James Gunn Doesn’t Need MCU’s Thanos in DCU: 5 Actors Who Can Nail Darkseid If Josh Brolin Rumor Is Untrue

James Gunn’s DCU is officially underway and it is high time a few casting choices are made for some key characters in the universe. The filmmaker and co-chief of DC Studios has maintained that no greenlight will be given for a project unless it has a solid script and seems to be giving time to set up solo films. However, all of them need to lead up to a huge villain.

Josh Brolin, who played Thanos in the MCU, recently shared a fanart of himself in the design of Darkseid. This fueled the rumors that Brolin was still in talks with Gunn after he refused the offer to play Hal Jordan a.k.a Green Lantern in the DCU. While casting Brolin as Darkseid, who is basically DC’s Thanos is not a good choice, there are other actors who fit the bill.

1 Javier Bardem

Javier Bardem in Dune: Part Two | Credits: Warner Bros.

The Spanish actor Javier Bardem definitely has the voice for Darkseid. The actor’s thick, accented voice is menacing and can be grave when necessary. Bardem is an incredible actor who has played intense roles in films like No Country for Old Men, for which he earned the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He has been nominated three more times.

In the film, he played Anton Chigurh, a hitman without remorse or conscience who is ready to kill any obstacle that comes his way. He is also twisted in a way that sometimes he just leaves it up to pure chance. Bardem nailed the menacing aspect of his psychopathy and that is something he can tap into with Darkseid.

The actor has featured in a number of blockbusters in the past few years, with his most noted role being Stilgar in the Dune films. While Josh Brolin circles around the role of Darkseid (via CBR), James Gunn really ought to pick his Dune co-star instead.

2 John Goodman

John Goodman in Kong: Skull Island | Credits: Warner Bros.

John Goodman may not look the part but he certainly can voice Darkseid. The actor is best known as the voice behind Sulley, the turquoise hairy monster in Pixar’s Monster’s Inc. He has also performed on screen in various acclaimed films such as The Big Lebowski, Argo, Atomic Blonde, Barton Fink, Trumbo, and more.

Goodman’s USP is again his voice. The actor’s drawl is iconic and its booming quality would suit Darkseid very well. The actor has also voiced the transformer Hound in Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Last Night. He would be a welcome addition to James Gunn’s DCU, especially as the voice behind Darkseid.

3 Ron Perlman

Ron Perlman in Pacific Rim | Credits: Warner Bros.

Who better to play the agent of chaos and death than the former Hellboy himself? Ron Perlman is a man among dudes and exudes coolness whenever he pops up on screen. His screen presence is one of the biggest reasons why Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy films were such a hit and he could bring in that same menacing quality to the DCU with Darkseid.

Apart from the Hellboy films, he has also worked in Blade II, Pacific Rim, Alien Resurrection, and Conan the Barbarian. He too has voiced a transformer in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Perlman has superhero experience and has the tenacity to embody Darkseid both physically (practical effects or mo-cap) and with his voice.

4 Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson in Batman Begins | Credits: Warner Bros.

The Irish actor may be ready to find and kill anyone in his way in the Taken series, and that is the exact kind of energy that the DCU would need with Darkseid. Skilled, menacing, and with royalty, Liam Neeson oozes a sophistication that fits the stature of the New God. Neeson’s incredible voice is also a huge plus for the character.

The actor has already played a DC villain, portraying Ra’s Al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy. Neeson has the action film experience to pull off the physicality of Darkseid either through motion capture or by other means. Enough time has also passed since The Dark Knight Rises for him to embody another DC role.

5 Keith David

Keith David in Cloud Atlas | Credits: Warner Bros.

Keith David is one of the most prominent supporting actors in Hollywood. He has portrayed a number of roles in many acclaimed films. His signature quality is his recognizable, deep, and booming voice which works best for the voice of Darkseid. David has played antagonistic roles before and he could definitely pull off the New God with style.

The actor has also voiced other DC roles before. He has portrayed Tobias Whale in Catwoman: Hunted, Dog-El in DC League of Super-Pets, and the Centre in Justice League: The New Frontier.