Characters of the DC Extended Universe
The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on superhero films and other series starring various titular superheroes independently produced by DC Films and based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. Despite numerous film series in the past on characters such as Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, none of those film series were connected. The DCEU debuted in 2013 with Man of Steel, centered on Superman, and has grown to include other characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman, and several others included in this list. The shared universe, much like the original DC Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters, and may cross over with separate timelines from other DC-licensed film series in the future in order to create a "multiverse".
Main characters[edit]
Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman[edit]
Clark Kent (portrayed by Henry Cavill), born Kal-El, is a Kryptonian refugee sent to Earth by his parents Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van prior to the planet's destruction and is raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent in Smallville, Kansas. As the sun's radiation enhances his cells, Clark develops superhuman abilities, but struggles with his identity when Jonathan reveals his otherworldly origins. After Jonathan's death, Clark travels the world trying to find himself and eventually discovers his true identity after finding a Kryptonian scout ship. He eventually embraces his powers after learning from his biological father's hologram, gaining the military codename Superman as he uses his powers to protect Earth's citizens. Superman eventually comes to odds with Batman before finding commonality and inspires Batman and other vigilantes and metahumans to band together and protect the world from greater threats.
Cavill is the first non-American actor to portray Superman in film. In addition, Zack Snyder has aimed to give Superman a more realistic arc in his DCEU films as opposed to in the past and not be a "one-dimensional Boy Scout".
Bruce Wayne / Batman[edit]
Bruce Wayne (portrayed by Ben Affleck) is the multibillionaire CEO of Wayne Enterprises, but secretly moonlights as the feared vigilante Batman in an effort to battle crime in Gotham City, taking inspiration from his parents' deaths and his fear of bats to crack down on criminal activity. He has been active as Batman for 20 years prior to Clark Kent's emergence as Superman, becoming jaded and disillusioned over time, especially after the murder of his protégé Dick Grayson. Bruce antagonizes Superman after personally witnessing the Battle of Metropolis, in which the ruckus caused by the Kryptonians destroys a considerable part of the city, including the destruction of Wayne Tower and the deaths of a large portion of Wayne's workforce in Metropolis. He is determined to kill the Man of Steel until finding commonality with him and later becomes inspired by Superman's selflessness and sacrifice, later recruiting other metahumans around the globe to form the Justice League and embarking on a path to redemption after years of moral ambiguity.
Despite being the fifth time Batman was portrayed in film, the DCEU iteration of the character is notably older and more battle-weary than previous portrayals.
Diana of Themyscira / Diana Prince / Wonder Woman[edit]
Princess Diana of Themyscira (portrayed by Gal Gadot), commonly known by her civilian name Diana Prince, is an immortal Amazon warrior from the hidden island of Themyscira who is the daughter of Hippolyta and the Greek God Zeus. Upon venturing to the world of Men after Steve Trevor crash-lands on Themyscira and warns of a global conflict threatening the world, Diana begins protecting mankind as Wonder Woman, secretly living amongst humanity while ending conflicts for nearly 100 years. Diana is inspired by Steve's bravery and learns to find the goodness in mankind, despite evil existing in the world. She is brought back to the forefront after an extraterrestrial threat emerges, with Bruce Wayne recruiting her and other metahumans to fight against the forces of Apokolips.
Despite being part of DC Comics' main "trinity" of superhero characters alongside Superman and Batman, the DCEU marks Wonder Woman's debut on the silver screen.
Floyd Lawton / Deadshot[edit]
Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn[edit]
Arthur Curry / Aquaman[edit]
Barry Allen / Flash[edit]
Victor Stone / Cyborg[edit]
Billy Batson / Shazam[edit]
Supporting characters[edit]
Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van[edit]
Jor-El (portrayed by Russell Crowe) and Lara Lor-Van (portrayed by Ayelet Zurer) are Kal-El/Clark Kent's biological parents from Krypton. Jor-El is the planet's chief scientist while Lara is part of the planet's Thinker Guild. Both were genetically engineered from Kryptonian technology like the rest of the planet's population and assigned roles in society including their occupation and marriage, but decide to conceive a child from natural means, resulting in Kal-El's birth.
