An upcoming film can fulfill a dream that both Marvel and DC failed to achieve

DC’s Secret Six Movie Theories Explained

One of the most tantalizing rumors surrounding the future of the DCU is the possibility of a Secret Six film. The Secret Six is ​​a supervillain team that has gone through several iterations in DC Comics. Although there were various rosters, some of the most prominent cast members included Bane and Deathstroke, two characters that are reportedly being developed in the new DCU.

In the comics, the Secret Six are often portrayed as anti-heroes, mercenaries brought together by the mysterious figure known as Mockingbird and tasked with dangerous, morally ambiguous missions. A Secret Six film would allow DC to highlight a unique team dynamic that stands out from the typical superhero groupings like the Justice League. Unlike the utter villainy of the Legion of Doom, the Secret Six operate in a gray area where their motivations can range from personal gain to a distorted sense of justice.

Having Bane and Deathstroke – two of DC’s most fearsome strategic villains – front and center would add real weight to the team. The opportunity to see these characters team up opens the door to a dark, intense storyline that could delve deep into the psyches of these characters rather than simply portraying them as one-note villains. This would be consistent with James Gunn’s tendency to explore flawed, complex characters, much like he did with The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy.

DC’s previous Lost Supervillain Team-Up film explained

The idea of ​​a DC supervillain team-up movie isn’t new. Even back in the days of the DCEU, there were plans to introduce a group of villains who would rival the Justice League in power and threat. In the post-credits scene of 2017’s Justice League, Lex Luthor escapes Arkham Asylum and encounters Slade Wilson, aka DeathStroke, on a yacht. Their conversation hinted at the formation of a new team, with Luthor hinting at starting “a league of his own,” which many fans interpreted as the beginning of the Legion of Doom.

Unfortunately, the film’s poor box office performance and subsequent behind-the-scenes convulsions at Warner Bros. meant that this Legion of Doom film was never fully developed. The tantalizing tease of Deathstroke working alongside Luthor was a missed opportunity for DC to develop a darker, villain-focused storyline. This could have laid the foundation for a film where villains pursue their own goals and don’t just serve as foils for the heroes. Although the Legion of Doom never came to fruition, the foundation for a villainous team was clearly there, and many were disappointed when it was abandoned.

Sony has attempted to make a Sinister Six film several times

On the Marvel side, Sony has made several attempts to create its own villain-focused team-up movie, most notably with the Sinister Six. The Sinister Six are a group of Spider-Man’s most dangerous enemies, united by their hatred of the web-slinger. Plans for a Sinister Six movie have been floating around since the days of the Amazing Spider-Man series. After The Amazing Spider-Man 2 introduced various villains and hinted at the formation of the Sinister Six, Sony announced that a standalone film focusing on the villainous group was in development.

However, this project was scrapped following the reboot of the Amazing Spider-Man series and Sony struck a deal with Marvel Studios to integrate Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the dream of a Sinister Six film isn’t dead yet. Sony continues to develop its own Spider-Man Universe (SSU), introducing individual villain-focused films such as Venom, Morbius and the upcoming Kraven the Hunter.

There’s a strong possibility that these films will lay the groundwork for a Sinister Six film, but the biggest problem for Sony is the lack of a consistent, unified vision for the universe. Without a clear Spider-Man character in their universe, it’s hard to imagine a Sinister Six film that feels cohesive or meaningful. Additionally, the SSU films’ difficulty in achieving box office success raises doubts as to whether Sony will be able to pull off this ambitious team.

Why a DC Secret Six film is likely to be released sooner than a Sinister Six film

Comparing the two, it seems far more likely that DC will manage to release a Secret Six film before Marvel’s Sinister Six project ever gets off the ground. James Gunn’s DCU already places an emphasis on obscure or less mainstream characters, as seen in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, and the Secret Six fit Gunn’s narrative strategy perfectly. He excels at bringing unlikely characters together and exploring their complicated relationships, making him the ideal person to helm a Secret Six film.

Meanwhile, Sony’s Sinister Six plans appear to be in the development phase. While the SSU films have introduced several key members of the Sinister Six, they have not yet managed to convincingly connect these characters together in a way that could lead to team building. Additionally, SSU’s track record was shaky at best, with films like Morbius being critically panned and financially disappointing. Unless Sony can dramatically improve the quality and coherence of its universe, a Sinister Six film seems like a distant dream.

In contrast, a Secret Six film would allow the DCU to continue to focus on villain-centric narratives without having to rely on the more traditional hero versus villain dynamic. It could also follow a trend that has worked well for Gunn in the past, which is to highlight lesser-known characters who, when united, create an unexpected and interesting team dynamic. By combining intriguing characters like Bane and DeathStroke and focusing on a more grounded and emotional story, the DCU has a real chance of achieving what Marvel’s Sinister Six and DCEU’s Legion of Doom couldn’t.

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