Summary

DCmovies have change many villain ' backstories and often even improved upon them compared to the source stuff . DC as a stigma may be do it for character reference like Batman and Superman , but the heroes are only as good as their nefarious vis-a-vis . The page of DC Comics are fill with well - written and developed resister , but sometimes the modulation to the big silver screen necessitates change .

While some DC picture show have largely last out true to the origin write up of their villains , others have made significant modification to the backstories and motivation of their adversary . Naturally , some degree of change and tweak are need in any mirthful Scripture adjustment , and frequently , the sometimescontroversial change made to DC movie villainshave often given novel , interesting , and sometimes even sound backstories than their mirthful book origins . Here are 10 DC movie villain whose backstories have been changed in beneficial ways in DC pic .

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10Arthur Fleck’s Backstory Is Perfect For Joker

A History Of Pain And Misunderstanding

In most cartoon strip and adaptations , the Joker is given no backstory and his real identity is never revealed , but Todd Phillips’Jokergives him both in the news report of the perpetually tormented clown - for - hire Arthur Fleck ( Joaquin Phoenix ) . Living in poverty and smite with a disorder that causes involuntary laughter , Phoenix ’s Fleck experience nothing but miserableness and hardship throughout the flick , which ultimately pushes him over the edge to become the Joker . In doing so , Jokeroffers a completely different but compelling take on the villain , depict how a role like the Joker could be created after a lifetime of hardship and parody .

9Black Manta’s Alliance With Ocean Master Was Perfect For Aquaman

From A Hired Mercenary To A Villain In His Own Right

Cast

Aquaman ’s version of Black Manta sets up the villain ’s blood feud against Jason Momoa ’s Arthur Curry in a clever way . Aquamanmaintains the canonic history of Black Manta(Yahya Abdul - Mateen II ) seeking revenge on Aquaman for his Father of the Church ’s death , but the movie integrate Black Manta initially as a mercenary in the employ of King Orm , a.k.a . Ocean Master ( Patrick Wilson ) to provoke an Atlantean state of war with the surface human beings . By utilize Black Manta ’s score against Arthur like this , Aquamanmakes Black Manta into a confederate who comes to sweep over his employer , set him up as the master villain forAquaman and the Lost Kingdom .

8The Penguin Is Completely Re-Imagined In Batman Returns

Tim Burton’s Penguin Is A Tragic Monster

Oswald Cobblepot , a.k.a . The Penguin , is known for being a gamey - club baddie in the Batman cartoon strip and most Batman adaptations , but Tim Burton’sBatman Returnsre - forge Danny DeVito ’s Penguin from the ground up . DeVito ’s rendition of the the Penguin match the humans of Tim Burton ’s Batman much comfortably than the Hellenic Penguin would , DeVito ’s Oswald don his mellow high society range to as a price to ingratiate himself back into Gotham City . In the goal , that facade is completely stripped away , withBatman Returnsshowing the Penguin for what he is , and cement DeVito ’s Oswald as even more unforgettable than the Penguin ’s authoritative image .

7The Dark Knight Focuses On Harvey Dent’s Heroism

The Good Makes The Bad More Heartbreaking

Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightintroduces Harvey Dent ( Aaron Eckhart ) as the stalwart District Attorney of Gotham City , and while he finally becomes Two - Face , the moving picture sagely holds off on his transformation until its third number . Eckhart ’s Harvey Dent inThe Dark Knightemphasizes Harvey ’s heroism , as the character reference does not become a crime boss or even a true villain upon his transformation , but or else a vigilante out to retaliate the death of Rachel Dawes ( Maggie Gyllenhaal ) . This makes Harvey ’s fall from grace more tragic and horrifying than ever , with Harvey having completely abandoned his optimism and instead coming to see the random chance of a coin flip as true DoJ .

6Jack Nicholson’s Joker Was A Ruthless Gangster

His & Batman’s Backstories Connect To Each Other

Tim Burton’sBatmangives a real identity to the Joker , exhibit him as Gotham City gangster Jack Napier ( Jack Nicholson).Jack Napier is an uncompromising gangster and even more hardhearted killer , butBatmanalso makes him a far more personal foeman for Michael Keaton ’s Dark Knight , with Napier having killed Bruce Wayne ’s parents . Batmanpresents the Caped Crusader and the Joker as two side of the same coin , with both of their rootage level bear upon each other . As Batman himself tells the Joker , " I made you , you made me first " , and the linkage between Batman and the Joker ’s origins makes each more believable within the context of use of Burton ’s Batman universe .

