Seth Meyerspitched himself to James Gunn on possibly playing aDCUhero, and the picks aren’t half bad. Gunn appeared as a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers on June 24, 2025, to promoteSuperman. The first film in the DCU is kicking off a shared universe that is already populated with heroes like Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and Supergirl. With DC Comics featuring a vast library of characters, there are plenty of roles to go around, and Meyers wants in on the action.
Seth Meyers jokingly (maybe sincerely) pitched himself to Gunn about three superheroes he could play in the DC Universe. Meyers referenced the fact that he was name-dropped inPeacemakerSeason 1, making him canon to the DCU before pitching who he thinks he could play. The heroes included the second Blue Beetle, Ted Kord, who is depicted as Meyers in a drawing by comic book artist Kevin Maguire, which serves as his X profile picture. Other heroes he pitched himself as included the Elongated Man and finally Animal Man. Gunn did respond to Animal Man, laughing and making Meyers laugh by saying:
“Animal Man is a good character. I can’t give you that one! That’s got to go to someone really good.”
Two of ‘Superman’s Breakout Characters Are Being Eyed for TV Spin-Offs
A pair of shows centered on the fan-favorite ‘Superman’ characters are being considered for the DCU.
WhileMeyers is best known as a talk show host and comedian, he has proven himself to be a talented performer, thanks to his time onSaturday Night Live. Meyers’ schedule might keep him from taking a major role in the DCU, but he is a good pick for all three of the characters he pitched. If the news broke that Meyers was playing Ted Kord in the plannedBooster Goldseries, or Elongated Man inBrave and the Bold, that would all be welcome news. Although Animal Man sounds like one, fans should expect someone else to play the role.
So… Who Are These DC Superheroes?
Meyers' picks are all interesting takes, as they are less mainstream heroes and ones that were popular during the Bronze Age of comics, which James Gunn is drawing from for his DCU. Elongated Man is the other stretchy superhero of DC Comics who often gets eclipsed by Plastic Man. Ted Kord was teased in 2023’sBlue Beetleas having been lost, with a mysterious, unconfirmed voice cameo suggesting the character may still bealive. The canon status ofBlue Beetlewithin the DCU is a bit uncertain, asstar Xolo Maridueña will return for an animated series. Given Meyer’s clear affection for the character, he would be a great choice if the DCU were to capitalize on the Kord tease fromBlue Beetleand could potentially lead into the plannedBooster Goldtelevision series that DC Studios is developing.
Animal Man is certainly the most interesting. Initially created in 1965 as a superhero who could borrow the powers of animals, the character was drastically reimagined in the 1980s by writer Grant Morrison, who took the character in a darker, more contemplative direction. Morrison’sAll-Star Supermanwas a major influence on Gunn’sSuperman, so it is easy to see how the DC co-head might have an affinity for the writer’s work. The 1990s Vertigo Animal Man comics also introduced “The Red”, a connection to all animal life on the planet that ties in with “The Green” from the Swamp Thing books. WithSwamp Thingbeing one of the DCU movies confirmed to be in development, that might also open the door for Animal Man.
Source:Late Night with Seth Meyers
Late Night With Seth Meyers
