James Gunn’s Real DCU Villain Might Be The Centre Not Brainiac

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The true big bad of the DCU may be revealed, and it’s not Brainiac.

As a huge DC fan, I was so excited to hear Damon Lindelof gave the cast of the *Lanterns* series Green Lantern hats! Everyone’s buzzing online, and a lot of us think it’s a sneaky hint that The Centre – that really old, powerful being from the *New Frontier* comic – will be a big part of the show. It’s fun to speculate, and it definitely got me even more hyped for the series!

Considering hints from the *Superman: Man of Tomorrow* script, the end of *Peacemaker* Season 2, and James Gunn’s tendency to incorporate his own views, it seems likely that “The Centre” will be a key element connecting all of his DC Universe projects.

The Centre — DC’s Hidden Cosmic Threat

First appearing in the celebrated comic book *DC: The New Frontier*, The Centre is a very old, thinking island that existed long before humans. Over millions of years, it observed life developing, became repulsed by human violence, and resolved to destroy humankind. It appears as a living island capable of creating psychic illusions, driving people insane, and generating terrifying creatures—even flying dinosaurs (explained further below).

So, in this story, it’s classic Superman teaming up with all the Golden Age heroes to take down this big bad called The Centre. It’s Green Lantern – Hal Jordan, specifically – who ultimately saves the day by basically blasting The Centre into outer space. And get this – the whole thing leads directly to the formation of the Justice League! As a huge comic book movie fan, it really feels like James Gunn is mirroring this setup for his new DC Universe. It’s a cool nod to the roots of the team, and I’m excited to see where he takes it.

Gunn’s Tease Adds Fuel To The Theory

Last month, James Gunn posted a picture of the *Superman* script that showed a detailed drawing of a human head with the brain visible. While some fans thought this might be a nod to the villain Brainiac, it could actually be a subtle clue about a key location called ‘The Centre,’ as the image visually emphasizes the ‘center’ of the human mind.

Gunn also revealed that *Man of Tomorrow* will feature Superman and Lex Luthor teaming up, at least partially, to face a massive, shared enemy. This enemy is likely ‘The Centre,’ a being so powerful it forces the two rivals to work together.

Lanterns’ “Terrifying Mystery” Connection

James Gunn initially described the *Lanterns* series as a mystery, similar to *True Detective*, where Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigate a frightening event on Earth that connects to the wider DC Universe. This mystery could be linked to ‘The Centre.’ There’s been speculation that *Lanterns* will feature an ancient entity living underground, mirroring the origins of The Centre in the comics.

If confirmed, this would establish The Centre as a key connection between the stories of *Lanterns*, *Supergirl*, and *Man of Tomorrow*, hinting at a massive, universe-level danger well before the planned Justice League movie.

Peacemaker’s Salvation Planet

The finale of *Peacemaker* Season 2 suggested a much bigger story to come. John Cena’s character, Chris Smith, is stranded on Salvation, a planet that serves as a prison for beings with superpowers. Some viewers think Salvation might combine elements of Dinosaur Island from *New Frontier* and The Centre, a location from the comics known for its ability to change its landscape, create illusions, and trap living creatures – making a link between them seem likely.

Peacemaker Season 2 also ended with – you guessed it – dinosaur sounds.

How does Supergirl connect?

Initially, *Supergirl* appears separate from the main DC Universe because it takes place in space and follows Kara Zor-El’s adventures away from Earth. However, James Gunn could potentially connect these stories in a few different ways:

  1. Supergirl as a Prelude to Earth’s Crisis – The film might stand alone for most of its runtime, following Kara before she reaches Earth. Subtle hints — psychic disturbances, alien cults, or cosmic anomalies — could foreshadow The Centre’s influence even from across the stars.
  2. The Centre’s Reach Extends Beyond Earth – The Centre is telepathic and capable of influencing sentient minds over vast distances. In New Frontier, it manipulates people and animals into madness — so extending that to interstellar range isn’t far-fetched.
  3. Multiverse and Dimensional Parallels – The DCU already uses alternate dimensions. The Centre could exist in more than one plane, meaning what happens on Salvation (the prison planet seen in Peacemaker) or in Supergirl’s galaxy could be fragments of the same entity’s influence.

If Supergirl continues to operate independently, her arrival on Earth could lead her to discover the first clues about The Centre. This discovery would connect her story to Superman and potentially lead to a team-up with him and Lex Luthor, possibly as seen in *Man of Tomorrow*.

The Centre fits with Gunn’s political messaging

If The Centre turns out to be the big bad guy in the DC Universe, it would be a great fit for the kinds of stories James Gunn likes to tell.

The Centre represents a critical view of humanity, highlighting its flaws like declining morals, violence, and excessive pride – themes James Gunn frequently explores in his work. His previous film, *Superman*, subtly addressed ideas about human nature, politics, and societal beliefs. Both *Creature Commandos* and *Peacemaker* are also strongly driven by underlying messages and themes.

The Centre’s negative view of people could become a new way for Gunn to offer social criticism – imagining an old, powerful being judging modern society for the same flaws he already explores through his stories and characters.

Fans have observed that James Gunn frequently incorporates moral and political themes into his films, often by portraying villains or complex heroes who expose societal flaws. The Centre, in his new project, expands on this by presenting these themes on a massive, universal scale. It features a powerful, god-like entity criticizing humanity’s wrongdoings, while Superman, a symbol of optimism, is forced to protect the same people this being wants to eliminate.

All Roads Lead To The Centre

If this idea proves true, “The Centre” would be the biggest overall threat in the DC Universe – an ancient being living beneath the Earth, secretly controlling people and events. James Gunn prefers to build the world gradually through multiple projects, revealing this mystery over time, rather than rushing towards a single, massive showdown like the one with Thanos (which Gunn has said he doesn’t want to do).

I’ve been following the clues from stories like *Lanterns*, *Supergirl*, and *Man of Tomorrow*, and everything suggests something really old is happening. For a while, everyone thought it might be Brainiac, but now I’m starting to think the true enemy has been there all along, right in the middle of everything.

The film *Lanterns* is scheduled for release in 2026, followed by *Supergirl* on June 26, 2026. *Superman: Man of Tomorrow* will then arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.

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2025-10-16 07:33