Ever since DC’s CCO, Geoff Johns, dropped a tweet bomb making it clear that another DC TV show would be announced “soon,” we have been thinking of what series we would like to see from DC next.
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This list is not simply made up of shows we would like to see, but rather picks make the most sense in terms of what is currently successful in the market and what has not been done yet. Not only that, but it makes a world of difference where these shows ends up, so we also suggest good homes, as well. With that, here are the DC stories, characters and teams we would love to see DC take to the small screen next!
ATLANTIS
Like “Gotham” or the upcoming “Krypton,” we think an Aquaman show would be great, especially if it was set before he was a hero… way before. A series set centuries ago, before the mythic continent of Atlantis sunk, could definitely resonate with fans of “Game of Thrones” and similar programs based around mythical societies. Geoff Johns created a rich history for Arthur and his Atlantean people when he revamped the “Aquaman” title for the New 52. We want to see everything from King Atlan sinking his kingdom, to the evolution of The Trench, to the creation of the fabled Relics of Atlantis.
On the other hand, in the ‘80s, Mike Grell also explored ancient Atlantis in his classic “Warlord” series, as did Paul Kupperberg and Jan Duursema in their “Arion Lord of Atlantis” title. While we love CW’s shared universe, we think this one would be a good second DC series for SyFy. Crossovers with “Krypton” may be hard if the time periods are too different, but we have faith that the wizards at DC could figure something out.
THE OUTSIDERS
Batman originally started The Outsiders as a covert ops team to save a kidnapped Lucius Fox, but there have been various line-ups of the team since, consisting of characters like Metamorpho, Katana, Black Lightning and Geo-Force, with Bats taking lead. What’s interesting is that the Arrowverse has introduced or alluded to almost all of these characters. Katana had a recurring role in Seasons 3 and 4 of “Arrow;” Metamorpho’s nemesis, industrialist Simon Stagg, appeared in Season 1 of “The Flash;” and the country Geo-Force is the monarch of, Markovia, has been named-dropped on “Arrow” numerous times. Even Batman was referenced in “Supergirl” this season.
While we don’t think it’s likely that DC will cast their most popular superhero just to get an “Outsiders” show off the ground, we do think casting Metamorpho and Geo-Force to go along with Rila Fukushima’s Katana is a great idea. Plus, another notable character that has lead the team in the comics is already an Arrowverse staple, Arsenal. During Judd Winnik’s 25-issue run on the title, Roy shared leadership with Nightwing. Further, a villain that debuted in that arc, Ishmael Gregor, was just introduced on “Arrow” this season.
BLUE DEVIL
Ever since “Arrow” dropped a Blue Devil easter egg in the form of a movie poster on a bus, we have wondered what a whole series dedicated to this B-list character might look like. While he has never been a huge commercial success, he is one of DC’s most important magic-based characters. He had a solo ongoing series in the mid-‘80s, a team-up title with Black Lightning that was part of the New 52, and he has been a part of nearly every DC magic super group (pre-Justice League Dark), including Spirit Squad, Sentinels of Magic and Shadowpact.
Blue Devil has a pretty strange, long-winded origin story, but suffice it to say that he was a well-known practical effects designer in Hollywood, but then was mystically bonded with an animatronic suit he had created for a film titled “Blue Devil.” Told you it was weird. The poster in “Arrow” was for that movie. Now that Arrow has embraced super powers and magic, this seems like it would not only be an easy fit, but that it was meant to be.
DIAL H
The concept of this comic alone should make for a highly entertaining series. An everyday teenager named Robby Reed discovers what appears to be the dial of an old school rotary phone, except every time he dials H-E-R-O, he becomes a different superhero. How fun does that sound?
“Dial H For Hero” started as a light-hearted affair in the ‘60s that didn’t let logic get in the way of a good story. However, the most recent “Dial H” series, written by fantasy/sci-fi novelist China Mieville, got serious about this silly idea. He posited that the powers the user got from the dial were being pulled from parallel realities, leaving the heroes of those realities powerless. It’s not hard to imagine how dangerous this could be; just think what would happen if Supergirl was flying when she lost her powers, or Flash if he was in the middle of a scrape. Because of the compelling nature of its story, and the relationship the device has with preexisting heroes throughout the DC multiverse, the crossover potential of this concept would be fantastic for an adult-centric show focusing on the concept’s darker side.
NEW GODS
Anybody who cites Netflix’s “Daredevil” or AMC’s “The Walking Dead” as their favorite comic book show knows that DC needs something to compete with the more adult-oriented fare available these days. Well, we think Warner needs to flex its HBO muscle and give us a standalone “New Gods” series on the popular channel. One of Jack Kirby’s most developed family of characters, the New Gods are (as the name suggests) a god-like people from another dimension. The name is mostly familiar to the general public thanks to all of the hype surrounding the “Batman v. Superman” deleted scene featuring Steppenwolf, not to mention the buzz around the eventual arrival of the all-powerful Darkseid in the DCEU.
