James Gunn should definitely find room for Pierce Brosnan’s Dr. Fate in his DCU

Say what you want Black Adam – and there were many talked about it – it brought two of DC’s best character portrayals to live-action: Aldis HodgeIt’s Hawkman and Pierce BrosnanIt’s Dr. Fate. Brosnan recently raised fans’ hopes with comments suggesting his Dr. Fate would appear in the DCU, saying: “I heard that Doctor Fate was going to have his own series or movie. I heard he’ll be in the next Superman.” This news had DC fans excited about the prospect for 24 hours before James Gunn debunked the rumor on Threads, saying, “My opinion is that I’ve never heard a rumor about Dr. Fate!” Now, it’s entirely possible that Gunn will do some damage control for his next The man of tomorrowbut that doesn’t look promising. The point is, though, that this should not only look promising, but also confirmed, as Gunn should absolutely find room for Brosnan’s Dr. Fate in his DCU..

Pierce Brosnan’s Dr. Fate Was The Best Thing About ‘Black Adam,’ But Underused

It’s no secret Black Adam was designed by Dwayne Johnson as a star vehicle for itself and a power play for restructuring the DCEU hierarchy under his care. It’s also no secret that despite his attempts to make the film a success – the proverbial “putting lipstick on a pig” – the film failed. It did not achieve the expected success at the box office and placed itself and Henry Cavillwho appeared in the end credits scene as the DCEU’s Superman, in awkward positions, with Johnson’s plans for the DCEU blocked and Cavill not in Gunn and Pierre Safranplans for their DCU.

The real tragedy of Black Adam This is not what happened to Johnson or Cavill, but rather Brosnan, whose Dr. Fate is widely credited with being one of the best parts of the film. In Collider movie reviewBrosnan’s Dr. Fate is cited as the “most exciting addition” to the film’s Justice Society of America, adding that he steals every scene he’s a part of with effortless charisma. But it was underutilized, with limited screen time and a storyline that didn’t provide much in the way of character development.

The fact that Brosnan was still able to infuse Dr. Fate and his alter ego Kent Nelson with the wisdom, calm, and inspiration that comes with having been in the hero game for decades is a testament to how good he is in the film. This is something that would have made the film stronger had it been used more effectively, or, at the very least, would have left the door open to the opportunity to see the character in his own feature film. Except, in what is probably the most questionable decision in a movie full of themthis door is closed and Dr. Fate sacrifices himself to prevent Hawkman’s death.

James Gunn should open the door and welcome Pierce Brosnan into the DCU as Dr. Fate

Of course, the death of a superhero is always the last word, but for fun and giggles, let’s assume that Dr. Fate, a master of sorcery, is reincarnated. I know, this is crazy talk, but bear with me. With Brosnan in the DCU, it would bring to the franchise an esteemed actor who has already proven to deliver the definitive portrayal of the character.. It may be a short list, sure, but the right actor in the right role can absolutely set the bar from the start, which means: Christopher Reeve like Superman, whose portrait always at the top of the list decades later. And while Gunn has largely been in favor of casting up-and-coming actors in key roles, having a household name among them certainly can’t hurt. Plus, it’s something he’s already done with the next one Lanternswith Kyle Chandler like Hal Jordan, and in Superman with another Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, played by Nathan Fillionso it’s certainly not unprecedented.

This would also be a great way to further fill the DCU with the non-starter that was Black Adamallowing you to use the characters it has introduced. Gunn’s canon versus non-canon is smooth, and PeacemakerEmilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) appearance in Black Adam has already opened the door ajar. She, with Djimon Hounsou like the wizard Shazam, also connects Black Adam with the Shazam! frankness (but, strangely, not Zachary Levi‘s Shazam, Black Adam’s longtime nemesis), so the means of bringing Dr. Fate into the DCU wouldn’t require much to make it work. The hardest part is finding a way to resurrect the hero, which, let’s face it, isn’t exactly a deal breaker.

But the best reason why Gunn brought Brosnan’s Dr. Fate into the DCU is the fact that the character is in Gunn’s wheelhouse.. Gunn thrives on incorporating lesser-known characters into his DC and Marvel films, and Dr. Fate certainly falls into that category (it’s not like many people have seen it). Black AdamAm I right?). He was wonderfully creative with Ego (Kurt Russell) powers in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2so being denied the opportunity to see what he could do with a mystical character like Dr. Fate, with an actor who could do it with charm and ease, is a borderline sin. And even if he thinks his Threads article ended things, the interest generated by Brosnan’s statement can’t easily be put back in the can, and a filmmaker like Gunn, who is arguably more in tune with the zeitgeist than any other, can’t ignore it completely. It could be that Brosnan’s statement regarding joining the DCU is not random, but rather karmic. Or, in other words, destiny.

Black Adam is available to watch on HBO Max in the US

Release date

October 21, 2022

Runtime

125 minutes

Writers

Bill Parker, CC Beck, Jerry Siegel, Jack Kirby, Joe Shuster, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani, Adam Sztykiel