8 Characters Who Would Thrive in the New DCU, from Titans to the Bat-Family
The new DC Universe finally has a beating heart. With James Gunn and Peter Safran’s relaunch now anchored by Superman and a roadmap that teases everything from The Brave and the Bold to Supergirl and Lanterns, it feels like DC on screen has its first real sense of direction in years. It’s the best kind of messy, bright, unapologetically comic-booky, and already packed with deep-cut heroes. But as this “Gods and Monsters” era starts to widen past Metropolis, there are a few familiar faces who deserve the spotlight in the new continuity.
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Tim Drake — Robin
Gunn’s slate already makes room for the Bat-family with The Brave and the Bold, centered on Bruce and Damian Wayne. That’s great news for Bat-fans, but it also sets the table for more, like the Robin who is arguably the most well-adjusted: Tim Drake. Over the years, Tim has always worked as the “detective Robin,” the kid who figured out Batman’s identity and earned his place through sheer determination and sharpness.
On screen, he’d be the perfect connective tissue between a more seasoned Nightwing and a still-in-training Damian. He’s smart, empathetic, and just messy enough to have fun interpersonal drama with literally everyone in Gotham. Tim’s friendships with other young heroes, his on-again/off-again romances, and his habit of doing the emotional labor no one asks for would give the DCU a grounded, character-driven angle in the middle of all the gods and monsters.
Conner Kent — Superboy
Conner Kent, the clone of Superman and Lex Luthor, has been one of DC’s most endearing modern heroes—built from a wild premise, but anchored in the idea of a kid figuring out whether he’s destined to become a weapon, a symbol, or something in between. In more recent comics and animated series, he’s framed as “more Superman than Lex,” and that internal tug-of-war is something the new DCU could have a field day with.
With Superman already introducing a world where heroes have history and legacy baked in, there’s no better time to tee up a younger Kryptonian-adjacent presence. Conner’s dynamic with Clark and Kara practically writes itself, and his friendships with other young heroes would give the eventual “next generation” corner of the DCU a clear emotional center. Plus, whenever you need a super-powered heavy hitter who’s still figuring it all out, Superboy is the perfect option while Clark and Kara are busy dealing with big-picture crises.
Selina Kyle — Catwoman
Selina Kyle is one of the few DC characters who’s never really left pop culture. From Michelle Pfeiffer’s still-definitive turn to Zoë Kravitz’s grounded, street-level take, Catwoman is baked into how audiences think about Gotham.
In fact, a proper DCU Catwoman deserves to be part of the ecosystem. She knows the alleys Batman doesn’t, moves between criminal circles and grassroots Gotham, and forces Bruce to confront the gap between his ideals and the reality of his city. More importantly, her moral flexibility lets her slip into team-ups, solo crime thrillers, or a romantic tangle with Batman whenever needed. In a universe that’s supposed to feel lived-in from day one, Selina’s involvement is crucial.
Roy Harper — Arsenal
Roy Harper has spent years as one of DC’s most emotionally loaded archers, and somehow, he still hasn’t gotten a mainstream adaptation that really digs into his story. He’s a former sidekick, a recovering addict, a single dad in some continuities, a teammate, and a guy who leans on humor to keep from sinking. He’s about as layered as a non-powered character can be.
In a connected universe, that makes Roy basically invaluable. He ties together Green Arrow, the Titans, the Outlaws, and the street-level vigilantes. He can trade snarky one-liners with the best of them, but there’s also a messy, complicated past there that deserves the kind of focus these new long-form DCU stories can actually give him.
Wally West — The Flash
Wally West might not be the brand name, but for a big chunk of fans, he is the Flash. More specifically, he’s the version a lot of people grew up with in animation, cracking jokes mid-chase and wearing his heart on his sleeve even while he’s running at impossible speeds. Though bringing Wally to the new DCU would bring something that’s been missing from a lot of live-action speedster stories: real warmth. The humor is there, but it’s grounded in how much he cares about everyone around him, whether that’s a found family of other heroes or the regular citizens he keeps yanking out of danger.
On paper, he’s powerful enough to handle universe-level threats; in practice, his best stories usually hinge on smaller, more human choices. That’s the sweet spot. Let him be the Flash who keeps things light even as everything is falling apart, who never quite loses that hopeful, slightly eccentric optimism, and you’ve got a version audiences can latch onto right away.
Tara Markov — Terra
Terra has always sat at the fault lines of the Titans’ history. She isn’t usually the face on the poster, but across comics and animation she’s threaded through some of their most formative stories, from the original Judas Contract to modern reimaginings. Every time she appears, she shifts the ground under the team—literally and emotionally—and that’s what makes her stick.
The Young Justice take showed just how DCU-ready she is. Instead of a simple villain turn, we get a teenager buckling under manipulation, trauma, and impossible choices, which reframes her as someone broken in ways that still feel fixable. Lean into that, and you’ve got a misguided hero with brutal, earthshaking powers and a chip on her shoulder big enough to level a city block. Put that version of Terra into a live-action Titans or Young Justice-style ensemble and she instantly becomes a focal point: volatile and dangerous, yes, but also the kind of character you can’t help wanting to see earn a second chance.
Zatanna Zatara
For all the cosmic aliens and metahumans, the DCU still needs a strong magical spine. Zatanna Zatara is tailor-made for that role. And conceptually, “a stage magician who can rewrite reality by speaking backward” already sounds like something you want to see on a massive screen. But Zatanna’s personality is what makes her worthwhile—she’s charismatic, theatrical, and fully aware that she’s walking the line between showbiz and eldritch horror.
In terms of plot, Zatanna can bounce between Justice League-scale crises and occult detective work without breaking a sweat. She’s also a great gateway character to the weirder corners of DC magic like Doctor Fate, Constantine, the Dark Multiverse stuff, all of it. If Gunn and Safran want the DCU to feel expansive, a Zatanna project—or at least a strong supporting role—is how you signal that magic is a real force with real consequences.
Koriand'r — Starfire
Starfire is non-negotiable if you’re building any kind of Titans or young-heroes corner in the new DCU. In fact, she’s been a core member of the team across comics, cartoons, and games, and that track record shows why she works so well: a mix of alien royalty, raw power, and disarming sincerity that feels tailor-made for film. Her solar energy blasts, flight, and full cosmic spectacle make her an easy fit for big superhero set pieces, but she isn’t just there to light up the sky. She’s also the one who tends to meet human messiness head-on and still chooses kindness, and that instinct gives her stories a real emotional spine.
To make our argument even stronger, generations of fans already know and love her from Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go!, which means DC has a built-in audience ready to see a live-action Koriand’r done right. That recognition basically gives the studio room to play too—pair her with Dick Grayson, send her into space-faring adventures, or let her anchor a Titans film. However, they use her; she’s more than capable of carrying the story.
