The brand-newDC Universeis about to truly begin with James Gunn’sSuperman, and there are so many iconic moments I’m really looking forward to seeing on the big screen. Coming from DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, the new DCU is largely a brand-new timeline and reality. Not only will it feature fresh actors offering new takes on some of the most iconic DC roles (like David Corenswet as Clark Kent), but a select few actors will be reprising their roles from the previous DCEU, albeit in this new universe (like John Cena’s Peacemaker).
Officially, the DCU began with 2024’s animated seriesCreature Commandos.However, the show did canonize certain events from 2021’sThe Suicide Squad, James Gunn’s first major DC project, and it’s expected that a version of Gunn’sPeacemakerseason 1 will remain canon as well. That said,Supermanis set to be the first major DCU live-action release, followed by other upcoming DCU projects includingSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,Lanterns,Brave and the Bold, and more.With that in mind, here are some iconic DC Comics moments I’m desperate to see in this brand-new DC Universe.
One Of The Most Iconic DC Visuals
Image via Warner Bros.
As has been shown inteasers and trailers for 2025’sSuperman, it’s clear that the new movie starring the Man of Steel is set to honor the hero’s impressive legacy. This is particularly true of the Richard DonnerSupermanmovies starring Christopher Reeve and the iconic theme by John Williams.With that in mind, I’d love it if the newSupermanmovie featured one key moment often seen in the comics that those originalSupermanmovies did so well.
At some point, David Corenswet’s Clark Kent should be alerted to danger, hopefully motivating him to leave his desk and reveal his supersuit underneath his everyday work clothes. It’s a major moment for The Man of Steel that would be very exciting to see, especially if it’s followed by the classic, “It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Superman!” lines from civilians looking up and spotting him in the sky. After all, we tragically only got to see Henry Cavill do this just the once in the DCEU at the very end of 2017’sJustice League.
9Superman Speaking With Jor-El
Who’s Playing Kal-El’s Kryptonian Father
During the5-minute preview forSupermanthat was released in theatersahead ofA Minecraft Movie, a wounded Superman is carried into the Fortress of Solitude by his robotic Kryptonian attendants, who help him heal by magnifying the sun’s rays. However, a voice can be heard calling Kal-El’s name in the background. This is most likely the artificial intelligence of Jor-El, Superman’s Kryptonian father.It will be very exciting to learn who’s playing Jor-El, as well as see him impart wisdom upon his son (which is always a great moment in pastSupermanmovies, whether it was Marlon Brando or Russell Crowe).
8The DCU’s Superman and Lex Luthor Face-To-Face
An Epic Rivalry Renewed For The Big Screen
Few rivalries in superhero comics match Lex Luthor’s decades of beef with Superman on the page. The same has largely been true on screen as well, though it will be very exciting to see Nicholas Hoult portray what appears to be a far more accurate version of the DC supervillain than has been seen in recent years. To that end, the trailers teasing the moment whenLex Luthor directly faces the Man of Steelwill undoubtedly be an iconic moment I’m very eager to see play out whenSupermanreleases in July.
7Krypto Protecting Kara Zor-El
Mirroring The Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Comic
Krypto the Super Dog is set to debut in James Gunn’sSuperman. However, the Kryptonian canine also plays a key role in Tom King’sSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the comic story the movie is taking inspiration from.Protecting Kara Zor-El but unaware that they were under a red sun, Krypto gets shot with a poisoned arrow by the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills (who will be played by Matthias Schoenaerts). Inciting the entire story, I certainly hope we get to see Krypto’s loyal sacrifice (as well as Supergirl’sJohn Wick-esque quest in the aftermath).
6Supergirl Fighting A Space Dragon
One Of The BestWoman of TomorrowMoments
During Supergirl’s quest across the cosmos, the freighter carrying herself and the alien girl known as Ruthye is attacked by a metal-eating space dragon. Knowing that she’ll need an additional boost of power, Kara ingests a red kryptonite pill that effectively gives her the fiery wings of the 90’s Earth-Born Angel Supergirl.It’s quite a spectacle on the page, though one that could and should be adapted in some fashion on the screen, as it’s easily one ofWoman of Tomorrow’sbest and most epic moments.
5Jason Momoa’s Lobo Using His Classic Alien Curse Words
“Fraggin'” and “Bastich”
While he was part of the original drafts for Tom King’sSupergirlepic, the galactic bounty hunter Lobo didn’t make it into the final publication ofWoman of Tomorrow. However, the DCU will be addingLobo back into the narrative played by Jason Moman(who formerly played Aquaman in the previous DCEU).A role that might as well have been made for him, it’s going to be fantastic to see Lobo on the big screen, especially seeing how Momoa has already confirmed Lobo will be saying his classic Czarnian expletives like “fraggin'” and “bastich”.
4Any Green Lantern Reciting The Oath
“In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night…”
Needed to charge their power rings with the green light of willpower, the Green Lantern oath is one of the most iconic and well-known pieces of DC Comics writing of all time:
“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might beware my power… Green Lantern’s light!”
Although it was recited by Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan in the widely pannedGreen Lanternmovie in 2011,I’m incredibly excited to hear how the oath is incorporated inLanterns,which has been described as being a far more grounded and serious take on the Lantern lore. That said, perhaps we’ll hear it even earlier, seeing howGuy Gardner’s Green Lantern is debuting inSuperman.
3John Stewart’s Green Lantern Learning How To Use A Power Ring
A Rookie Learning From A Veteran Hal Jordan
InLanterns, Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart will be a rookie Green Lantern partnered with seasoned veteran Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler). To that end, I’m fully expecting Hal to teach John some impressive skills, showing him how to wield his power ring in ways Stewart perhaps hasn’t even thought of before.Getting to see Jordan training and testing the rookie to become the best Green Lantern he can be will undoubtedly be fun.
2Batman Struggling To Parent Damian Wayne’s Robin
A DC Relationship Never Seen in Live-Action Before
It’s been confirmed thatThe Brave and the Boldwill debut a brand-new Batman for the DCU(not Robert Pattinson’s version).However, we also know that Batman will be joined by Robin, specifically his biological son, Damian Wayne. To that end, I can’t wait to see Bruce Wayne’s classic struggle to parent his young son translated into the live-action for the first time. After all, Damian’s upbringing in the comics was uniquely intense before he meets Bruce at the age of 10, having been trained from birth to be a master assassin and tactician by his mother Talia and grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul.
1Jim Gordon Turning On The DCU’s New Bat Signal
…And Multiple Gotham Vigilantes Answer The Call
Commissioner Gordon turning on the Bat Signal may not seem like the biggest moment one could be excited for in the new DC Universe.However, I keep thinking about how we’ll likely see both Batman and Robin answering the call, which hasn’t happened in live-action since Joel Schumacher’sBatmanfilms from the 90s. It’s also worth pointing out that if Damian Wayne is Robin inThe Brave and the Bold, the implication is that the DCU’s The Dark Knight will have the rest of the Bat-Family established as well (Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood, Tim Drake, etc).
