WARNING: The following articles contains spoilers for director Zack Snyder’s Justice League, in theaters now.


The post-credits scenes of Justice League are a thematically divergent duo. While one focuses on a good-natured feud that's been a staple of DC Comics for decades, the other introduces a new villain and a returning threat in what appears to tease a direct follow-up to the Warner Bros. film. But is that really the case? While the after-credits sequence certainly hints at a future menace the Justice League is bound to face, it might actually tease the road to that big showdown – one dotted with villain-focused movies that will culminate in the formation of the Injustice League.

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The major revelation following the credits is that Deathstroke has teamed with Lex Luthor, newly liberated from prison after a stealthy breakout in which he was replaced with a body double. Audiences first catch sight of Lex (Jesse Eisenberg, reprising his role from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) while he’s enjoying himself on a yacht. Deathstroke is brought before the megalomaniac by speedboat, and then Lex lets the fan-favorite mercenary in on his plan: If the heroes of this world can have a Justice League, then they, Lex and Deathstroke, should form their own league.

That's likely a reference to the Injustice League, a group of villains faced frequently by the Justice League in DC comic books. The DC Extended Universe is likely to play fast and loose with the team’s roster, as Deathstroke isn't traditionally a founding member of the Injustice League, but that’s to be expected. What might intrigue fans, however, is that, given the upcoming slate of DCEU movies, we might actually get to watch the Injustice League take shape.

Deathstroke, from Ben Affleck's August 2016 Justice League teaser

The first thing to note is that Joe Manganiello’s cameo as Deathstroke was telegraphed weeks before it actually happened. The most recent example was when the post-credits scene actually leaked days before the release of Justice League, revealing Deathstroke’s presence, although not Lex’s plan. Manganiello has also been forthcoming about his role, posting pictures of the villain’s iconic mask to social media well before Justice League premiered. Affleck had some fun teasing the character’s appearance, too. It’s now rumored that Deathstroke will be getting his own solo film, an upgrade from his original intended role as antagonist in the upcoming Batman solo movie.

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But Deathstroke isn’t the only villain who will receive his due in the form of a solo outing. Recent reports indicate that Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam will make his debut in Suicide Squad 2 as the primary antagonist. Meanwhile, the Black Adam solo film has picked up traction and Adam Sztykiel, the writer behind Undateable, is being courted to pen the film’s screenplay. According to Johnson, Black Adam will be a “ruthless” hero, one who is completely willing to go up against the likes of Superman if the need arises – and Johnson really wants the need to arise.

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So, what do the Deathstroke and Black Adam solo films have to do with the after-credits scene in Justice League? To put it plainly: The DCEU loves its villains. The aforementioned announced films, 2016’s Suicide Squad and even the elusive, upcoming Joker movie prove that Warner Bros. has an unrivaled dedication to DC's villains, not only in turning them loose, but in humanizing them.

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For proof, look no further than El Diablo’s arc in Suicide Squad, which saw the pyromancer make the journey from ruthless crime lord to selfless slayer of an ancient monster slayer. El Diablo’s crimes could probably fill a filing cabinet at Gotham City Police Department, but after a certain amount of time with the tormented prisoner, and seeing his final, ultimate sacrifice, it’s difficult to feel like he wasn’t slightly, though not wholly, redeemed. If nothing else, some might be able to relate to his struggle. And that’s all the DCEU needs.

DCEU jesse eisenberg as lex luthor

Would it be unreasonable, then, to assume the same might happen for the Injustice League? It’s possible the DCEU’s villainous main players could come together over the course of several movies under the guiding, nudging, manipulative hand of Lex Luthor, to face the Justice League, steeped in the justification that what they are doing is right as long as it ensures their own survival? Luthor did as much with the Dark Knight in Batman v Superman. It would only be easier for him to manipulate those on the fringes, and if you see it from their perspective long enough you, the audience member, might start to find some common ground with them. The emotional hooks have already been cast.

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Deadshot’s daughter, Black Adam’s fish-out-of-water story, the burning love between Joker and Harley Quinn, and the treatment of the Suicide Squad as little more than expendable weapons tasked with fighting dirty wars could be leveraged by Lex to draw together a team of villains capable of taking on the Justice League.

In this way, the Justice League after-credit scene likely does set up a sequel, although probably not for some time. What it’s actually establishing is the assembly of a team of villains, with solo movies and ensemble features like Suicide Squad 2 in between. It’s not quite like The Avengers teasing Thanos in 2012 (which will only start to pay off next year with the release of Avengers: Infinity War), but it seems that the DCEU might have finally learned how to play the long game. The difference is that this cinematic universe’s villains are always there, right in front of you, begging to be taken seriously, not cordoned off in a distant part of the galaxy. If the DCEU’s architects play their cards right, the inevitable showdown could be as emotionally taxing and divisive as Captain America: Civil War. Which will win out? Your love of unflinching justice or your sympathy for a group of people who have been defined by their worst traits?

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So, the after-credits scene for Justice League is actually an inversion of the cinematic universe formula we’re used to. While the post-credits scene in 2008’s Iron Man teased the formation of the Avengers, here we’re treated to the opposite. The bad guys are getting together, and the after-credits is a contract stating that we're all going along for the ride.

What’s left to be seen is how audiences will react to the prospect of watching a criminal network slowly come together. While the formation of the Injustice League is something DC Comics fanatics are likely enthusiastic to see take shape on the big screen, casual audiences might not have the stomach for several years worth of movies starring supervillains. It's a serious concern given how, back on the Marvel side, Netflix's The Punisher series has been received, and he's merely an antihero.

As with all things DCEU, there’s no telling if the execution will match the plan. One thing’s for sure, though: It will be a while before we find out.


In theaters now, Justice League stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon.