Why the DCEU Is Focusing So Much On Its Villains

With the news that Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to become perhaps the most iconic comic book villain in history, the Joker, it appears that Warner Bros. is committed to the origin story. Set outside of the main continuity commonly referred to as the DC Extended Universe, the Joker movie is said to be the first project to be created within a new DC Comics banner from the studio. At one point in time, Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio was rumored to play the Clown Prince of Crime, so there's a good chance of more twists and turns in terms of casting -- either way, it's clear that Warner Bros. wants to capitalize on the rich library of antagonists that DC Comics has built up over the years.

The studio has already had an outing for a collection of popular villains in Suicide Squad, marking the first big-screen adaptations of characters such as Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang and more. While the movie wasn't critically popular, it made a sizable $746.8 million in the worldwide box office, proving there's definitely an audience for villain-centric films. So, let's look at why Warner Bros. is banking on its baddies.

What's in the works?

Just how many villain-led movies are reportedly in the works from Warner Bros.? There's Deathstroke starring Joe Manganiello as the deadly assassin, multiple Harley Quinn movies starring the ever-popular Margot Robbie, a solo Black Adam flick starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Suicide Squad 2 featuring the usual suspects (and potentially Johnson's anti-hero), and, of course, the Joker origin movie that's set in the 1980s. There's also rumor of another ensemble film comprised of bad guys: Legion of Doom.

It's been reported that the studio is looking to slowly build up the roster in solo movies of superheroes, such as the post-credits scene for Justice League that saw Lex Luthor and Deathstroke join forces. Other villains that could join the fold are likely to be introduced in upcoming movies such as Aquaman, Shazam! and the Wonder Woman sequel. If it comes into fruition, which doesn't seem too outlandish, then the team of supervillains would be brought together much like Marvel Studios' Avengers -- which can only be a good thing.

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When you think about, it makes complete sense that Warner Bros. is looking to make use of DC Comics' villains. The comics publisher has a plethora of instantly recognizable -- and dare we say it, iconic -- outlaws and criminals. When you compare that to the massive Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC has a true advantage. Marvel Studios' movies are consistently knocked for having weak antagonists, and there hasn't been a Marvel villain that was appealing enough for their own solo venture -- besides Loki, perhaps.

Think about it, DC Comics has the Joker, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Lex Luthor, and countless other incredible villains. It's entirely feasible that Warner Bros. could fill theaters by putting out a movie following any of the aforementioned antagonists, so there's no wonder it's leaning so heavily on them for its hopes of improving in the future. It's also the perfect way to differentiate the DC Extended Universe, and any other DC Comics movie banners that follow, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which has been far more successful thus far).

Having movies that are noticeably different from Marvel movies could be enough to change the attitude of those who aren't fond of movies focusing solely on superheroes. If Warner Bros. is looking to turn around its (mostly) disappointing box office performances, then it genuinely needs to change things up -- and the opposite of a hero is a villain. The studio has the characters to make it work, and it now has some experience to guide its movies going forward.

Dark, Gritty Tone? Yes Please

While the studio has found a lot of criticisms in the dark, gritty tone that can be found in its repertoire, it would probably be perfect for movies centering on villains. Nobody wants to see a lighthearted and humorous origin movie about the Joker; they want it to shed light on the traumatic circumstances that led an ordinary person to become such a twisted killer. It's said to be “a gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film," which is a promising start -- it'd be disappointing if Warner Bros. were to change that up. This would likely run true for the majority of other villains and their own movies, though Suicide Squad kept a relatively light tone.

Warner Bros. should definitely apply a more family-friendly approach on superhero movies like Shazam! -- which pretty much requires that -- but it needs to keep things serious and dark for its supervillains. If a movie is grounded and realistic then it will make a villainous lead more relatable, and subsequently, more scary and menacing. That would mean a much better chance of success for individual films, and DC's live-action efforts as a whole.