Both characters are New Gods royalty haling from the planet Apokolips, and would be a great addition to another show about warring high society (again, a-la “Game of Thrones”). While it seems unlikely that DC will cast more than a handful of New Gods in upcoming DCEU films, this deep pool of characters and the sister planets they inhabit would be excellent source material for a big budget, world-building show.
HOURMAN
In case you missed it, the CW/DC were developing an Hourman show back in 2013. A brief accompanying synopsis outlined a series about a man who could see one hour into the future and uses the ability to stop tragedies. While this isn’t unfaithful to Hourman canon, the most popular version of the character is Rex Tyler, a chemist who developed a “vitamin” that gave him super strength and speed for one hour at a time. He named the drug Miraclo and used it to become a costumed crime-fighter. However, he also became addicted to the substance.
Precedent has already been set for an Hourman angle in the Arrowverse since “Arrow: Season 2” (2013), as the Mirakuru formula used by Deathstroke is clearly inspired by Miraclo. So, with Patrick J. Adams taking on the role of Rex Tyler in “Legends of Tomorrow,” now would be the perfect time for this show. Since Rex is murdered in only his second “Legends” appearance, the series could tell his story leading up to Word War II. Or, since the name and costume are a legacy mantle, you could have a show set in present day with Rex’s grandson (his son Rick was Hourman II), or in the far future with his android clone, Matthew Tyler.
DOOM PATROL
This is probably our most obscure pick on this list (or at least a close second to “Dial H”). The Doom Patrol has been around since 1963 and continues to be popular with creators and fans, but they have never been a big seller on newstands. Industry icons John Byrne, Keith Giffen and Grant Morrison have all written memorable runs on the title, with Gerard Way and Nick Derrington helming the title currently for the Young Animal imprint.
The concept behind the group should sound familiar: outcasts with strange abilities led by a wheelchair-bound scientist. Sounds a lot like the X-Men, right? But Marvel’s Merry Mutants didn’t arrive on the scene until a couple of months after Doom Patrol. The original line-up includes the Chief, Robotman, Elasti-Girl, and Negative Man, all of whom tended to be troubled and have appearances that scared the public. In terms of TV, though, a “Doom Patrol” show would be anything but off-putting. While we don’t think this one belongs on The CW, Doom Patroller Valentina Vostok (aka Negative Woman) did appear in the first season of “Legends of Tomorrow,” and could be successfully expanded upon there.
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
In the fall of 2014, whispers that Warner Bros. was considering a Legion of Super-Heroes feature film had fans chomping at the bit. Due to the timing, though, it seemed clear that this move was just a knee jerk reaction to the mega success of Marvel’s space romp, “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Of course, DC diehards couldn’t care less why the property was being developed, just that it was being developed in the first place!
Well, it’s been years now and not a peep about the film has leaked since, but we would still love to get a Legion of Super-Heroes show! The Arrowverse have teased the gaggle of future heroes with Legion flight rings in both “The Flash” and “Supergirl,” so the stage is already set. With regular time-travel in “The Flash” and “Legends of Tomorrow,” crossovers are even possible. Plus, Mon-El and his story are a major part of Legion lore, and Chris Wood would make a great series regular.
BLUE BEETLE
Any character Geoff Johns has a passion for is worth a show or movie. His work on DC comics and TV shows has set a high-water mark for both, and though he has never written a Blue Beetle solo title, or even featured him in his “Teen Titans” run, he seems to love the hero and clearly wants him to hit the screen in some way. In 2010, for example, he teased a live-action “Blue Beetle” series featuring the popular third iteration of the character, Jamie Reyes.
At San Diego Comic-Con that same year, some intriguing test footage was unveiled that seemed to indicate that a Blue Beetle-based show was moving along. While we know that show never made it to pilot — Johns instead wrote an episode of “Smallville” featuring Jamie’s Blue Beetle — there nonetheless remains a fantastic opportunity to introduce live-action fans to the character. Since DCEU isn’t doing anything with the hero thus far, other than in the new season of “Young Justice,” now is the ideal time to give him another shot.
AMAZON
The CW and DC teams have undoubtedly considered a wide range of shows that may be a good fit for the network, but we’ve only caught wind of a handful. In 2012, “Amazon” was another show they nearly gave the green light. Much like “Gotham,” the idea was to tell the story of young Diana in Themyscira, long before Steve Trevor ever sets foot on the isolated island. Word is that the script never satisfied CW’s president, even after a couple of stabs by a retinue of big writers.
Since then, a lot of awesome Wonder Woman stories have been told by luminaries of the comic world like Brian Azzarello, Greg Rucka and Grant Morrison. Each of these writers, with their respective art teams, put their own narrative spin on Themyscira and the Amazons. While we would like to see what they had cooked up for the “Amazon” series back in ’12, we think some of the more recently created mythos would be amazing to see adapted to live action. Azzarello’s explanation of how Amazons conceive alone would make for great TV.
