Henry Cavill’s Superman was the heart and soul of the now ended DC Extended Universe, and looking back, I’m glad that the hero was able to fight three of Superman’s four most terrifying villains. Many, including myself, did not totally understand Cavill’s contemplative version of Superman, seeing it instead as a dark, brooding, and violent iteration of the character. Looking back, however, across the several films he appeared in, Cavill’s Superman’s journey was something very special and unique.

Quotes from Superman’s movie villains have been especially memorable, as the Man of Steel has faced so many incredible and powerful foes. Whether extraterrestrial or from the Earth, all kinds of villains have faced off against Superman in varied and incredible stories. The most commonly used villain has been Lex Luthor, for good reason. However, seeing some of Superman’s most powerful threats is also important, and I’m glad most of them made it into the DCEU.

Henry Cavill’s Superman Has Fought 3 Of His 4 Favorite DC Villains In The DCEU

Zod, Doomsday, And Darkseid All Appeared In The DCEU

During promotion for the theatrical release of Justice League, Henry Cavill spoke with JOE.ie, where he was asked about his favorite DC comic book movie villains. He first listed Zod, then Doomsday, saying “As far as Dan Jurgens comics go, just amazing.” He continued by mentioning Brainiac and Darkseid. Notably, three of these characters faced off against Superman in some capacity in the DCEU, with only Brainiac not going up against Cavill’s Man of Steel.

Superman fought Zod in Man of Steel, then Doomsday in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. While he did not physically confront Darkseid in Justice League or Zack Snyder’s Justice League, he did defeat Steppenwolf as a statement to remind him to stay away from Earth. This confrontation was satisfying, and it is incredible to consider that Cavill’s Superman was able to face off against so many important foes. I wish that he could have fought Brainiac too, but three out of four is an excellent result.

Why Henry Cavill Never Fought Brainiac

A Man Of Steel Direct Sequel Never Came Together At DC

Put simply, Brainiac was supposed to be the villain of Man of Steel 2, and that sequel never happened. Brainiac is probably the most notably absent villain from Superman’s live-action films. The character is one of the longest-running foes to Superman in the comics, but has never been seen in any of the live-action movies. Following this, he has been rumored several times to be intended for a future film, with even a script for Man of Steel 2 being written that would have seen Brainiac as the main antagonist.

Despite rumblings through the years, another Henry Cavill Superman film was not made, providing no clear opportunity to use Brainiac.

For better and for worse, Warner Bros. decided to move forward with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice rather than Man of Steel 2 in order to quickly expand their universe. The film disappointed some, while others loved it, especially the Ultimate Edition alternate cut. Despite rumblings through the years, another Henry Cavill Superman film was not made, providing no clear opportunity to use Brainiac. With Brainiac’s next onscreen appearance recently confirmed, however, it seems the villain does have a future.

Henry Cavill’s Superman History Managed To Cover Way More Of His Villain Lineup Than His Release Roster Might Suggest

Superman Was At The Center Of The DC Extended Universe

While Superman only received a single solo film in the DCEU, the story of the universe was built around him. After directing Man of Steel, Zack Snyder increased the size of the universe with the introduction of Batman, then the Justice League. Notably, all of this occurred around Superman and the world that was built in Man of Steel. The plot of Batman v Superman was primarily about contending with a world where Superman existed, while Justice League was largely about bringing Superman back to life.

I believe that, more than anything, Zack Snyder’s Justice League trilogy was a Superman trilogy. This led to the use of mostly Superman characters and villains, and plots that centered around Superman’s place in the world. Despite barely even appearing in Justice League before the end, the plot and the larger story were all constructed around Superman, making it necessary to use his stories and his foes. Using this to bring in Lex Luthor, Doomsday, and more to the DCEU was the best path forward.

I am very excited for James Gunn’s new DCU, although I will miss much of what the DCEU did. Seeing Henry Cavill take on Brainiac in a sequel would have been incredible, although I’m glad we got as much of Cavill in the Superman role as we did. The most important thing for DC is that Superman continues to be a priority for the studio. I hope that we get something that has as much depth, heart, and complexity as Superman in the DCEU when Superman launches the new DCU in full force next year.