While Superheroes are having their heyday with numerous projects in the MCU and beyond the same could also be said of their villainous counterparts with Harley Quinn, Venom, Penguin, Kraven, Loki and Joker all getting their own movies or tv series in recent years, but much there are plenty more villains who deserve attention…
Lex Luthor
After the wildly miscast Jesse Eisenberg played Lex in Batman vs Superman he is expected to make his big screen return in the Superman reboot next year, this time played by Nicholas Hoult, but Lex Luthor is a strong enough character he should be given the chance to step out of his nemesis’ shadow much like Joker did in his own movies. It might have to wait for after Legacy, but Lex Luthor deserves his own solo project. In the comics Lex becomes president, so why not some kind of politic thriller centered on his campaign. It would also be fun to see Michael Rosenbaum from Smallville reprise the role in either a solo sequel to the series or a standalone adventure much in the way Joker is set outside of main Batman continuity.
Deathstroke
Much like Lex Luthor Deathstroke was severely underutilized in the DCEU, only having a small cameo at the end of Justice League played by Joe Manganiello, but he still remains a popular villain, appearing in Injustice, Titans, Arrow and many other DC projects. Slade Wilson has no true nemesis having started out fighting the Teen Titans then moving on to Batman, Green Arrow and even the Justice League, but perhaps not having one clear rival could work in his favor as it would make it easier to give him a solo project that doesn’t have to be tied to one superhero. Years ago the idea of a prison escape movie starring Green Arrow that would have dealt with him escape from a supervillain prison was brought forth, but never came to fruition. While this would still be cool to see with Green Arrow, perhaps it would be a film better suited for anti-hero Slade Wilson and it would have also allow some lesser known DC villains to be featured
Black Cat
Black Cat, who is basically Spiderman’s version of Catwoman including the sexual tension, has yet to appear in live-action, and no Felicia Hardy’s cameo in Amazing Spiderman 2 doesn’t count. She has come close in Sony’s spiderman universe almost getting her own team-up movie with fellow Spiderman villain Silver Sable, but sadly it hasn’t happened yet.
While it would be fun to see her make a proper live action debut in the next MCU spiderman movie or actually star in a Sonyverse movie I think she might be better suited as the star of an animated series similar to Harley Quinn where she can explore the Spiderman Universe with plenty of wit and humor and maybe even strike up a friendship with Mary Jane Watson.
Two-face
While his alias Harvey Dent played a very small part in Joker 2 things have been pretty quiet for Two-face lately, which is a shame as he is one of Batman’s more interesting villains and I feel could has potential to be explored outside the shadow of the bat. Harvey Dent would lend himself perfectly to a legal drama, either in a standalone movie form or perhaps as a series. While drama would probably be the way to lean a humorous series(most likely animated) following a reformed Harvey as he attempts to defend numerous DC villains, somewhat similar to Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, would also be fun to see.
The Al Ghuls
Another interesting Batman villain, Ras Al Ghul has been alive for centuries which means there is a lot that can be explored about his background and how he came to found the League of Shadows. While it would be good to see him get a solo movie or tv series I think it might be better suited to focus on the entire Al Ghul family including Batman’s ex-lover and mother of Damian Wayne Talia Al Ghul. While The Al Ghuls does sound like it could be the title for a sitcom a more serious movie or tv series on Max focusing on the modern day Al Ghul family including cameos by Batman and a recurring role for Damian Wayne would work perfectly with plenty of flashbacks to flesh out both Ras and his offspring. While it would be cool to see Liam Neeson make a return to the role after Batman Begins perhaps he could at least make a cameo.
Those are just a few supervillains that should get there own solo projects. What supervillain would you like to see get their own movie or tv series?