After vainly trying to persuade the Kryptonian High Council to evacuate the doomed planet, Jor-El steals the Codex containing genetic information for future Kryptonians and infuses it with his son before he and Lara send Kal-El to Earth in a spacecraft, fending off a coup by General Zod long enough for their son's ship to escape. Zod executes Jor-El before he and his followers are captured and sentenced to the Phantom Zone, while Lara survives until the planet's implosion from over-mining its core.
Jor-El and Lara leave their son with a holographic computer program embedded in the ship's key, which simulates Jor-El's knowledge and personality. Clark uses the key to activate a dormant Kryptonian scout ship, after which his father's uploaded Artificial Intelligence teaches him the history of Krypton and explains why he and Lara sent Kal to Earth. When Zod and his followers escape the Phantom Zone, locate Clark, and begin to invade Earth, Clark gives the key to Lois while onboard Zod's ship, uploading Jor-El's program into the mainframe, allowing the program to aid Clark and Lois in escaping and informing them on how to defeat Zod's forces. Zod encounters Jor-El's AI when stealing the scout ship, wiping the program off the ship after some banter. The key with Jor-El's AI is ultimately destroyed when Emil Hamilton uses it to activate Kal-El's spacecraft and crash with Zod's mothership, sending the Kryptonians except for Superman and Zod back to the Phantom Zone.
Jonathan and Martha Kent[edit]
Jonathan (portrayed by Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (portrayed by Diane Lane) are Clark Kent's adaptive parents on Earth. They are farmers from Smallville, Kansas, who discover Kal-El in his ship shortly after arriving on Earth. Both Jonathan and Martha are loving parents, caring for Clark as their own despite his superhuman abilities and otherworldly origins that result in isolation from his classmates and shaping his morality. Jonathan believes that Clark was sent to Earth for a reason, but encourages his adaptive son to conceal his powers until the opportune time. He ultimately dies in a tornado while directing trapped motorists to safety and rescuing the family dog, refusing to be saved by Clark in order to protect his son's secret, a departure from the comics and previous adaptations that have him die of a heart attack.
Martha remains optimistic despite her and Jonathan's inability to have biological children and her husband's death. After Clark travels the world to find his identity following Jonathan's death, he visits Martha in Smallville after discovering his roots.
Lois Lane[edit]
Lois Lane (portrayed by Amy Adams) is an investigative reporter for the Daily Planet who first encounters Clark Kent in Man of Steel as she is covering the discovery of a Kryptonian scout ship in Northern Canada. When Clark saves her from the ship's technology, she becomes intrigued by him, going far lengths to discover his identity and superpowers and falling in love with him in the process. She and Clark start dating after he takes a job at the Planet following the battle of Metropolis, which sees him rescuing her several times as Superman as she aids him and the U.S. Military in quelling the invasion by General Zod. Lois is instrumental in discovering Lex Luthor's deceptiveness in Batman v Superman, risking her own life several times to uncover evidence against him and standing up to him even as he captures her to lure Superman out of hiding. She is also instrumental in keeping Clark motivated to do the right thing in all three films in which he is a primary character.
Adams became the eighth actress to take on the role of Lois in live action upon landing the part in Man of Steel.[1]
Calvin Swanwick / Martian Manhunter[edit]
Calvin Swanwick (portrayed by Harry Lennix) is introduced as a lieutenant general in the United States Northern Command in Man of Steel, later becoming Secretary of Defense by the events of Batman v Superman. He initially does not trust Superman upon interrogating him prior to turning in the Man of Steel to General Zod, but later proves to be an ally to both Superman and Lois Lane, as he provides Lois with evidence against Lex Luthor and provides Superman with military aid against Zod and the Kryptonian monstrosity created by Luthor. Swanwick will be revealed as the Martian Manhunter in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Fans began speculating that Swanwick was the Martian Manhunter after viewing Superman's interrogation scene in Man of Steel, in which Swanwick continues to confront Superman after he effortlessly breaks his chains and walks towards the window while everyone else backs away.[2] While Swanwick was not initially meant to be the Martian Manhunter in the film, Lennix stated that "someone else" wanted him to be in a future film. Director Zack Snyder stated that Swanwick would be retconned to be the Manhunter in his original cut of Justice League, but that the scene was not completed until additional filming for the director's cut,[3] in which Lennix took part.[4]
Alfred Pennyworth[edit]
Alfred Pennyworth (portrayed by Jeremy Irons) is Bruce Wayne's personal butler, having raised him since his parents' murders. This iteration of the character is portrayed as cynical and sarcastic.