5Doomsday’s Creation In BVS Makes Him Even More Of A Weapon

Lex Luthor Creates Him Specifically To Kill Superman

Doomsday is famous as the monstrous wildcat who kills the Man of Steel inThe Death of Supermanstory , and whileBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justicerecreates this floor , its Doomsday source draw him a much more specific Superman foeman . In the comics , Doomsday was create through ancient Kryptonian experiment . However , Batman v Supermanmakes Doomsday the creation of Lex Luthor , who brings the animal to lifetime from the corpse of Michael Shannon ’s General Zod . In doing so , Batman v Supermancreates not only a highly destructive adaptation of Doomsday , but one who is , as Lex tells Superman , " carry to destroy you . Your Doomsday . "

4Steppenwolf’s Motivation In Zack Snyder’s Justice League Makes Him Scarier

He’s An Apokoliptian Exile Trying To Get Home (& Will Let Nothing Stand In His Way)

Steppenwolf ( Ciarán Hinds ) does n’t amount to much of a terror in 2017 ’s theatrical cut of meat ofJustice League , butZack Snyder ’s Justice Leaguefixes Steppenwolfwith a truly foreign excogitation and spiky armor . Zack Snyder ’s Justice Leaguemakes Steppenwolf far more broken and desperate than he is ordinarily portrayed , having been exiled from his homeworld Apokolips for betray Darkseid and task with conquering another 50,000 humans for him . While Steppenwolf has always been a fearsome Fourth World villain , his motivation inZack Snyder ’s Justice Leaguemakes him scarier than ever , with Steppenwolf having nothing pass on to lose and willing to pass anyone who place upright in his style of returning home .

3Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor Is Geeky For A Reason

His Background As a Tech Billionaire Is Very Topical (& Effective)

InBatman v Ubermensch : Dawn of Justice , Jesse Eisenberg bring his well - have it off part as a socially awkward geek to Superman ’s arch - nemesis Lex Luthor , which deceptively makes Lex an even greater scourge . Eisenberg ’s Luthor is far removed from the general image of Lex as a suave business magnate , and more closely resemble forward-looking technical school billionaires , not unlike Eisenberg ’s portrayal of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2010’sThe Social connection . In doing so , Eisenberg ’s Lex Luthor wears an even more deceitful mask inBatman v Superman , with Lex able-bodied to even more readily wing under the radar with his wonk - corresponding facade as he make Doomsday to destroy the Man of Steel .

2Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam Skipped Straight To Anti-Hero

He Began As A Villain In The Comics

In the comics , Black Adam has had a complex and interesting history , initially being portrayed as an unlimited supervillain before gradually evolve into an anti - hero cocker in far more barbarous method than most of DC ’s other superheroes . For theBlack Adammovie , Dwayne Johnson ’s version of Kahndaq ’s champion goes right to the anti - hero stage , contrasting his methods of battling the take Intergang with that of the Justice Society of America . In doing so , Black Adamserves as a metaphor of variety for foreign occupation , military conflicts , and the gray areas of justice often get hold in both .

1General Zod Is Not A Megalomaniac In Man Of Steel

He’s Fighting For Krypton’s Future

Terrence Stamp ’s portraiture of General Zod inSuperman IIhas helped cement the image of the character as an egomaniacal conqueror who demands his enemies " Kneel Before Zod ! " , butMichael Shannon ’s adaptation of General Zodgoes in the complete diametrical direction inMan of Steel . Michael Shannon ’s General Zod is completely altruistic , only concerned with discover the Kryptonian codex for revive Krypton on a new major planet , even if it means pass over out all life on Earth to do so .

How Live-Action Snow White Used Dropped Storylines Explained By Director in New Featurette

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker smiling menacingly during a Gotham City riot in Joker

Black Manta stands over Aquaman in Aquaman 2

Headshot Of Jason Momoa In The Los Angeles special screening of ‘Common Ground’

Headshot Of Amber Heard

Headshot Of Willem Dafoe

Headshot Of Patrick Wilson

Danny Devito as Penguin in Batman Returns in a graveyard

Headshot Of Michael Keaton In The Los Angeles Special Screening Of ‘Knox Goes Away’

Headshot of Danny DeVito

Headshot Of Michelle Pfeiffer In The 33rd Annual EMA Awards Gala

Headshot Of Christopher Walken In The ‘Dune:Part 2’ premiere

Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face lays in a hospital bed in The Dark Knight

Headshot Of Christian Bale In The <code>The Pale Blue Eye</code> LA Premiere

Headshot Of Heath Ledger In The 2006 Oscars Nominees Luncheon

Headshot of Aaron Eckhart

Headshot Of Gary Oldman In The 77th Cannes Film Festival

Headshot Of Jack Nicholson In The 2007 MTV Movie Awards

Headshot Of Kim Basinger In The premiere of &lsquo;The Nice Guys&rsquo;

Headshot Of Billy Dee Williams In The Premiere Of Disney&rsquo;s Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

Doomsday smiling in Batman v Superman

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Headshot Of Henry Cavill In The World premiere of &lsquo;Argylle&rsquo;

Headshot Of Jesse Eisenberg

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headshot of Ray Fisher In The Premiere of &lsquo;Rebel Moon, Part One, A Child of Fire&rsquo;

Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor smiling

Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam sitting on his throne in Black Adam

Headshot Of Dwayne Johnson In The Red Notice Premiere

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Michael Shannon standing up as General Zod in Man of Steel.

Headshot Of Amy Adams In The BAFTA British Academy Film Awards 2019

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Headshot Of Michael Shannon

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