James Gunn and Peter Safran recently announced the first wave of movies and TV shows that will feature in the Gods and Monsters Chapter of the new and hopefully improved DCU, based on characters in the famous DC Comics franchise. The first phase, or chapter, will focus on telling complex stories of characters, both popular and relatively obscure. Following the shocking announcement that Henry Cavill will no longer be playing the man of steel, fans can’t help but wonder what other changes Gunn and Safran have planned for the DCU.
Some recasting will inevitably be done for major recognizable names that we have previously seen in the DCEU. This has led to a wave of fan casting as DC fans continue to envision their favorite actors and actresses as their favorite characters. One actor that has been popping up in many fan casts, and rightfully so, is the ever-so talented Jonathan Majors.
Majors first hit mainstream success due to his role in The Last Black Man in San Francisco, quickly nabbing roles alongside some of Hollywood’s most prolific names in future projects like Lovecraft Country and The Harder They Fall. It wasn’t until a role in the MCU’s Loki that would give many comic book fans a taste of the actor’s strength as a performer. Now, with a major reprisal in Ant-Man: Quantumania, Majors is set for the stars.
Kang is one of the most anticipated characters for the future of the MCU as he is shaping up to be the next Thanos-level threat to the universe. After his performance in Loki, fans immediately knew that Majors had what it takes to portray this powerful and intimidating character in all his complexity. But DC fans are also hungry for some of his talents in the DCU.
From his previous roles, it is clear that the actor is a versatile one, and there are multiple roles that he would be absolutely perfect for in the DCU and all the morally gray stories Gunn and Safran plan on telling in Gods and Monsters.
A brief history
DC comics have had a long and complicated history of live-action adaptations of their comic books. While their animated movies and TV shows have done well in the past, the executives at DC Films have struggled with establishing a strong live-action universe.
DC took a shot at establishing a cinematic universe with the DC Extended Universe, or the DCEU. Kicking off with Man of Steel in 2013, up until the most recent entry, 2022’s Black Adam, the DCEU has been pushing out movies for almost a decade.
In November of 2022, DC Films saw a structure change, switching to DC Studios which will now be headed by Gunn and Safran, veterans from the DCEU. Gunn and Safran recently announced their plans for the future of DC movies, stating that the DCEU will now be called the DC Universe, or DCU.
In their announcement video for the new DCU, they shared that the first slate of projects for this new universe will be titled Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters and will not only feature a tight continuity, but will serve as a soft reboot for many DC live action characters, beginning with Superman in Superman: Legacy, slated for a July 2025 release.
If introduced to the DCU, Majors also would not be the first actor to feature in both Marvel and DC movie universes. Idris Elba, Willem Dafoe, Laurence Fishburne, and even Captain America himself Chris Evans have all played for both teams.
With that being said, here are 10 roles that would be perfect for Jonathan Majors in the reformed DCU.
John Stewart/Green Lantern
Another project that was announced for the coming DCU is a Green Lantern series titled Lanterns. The movie will feature both Hal Jordan and John Stewart, and there are few actors more suited to portraying John Stewart quite like Jonathan Majors. John is the leader of the Green Lantern Corps and one of the most popular Black characters in comic book history. He was a Marine before becoming a Lantern and has very strong morals which led to him earning his Green Lantern ring.
Black Hand
If Gunn and Safran aren’t keen on casting Johnathan Majors as a Green Lantern, he could also play an antagonist to the Lantern Corps. Black Hand, whose real name is William Hand, is an eccentric, genius supervillain who developed technology to siphon the powers of the Green Lantern rings for himself. His obsession with power led him to become the physical manifestation of Death, with the power to drain the life force of those around him. Majors would shine in such an apologetically evil role as fans expect to see him do as Kang the Conqueror.
Superman
Since Henry Cavill’s exit from the role of the Man of Steel, the question of who will replace him has been on the minds of every fan of the character, especially considering Gunn’s desire to opt for a younger actor. Without a doubt, Cavills’s run as Kal-El is iconic and he embodied the character perfectly while the role was his, but now that a change is coming, Majors would be a great choice to play the last son of Krypton. Though the release date and title of the next Superman movie have been announced, the actor who will be playing the man of steel himself has yet to be revealed.
Victor Stone/Cyborg
Victor Stone is another of DC’s most prominent Black heroes. The character has been played by multiple actors in different DC-related projects from Smallville to Justice League. Many fans have complained that Cyborg hasn’t gotten the attention he deserves as a character in recent DC installments, so casting Majors in the role would be a chance for Gunn and Safran to finally give Cyborg a worthy live-action story. Assuming the new Superman and Batman movies slated for the DCU will be leading to a new Justice League, Gunn and Safran could even include a Cyborg solo movie in there somewhere.
J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter
While the Martian Manhunter is an alien from Mars, he has a history of being portrayed by Black actors in live-action adaptations. He was one of the last survivors from Mars after the planet was destroyed and he came to Earth seeking justice and peace. He was the founder of the Justice Society of America and has worked with the Justice League, Green Lantern Corps, and even local police departments when necessary. J’onn is one of the most morally upright characters in DC comics and is known for his wise and level-headed advice which Majors would nail perfectly.
H’El
H’El was a clone created by Kal-El’s parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van on Krypton. He was made to ensure the continuity of Krypton’s cultures and ways which became a problem when he landed on Earth after the destruction of Krypton. H’El is a great villain for both Superman and Supergirl as his desire to see Krypton restored leads him to believe that the only way to do so is to destroy Earth. Making him a villain in the upcoming Supergirl project would be even more interesting, since Kara wanted to help him at first before ultimately deciding to defend Earth.
Batwing
While Superman and Batwing are vastly different in countenance and personality, Majors definitely has what it takes to pull off the stoic hero and defender of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because his story is Africa-centric, there’s so much room for growth for the character, and Batwing has been a defender of Gotham on numerous occasions. This leaves the part- time guardian of Gotham open for a talent like Majors.
Midnighter
Among the projects that were announced for the DCU was The Authority, a film about a group of jaded superheroes that work more as anti-heroes. Midnighter is one of the most popular members of the team, alongside his husband, Apollo, Jenny Sparks, and a few others. After being experimented on during the Stormwatch program, Midnighter emerged with superhuman strength and reflexes as well as an enhanced healing factor and the ability to foretell how a battle will go before it happens. One of the character’s core traits is his love for violence and Majors is one actor that can showcase his unique personality perfectly.
John Constantine
The announcement of a new Swamp Thing movie is the perfect way to introduce John Constantine to the DC Universe. Constantine is a character that has appeared in multiple stories, but was actually introduced in the Swamp Thing comics as a warlock and detective who deals in the occult. The character is witty, sarcastic, and cynical which made him an instant hit with fans. Constantine being an Englishman is a fairly important part of his character, but we’re quite sure that Johnathan Majors can pull off a British accent.
Michael Carter/Booster Gold
Fans were excited to hear that a Booster Gold series has been added to the new DCU lineup. Booster Gold, also known as Michael Jon Carter, is a regular guy from the 25th century who used time-traveling equipment to return to the 20th century where he leads the world to believe he is a superhero. The character starts out arrogant and obsessed with fame, but grows into becoming a worthwhile hero, gaining the respect of his peers. He is one of the more comedic characters in DC’s roster and it would be fun to see Major’s take on the hero.