June Finch[edit]
June Finch (portrayed by Holly Hunter) is a United States Senator from Kentucky who heads the Senate Committee questioning Superman's actions.
Joker[edit]
The Joker (portrayed by Jared Leto) is the archenemy of Batman, a one-time lover of Harley Quinn, and a ruthless crime lord in Gotham City. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice alludes to Joker murdering Batman's protégé Dick Grayson prior to the events of the movie.
Amanda Waller[edit]
Amanda Waller (portrayed by Viola Davis) is the head of the Suicide Squad and a government agent.
Rick Flag[edit]
George "Digger" Wallace / Captain Boomerang[edit]
Chato Santana / El Diablo[edit]
Waylon Jones / Killer Croc[edit]
Hyppolyta[edit]
Steve Trevor[edit]
Antiope[edit]
Silas Stone[edit]
Mera[edit]
Mera (portrayed by Amber Heard) is a princess of Atlantis and becomes Arthur Curry's main love interest. She is originally betrothed to Orm Marius.
Nuidis Vulko[edit]
Nuidis Vulko (portrayed by Willem Dafoe) is Queen Atlanna's trusted enforcer and Arthur's mentor.
Thomas Curry[edit]
Thomas Curry (portrayed by Temuera Morrison) is Arthur Curry's father and the human lover of Queen Atlanna.
Atlanna[edit]
Queen Atlanna (portrayed by Nicole Kidman) is the exiled queen of Atlantis, lover of Thomas Curry, and mother of both Arthur Curry and Orm Marius.
Freddy Freeman[edit]
Mary Bromfield[edit]
Helena Bertinelli / Huntress[edit]
Dinah Lance / Black Canary[edit]
Renee Montoya[edit]
Cassandra Cain[edit]
Main antagonists[edit]
General Zod[edit]
Faora-Ul[edit]
Lex Luthor[edit]
Anatoli Knyazev[edit]
June Moon / Enchantress and Incubus[edit]
Dr. Isabel Maru[edit]
General Erich Ludendorff[edit]
A fictionalized version of the real-life German general who fought in World War I, Erich Ludendorff (portrayed by Danny Huston) is a pragmatic, iron-fisted tactician who leads the Imperial German Army during the waning days of the war, enlisting Dr. Maru to create a deadlier, hydrogen-based variant of mustard gas in an attempt to turn the tide of battle. Diana believes he is Ares at first after hearing Steve Trevor's account of the war. She attempts to assassinate him at a gala, then finally gets her vengeance on him after he deploys his mustard gas on an innocent village and fights her. However, the war does not end when Diana kills him, leaving her confused until Sir Patrick Morgan reveals himself as the God of War.
Sir Patrick Morgan / Ares[edit]
Steppenwolf[edit]
Darkseid[edit]
Orm Marius[edit]
David Kane / Black Manta[edit]
Dr. Thaddeus Sivana[edit]
Seven Deadly Sins[edit]
Roman Sionis / Black Mask[edit]
Victor Zsasz[edit]
Maxwell "Max Lord" Lorenzano[edit]
Barbara Ann Minerva / Cheetah[edit]
Minor characters[edit]
Debuting in Man of Steel[edit]
Pete Ross[edit]
Pete Ross (portrayed by Jack Foley as a teen, Joseph Cranford as an adult) is a classmate of Clark Kent in Smallville. While initially bullying Clark, he later gains respect for him after he rescues him from drowning when their school bus runs off a bridge into a river. Ross is later spotted by Lois Lane working at an IHOP restaurant as she seeks to interview people close to Clark. He observes Clark's fight with Faora and other Kryptonians and later attends his private funeral.
