomas Jane could star in a new Old West series.
- Detective Chimp: An intelligent primate solving occult crimes, perfect for an animated show blending Sherlock Holmes-style mysteries with Supernatural elements, featuring Justice League Dark cameos like John Constantine.
- Vigilante: Freddie Stroma's chaotic sidekick from Peacemaker could lead a half-hour sitcom exploring his vigilante antics, family life, and bizarre animal facts, without needing heavy plot focus.
- Batgirl: After Warner Bros. shelved the Leslie Grace-led film, a series could redeem Barbara Gordon in the new DCU or Matt Reeves' Gotham, keeping her story independent of Batman.
- Weasel: The quirky creature from The Suicide Squad and Creature Commandos suits family-friendly animated shorts in Looney Tunes style, emphasizing whimsical adventures over mature themes.
- Catwoman: Zoë Kravitz's Selina Kyle from The Batman could anchor an HBO limited series tied to the Falcone family, exploring her backstory and potential rivalry with Sofia Falcone from The Penguin.
- Lobo: Jason Momoa's upcoming role in Supergirl positions the intergalactic bounty hunter for an MA-rated HBO show, capturing his violent, foul-mouthed essence better than a solo film.
- Mister Terrific: Edi Gathegi's standout in Superman has sparked spin-off talks; a series could delve into Michael Holt's Justice Society ties and deadpan humor.
- Plastic Man: The elastic ex-criminal's humor mirrors Peacemaker's success; past animation pitches with voices like Jim Parsons or Ben Schwartz suggest untapped potential.
- Nightwing: Brenton Thwaites' Titans portrayal sets up a solo series on Dick Grayson's hopeful vigilantism in Blüdhaven, independent of Batman or the Titans.
These ideas aim to diversify DC's TV slate, leveraging streaming for character development amid evolving studio plans.