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It’s undoubtedly clear how rocky the early days of the DC Extended Universe were: the films were subject to intense studio interference and the overarching direction of the storyline was aborted due to a mixture of creative differences and executive turnover. The series has since rebounded with unique films such as Shazam! and The Suicide Squad among others, but it will forever be linked to the shaky foundation that its successes are laid upon
Granted, the movies that engaged in these missteps have positive qualities and fandoms. But some of the decision-making behind the scenes remains questionable regardless of the shell of masterful filmmaking surrounding them. The past has made the DCEU what it is, but a select few things simply could’ve been better.
10 Jesse Eisenberg Puzzles As Lex Luthor
Zack Snyder’s casting for his DCEU projects has generally been well-received; the one glaring exception being his decision to have Lex Luthor portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The actor is talented, as shown by his work in The Social Network and the Zombieland films. He was simply miscast in this instance, imbuing the classic DC villain with a manic energy that quintessentially isn’t Lex Luthor. That jumpy aura relates an uncertainty or discomfort, which the billionaire Superman foe lacks due to his confidence in himself. Lex hasn’t returned since Justice League, appearing once again in Zack Snyder’s Justice League a couple of years later albeit in largely the same capacity.
9 Warner Bros. Baffles With No Man Of Steel 2
Even should Luthor return, his heroic nemesis seems conspicuously absent as well, giving him essentially no purpose. Henry Cavill has not returned to the role since both versions of JL beyond unconfirmed rumors, looks to not be donning the cape again in the near future.
To have DC cinematic adventures without Superman seems sacrilege yet the DCEU is currently doing it. No reappearance or proper sequel in a potential Man of Steel 2 is on the horizon, giving the series a bit of a glaring hole within its universe. Without the Blue Boy Scout, it’s doubtful DC Films can retain any goodwill from the fandom.
8 Zack Snyder Does Too Much With Batman V Superman
Warner Bros. studio executives bear a brunt of the blame for the early faults of the series. The rest of it falls on Zack Snyder, the architect of much of what viewers know as the DCEU. The filmmaker is adept in emotional impact and visuals, but can quickly become unfocused. BvS is stuffed to the brim with needless plot diversions and potential film-length story arcs wasted in a movie trying to do too much. If the film had focused on the battle between the titular heroes, rather than attempting to set up future installments, it would have paid off. As patience often does in the long run.
7 Joss Whedon Shreds Snyder’s Vision
Fresh off of the critical reception to BvS, Zack Snyder attempted to adjust his vision for JL. His additions were not ultimately not enough and the studio brought in Joss Whedon, famous for his impressive superhero tentpoles The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Rather than simply finishing the film, Whedon was conscripted to essentially remake it with the footage already shot and studio-sanctioned reshoots. The effort ended up fruitless as the film opened to middling reviews, lukewarm fan reception, and is fated to remain a footnote in the history books. The director has since faced accusations of abusive and inappropriate behavior, leading to DC Films completely cutting ties.
6 Patty Jenkins Bewilders With Wonder Woman 1984
2020 ended up being a historic year in the worst of ways: the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic covered the globe in a cloud of fear and uncertainty. Many people found comfort in their love of movies, particularly superheroic fiction that spoke of what humanity could become at its best. Fans of Wonder Woman were delighted with the 2017 eponymous film and eagerly awaited the sequel from director Patty Jenkins.
Wonder Woman 1984 debuted to mixed reviews, not necessarily because of its lack of compelling performances or interesting takes, but due to one very odd decision. Steve Trevor perished in the previous film, yet was able to return in this one thanks to the Dreamstone. The caveat was that it was in another man’s body, therefore robbing that individual of all freedom of action and thought. It seemed overly complicated when the magic stone simply could’ve just brought Trevor back.
5 Warner Bros. Panics With Suicide Squad
Preceding the debacle that was JL was the catastrophe of Suicide Squad. A promising film starring a slew of DC villains, the movie was the first of the DCEU subject to severe studio meddling.
Mandated reshoots and differing edits resulted in a mess of a movie that fails to take full advantage of its zany premise. The series received a proper do-over with James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad in 2021, but the scars of executive interference run deep within the DCEU fandom thanks to this episode.
4 Warner Bros. Abandons The Snyderverse
Restore the Snyderverse is a movement born of love for Zack Snyder’s vision of the DC world; examples of such encompass Man of Steel, BvS, and ZS’s JL. The aforementioned meddling by Warner Bros. preceded the formal abandoning of the storylines Snyder laid down, leaving a massive group of fans unsatisfied with their stories’ lack of closure. It leaves the film series in an ambiguous state with no clear direction or trajectory. Plot threads go unresolved and the fandom grows more segmented with every film released not acknowledging past events. This is arguably the DCEU’s greatest sin.
3 Batman Kills In Batman V Superman
Anchored to Snyder’s vision of the DC Universe is his grim interpretation of Batman, played skillfully by Ben Affleck. This is a version of the Caped Crusader who has lost his empathy for mankind, particularly the criminals he stalks in Gotham, and there are numerous instances in BvS where the supposed hero murders goons to accomplish his goals. It should be noted that this is not unprecedented, as Batman has killed several times in the source material. However, the general consensus remains that the hero should rise above such base instincts and imprison his foes instead. Killing is simply unnecessary, as the message of Batman being disillusioned is delivered satisfactorily in other ways.
2 Superman Snaps In Man Of Steel
Snyder decided to have his Superman kill as well: the Blue Boy Scout snaps General Zod’s neck to prevent the villain from killing a group of innocents. This is perhaps a little more fitted to the story of Man of Steel in this case, as this Superman is learning difficult lessons about the personal cost of a heroic life.
As the inaugural installment of the DCEU, though, Man of Steel was on shaky ground to begin with as it was following up the iconic Christopher Reeve. Snyder was bold to introduce fans to a new Superman only to have him kill someone by the end, but it perpetually turned many of the character’s fans off to this new interpretation.
1 Superman Destroys Metropolis
Alongside Superman’s lethal act in MoS is his wanton disregard for the city he supposedly protects. The final act gives viewers a visually stunning battle between the hero and Zod, but many found themselves concerned with the collateral damage of the two godlike beings duking it out. To be fair, Metropolis is in shambles even before the fight begins, but Superman certainly could have drawn Zod away to continue the battle elsewhere. Or perhaps the Kryptonian general would have attempted to endanger as many humans as possible. Either way, Metropolis’ senseless destructions set the tone for the DCEU and many superhero fans didn’t find it heroic enough.
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