Lana Lang[edit]
Lana Lang (portrayed by Jadin Gould as a teen, Emily Peterson as an adult) is another classmate of Clark from Smallville. She stands up for him when he is bullied and is one of several classmates he saves when their school bus drives into a river. She later attends Clark's private funeral along with Pete Ross. Jonathan Kent mentions the Lang farm when he tells Clark a story about his own childhood during Clark's vision on a mountain.
Father Leon[edit]
Perry White[edit]
Glenn Woodburn[edit]
Col. Nathan Hardy[edit]
Nathan Hardy (portrayed by Christopher Meloni)[5] is an officer in the United States Air Force who first appears when Lois arrives in Canada to cover the discovery of the Kryptonian scout ship. He later assists the FBI in tracking her down when it is discovered she knows of Clark's origins. When the Kryptonians start attacking Earth, Hardy is part of the military response, and as his helicopter is shot down, faces Faora one-on-one despite her enhanced physical abilities and combat skills, gaining her respect. Hardy recognizes Superman's allegiance to mankind rather than Zod's forces, and helps stage an attack on Zod's mother ship, the Black Zero, when Lois and Superman explain how to take it down. When Faora attacks his air carrier during the attack, Hardy crashes the plane and the activated Phantom Drive of Clark's spacecraft into the mothership in a suicidal attack, sending all the Kryptonians except Superman and Zod back to the Phantom Zone.
Dr. Emil Hamilton[edit]
Emil Hamilton (portrayed by Richard Schiff) is a scientist with DARPA also appearing with Col. Hardy and General Swanwick as Lois arrives in Canada. He is also present during Superman's interrogation, in which the latter is able to see his name tag and a tranquilizing agent being prepared through the reflective glass in the interrogation room. Hamilton is the first to realize Zod and his troops are terraforming the Earth, and plays a key role in activating the Phantom Drive on Clark's ship before the plane carrying him and Hardy is forced to crash into the Black Zero in a suicide attack, resulting in his and Hardy's deaths in addition to banishing Zod's troops back to the Phantom Zone.
Jax-Ur[edit]
Jenny Jurwich[edit]
Jenny Jurwich (portrayed by Rebecca Buller) is introduced in Man of Steel as an intern at the Daily Planet, later becoming a full-time reporter and assistant to Perry White in Batman v Superman. She, Perry, and Steve Lombard are trapped in rubble during the battle of Metropolis before Superman shuts down the World Engine, and the three also see Superman rescue Lois out of the Air Carrier after it crashes into Zod's Mothership. She later attends Clark Kent's private funeral along with Lois and Perry. Jenny's character largely fills in the role traditionally held by Jimmy Olsen in the comics as a mentee of Lois.[1]
Steve Lombard[edit]
Steve Lombard (portrayed by Michael Kelly) is a reporter for the Daily Planet, appearing in Man of Steel. He, Perry White, and Jenny Jurwich are trapped in rubble during the Battle of Metropolis before Superman saves them. At the end of the film, he unsuccessfully attempts to ask out both Lois and Jenny prior to Clark's arrival at the news agency.
Maj. Carrie Farris[edit]
Carrie Farris (portrayed by Christina Wren) is an officer in the United States Air Force serving as an assistant to General Swanwick. She assists Swanwick and Dr. Hamilton at a command center when General Zod's forces begin terraforming Earth and also during Doomsday's rampage in Batman v Superman. She comments that Superman is "kinda hot" after she and Swanwick encounter him after he destroys a surveillance drone to prevent the U.S. government from spying on him, and also attends his public funeral.
Farris is loosely named after Carol Ferris, another U.S. Air Force pilot who becomes a love interest to Hal Jordan in the comics.
Debuting in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice[edit]
Thomas and Martha Wayne[edit]
Thomas (portrayed by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Martha Wayne (portrayed by Lauren Cohan) are Bruce Wayne's deceased parents, slain by an armed mugger in front of a 12-year-old Bruce as the family leaves a movie during a flashback in the film. Their deaths, especially Thomas's last words, "Martha", continue to haunt Bruce in the present day, as he seeks to honor his parents by fighting crime and injustice as Batman in Gotham City. The name "Martha" proves to be a pivotal element in Batman's change of heart in the film as Superman's adoptive mother coincidentally has the same first name, causing a PTSD episode that prevents Batman from carrying out his killing of the Man of Steel when he hears the latter utter the name.