SUICIDE SQUAD
Considering the “Suicide Squad” movie’s stellar box office numbers, the likelihood of DC green-lighting a TV show is next to nil. Their logic is that they don’t want to confuse fans with different versions of characters appearing on the big and small screens. However, we think viewers are smarter than they are being given credit for, and that a “Suicide Squad” series would only strengthen the brand.
The Arrowverse has not only given us two different incarnations of the Suicide Squad, but all four CW shows have debuted characters that have been Squad members in the comics. A Task Force X series would have enough fodder to kill off whole Squads without putting a dent in the villain population. A few names we would like to see in a rotating line-up would be Wade “The General” Eiling, Captain Boomerang, Count Vertigo, King Shark, Atom Smasher, Clock King, Plastique and Multiplex. While some of those characters died, the Flashpoint reset could account for their return. Even heroes like The Atom, Vixen and Speedy have worked with the Squad in the comics, and could show up for multi-episode arcs. Of course, we would expect Spartan and Harbinger to feature heavily as well!
GREEN LANTERN
Since Geoff Johns started writing comics for DC in 1999, he has done an outstanding job at streamlining the convoluted continuity of more than a dozen of the publisher’s top characters. He managed to do this without discrediting or disrespecting the work of those that came before him. Green Lantern is a prime example. His “Rebirth” and “Blackest Night” arcs redefined the Corps for a new generation. You can imagine that the negative backlash towards the “Green Lantern” feature film probably hit him in the heart, especially since it was the first DC movie he worked on. Thus, a series could be Johns’ chance to redeem the character onscreen, but only if they do it right, obviously. With “Arrow” dropping Hal Jordan easter eggs throughout all four seasons so far, it’s about time they paid off.
Considering The CW’s budgetary constraints, a Green Lantern show would have to be smart about its use of CG. So, a first season that starts off with a pre-ring Hal, would be a smart play, with hints of the Green Lantern mythos peppered sparingly throughout. They could develop him as the cocky test pilot and build strong subplots for his supporting cast. Then, they could bring in Abin Sur for the Season 1 finale, and tackle the ring in Season 2.
TITANS
DC’s CW shows may be their most successful, but “Lucifer” and “Gotham” continue to maintain solid viewerships on Fox. With that in mind, you know that a bunch of other networks must be vying for a piece of DC’s superhero pie. Even though “Constantine” was canceled, NBC will try its hand again with the superhero comedy “Powerless.” SyFy tried to do a “Booster Gold” series that never panned out, but now they have “Krypton” on deck. However, the biggest property DC has considered producing with a network other than CW is “Titans,” with TNT.
Formerly known as the Teen Titans, the Titans is made up of DC’s most popular young characters. The most recognized version of the team counts Nightwing, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire and Raven among its ranks. Sadly, TNT never got passed the script stage, and the decision to scrap the show was not even officially announced. However, there is a wealth of material to draw from, and we think this is still totally worth pursuing. Since TNT passed on it, we think it should be awarded to somebody with the money to make it right.
BIRDS OF PREY
The last “Birds of Prey” show didn’t do too well, but now that we are in the heyday of comic book TV, we think the ladies deserve another chance. Sure, the upcoming female-led “Gotham City Sirens” movie would probably prevent this from happening, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to see the classic line-up of Black Canary, The Huntress and Oracle in a new series.
As is the case with a lot of entries on this list, we think this show belongs on The CW. It could be a good place to develop secondary characters on its own on a big network like Fox or NBC. Then again, all the characters already exist in the Arrowverse. Black Canary is back, Huntress is around and Ollie name-dropped Oracle when he named Felicity Overwatch. We should point out that Laurel and Helena aren’t on the best of terms, though, considering their last encounter. Then again, conflict is always the first step towards any good superhero team-up.
SUPERMAN
With the resoundingly positive response to Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman in the first two episodes of “Supergirl” it would almost be silly for CW not to do a series. Many fans are even voicing that they like Hoechlin’s Supes more than Henry Cavill’s interpretation. While we’re not going to pick sides because we are fans of both actors, we would like to see more of Hoechlin’s charming take on the Big Blue Boy Scout.
Though DC did surprise viewers by allowing Superman to appear in “Supergirl,” the powers that be are still holding back Lex Luthor. However, a Superman show would all but guarantee we would see this vicious version of Lex that is locked away for life. Bringing back other major enemies of Kal-El that have already appeared on “Supergirl,” like Metallo, General Lane and Livewire would be fun, too. Using the “Supergirl” cameo template and bringing in John Shea (who played Lex in “Lois & Clark”) as Lex’s father would be another great move!
Which DC properties do you want to see make the leap to TV? Let us know in the comments!
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