Cesar Santos[edit]
Cesar Santos (portrayed by Sebastian Sozzi) is a human trafficker who is apprehended and brutally beaten by Batman at the beginning of the film, being one of 18 criminals given the "Bat Brand", which marks a criminal to be beaten to death in prison. After Santos' death, Lex Luthor sends images of his bruised and stabbed body to the Daily Planet, which Clark Kent sees. Many of Santos' scenes are cut from the theatrical version but appear in the Ultimate Edition.
Jimmy Olsen[edit]
Jimmy Olsen (portrayed by Michael Cassidy)[6] is a CIA operative, but poses as a photographer during Lois Lane's journey to Africa. During her interview with General Amajagh, he is exposed as an agent and killed after terrorists find a tracking device hidden within his camera.[7] Olsen plays a very minor role in the film, and the character of Jenny Jurwich has largely taken his traditional comics role in the DCEU.[1]
General Amajagh[edit]
General Armajagh (portrayed by Sammi Rotibi) is a warlord from the Sub-Saharan nation of Nairomi. He holds Lois hostage after his men discover her companions are spies with the CIA, but is quickly subdued by Superman after he discovers Lois's plight and rescues her. Amajagh's men are crossed and murdered by Anatoli Knyazev and other operatives working secretly for Lex Luthor as part of a plan to incriminate Superman.
Wallace Keefe[edit]
Mercy Graves[edit]
Jenet Klyburn[edit]
Jenet Klyburn (portrayed by Jena Malone) is a S.T.A.R. Labs scientist contacted by Lois Lane as the latter investigates several incidents that lead to her incriminating Lex Luthor. Klyburn's scenes were cut in the theatrical release of Batman v Superman but were restored in the Ultimate Edition.
Debuting in Suicide Squad[edit]
Christopher Weiss / Slipknot[edit]
Tatsu Yamashiro / Katana[edit]
Capt. Hunter Griggs[edit]
Lt. "GQ" Edwards[edit]
Zoe Lawton[edit]
Debuting in Wonder Woman[edit]
Etta Candy[edit]
Charlie[edit]
Sameer[edit]
Chief[edit]
Menalippe[edit]
Debuting in Justice League and Zack Snyder's Justice League[edit]
James Gordon[edit]
Elinore Stone[edit]
Iris West[edit]
Henry Allen[edit]
Slade Wilson / Deadshot[edit]
Debuting in Aquaman[edit]
Debuting in Shazam![edit]
Debuting in Birds of Prey[edit]
Doc[edit]
Debuting in Wonder Woman 1984[edit]
Factions, teams and organizations[edit]
Justice League[edit]
Suicide Squad[edit]
Birds of Prey[edit]
S.T.A.R. Labs[edit]
A.R.G.U.S.[edit]
Sword or Rao[edit]
Amazons[edit]
Atlanteans[edit]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Man Of Steel: 10 Details You Missed About The DCEU's Lois Lane". ScreenRant. 2020-12-23. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ↑ https://heroichollywood.com/justice-league-zack-snyder-martian-manhunter/
- ↑ "Justice League: Storyboard Reveals Martian Manhunter Was In Snyder Cut". ScreenRant. October 5, 2019.
- ↑ Liu, Narayan (November 13, 2020). "Zack Snyder's Justice League Only Shot Four Minutes of New Footage". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 24, 2011). "Christopher Meloni To Co-Star In 'Man Of Steel'". Deadline Hollywood. Mail.com. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- ↑ Breznician, Anthony (March 25, 2016). "Batman v Superman: Jimmy Olsen makes a secret appearance". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Anderton, Ethan (March 26, 2016). "Zack Snyder's Idea of Batman v Superman Fun Is Secretly Killing a DC Comics Character". /Film. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External links[edit]
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