Deleted DCEU Scenes You Never Got To See In Theaters

For a span of ten years, from 2013’s “Man of Steel” to 2023’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” the DC Extended Universe unfolded, featuring a total of 15 films (including “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” on HBO Max) and one television season. However, despite an abundance of content for fans to savor, not every idea conceived for this cinematic tale made it onto the big screen. In fact, while creating a vast amount of material, the DC Extended Universe discarded numerous ideas for significant scenes that were scripted or even filmed but ultimately never hit the silver screen.

In simpler terms, some of the unused DCEU (DC Extended Universe) scenes were more subtle, intimate moments that got removed for pacing purposes. Others depicted plotlines and tones that no longer fit in the final versions of the DCEU movies. Some of these scenes featured big-name actors and cameos but were dropped due to studio politics or changes in the DC film industry. Regardless of the cause, these intended DCEU sequences didn’t make it to the cinema near you.

Clark Kent visits a pediatrician in Man of Steel

Man of Steel” tells the beginning tale of Superman, played by Henry Cavill. In this movie, viewers witness a fresh perspective on Krypton’s demise, where baby Kal-El miraculously escapes. Key moments include Kal-El finding his iconic suit and Clark Kent landing his job at the Daily Planet. Initially, there was more content focused on Kal-El/Clark Kent’s upbringing under the care of Jonathan (played by Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane). This includes a deleted scene showing the Kent family visiting a pediatrician with their baby.

Superman’s Superpowers” by Harper Collins.

Young Clark Kent learns about death in Man of Steel

Among the contentious aspects of “Man of Steel,” the finale where Superman kills General Zod stood out. Screenwriter David S. Goyer believes that this intense ending could have been more effective if an early scene he wrote had been included in the film. This deleted scene would have provided a glimpse into Kal-El’s upbringing in the Kent household, showing Jonathan and Clark on a hunting trip during which Clark was compelled to kill a deer. This event left a lasting impression on him.

Young Clark Kent struggles with taking another life, prompting his father to explain the weightiness of killing someone, even when necessary. This conversation was planned but not filmed, yet it seems intended to set up the death of Zod. It’s unclear if this scene would have affected the film’s final scene reviews, but it might have made Superman’s violent act seem less sudden.

Harley Quinn turns on Joker in Suicide Squad’s finale

In the marketing campaign for “Suicide Squad,” Jared Leto’s unique portrayal of The Joker was the central focus, culminating in a chilling closing scene at Comic-Con 2015. This final moment by Leto’s Joker underscored the character’s significance to the movie. However, when the film was released, Leto’s version of The Joker had a reduced role, suggesting last-minute edits. It was later revealed that several Joker scenes were removed, including one that would have given more emotional closure to Harley Quinn’s (Margot Robbie) character development.

An unused scene from the filming featured the burnt Joker unexpectedly appearing before Quinn and the other Suicide Squad members before they encountered The Enchantress. In this deleted clip, the Joker suggested that Quinn join him as a powerful crime boss for protection, but she rejected his offer to assist Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and her fellow teammates instead. This scene would have concluded Joker’s “Suicide Squad” storyline while providing Harley Quinn with more independence within the film. Regrettably, this sequence, along with many other Joker-focused moments, was not included in the final version of “Suicide Squad” shown in cinemas.

Slipknot’s backstory flashback in Suicide Squad

After the release of “Suicide Squad”, several aspects from the movie turned into frequent jokes. This was particularly true for Adam Beach’s character, Slipknot, who was known for his extraordinary climbing skills. Unfortunately, Slipknot met an early demise in “Suicide Squad” to showcase how the explosive head devices issued to Task Force X functioned. Combined with his unique quirks as a character, it’s not surprising that Slipknot became a target of ridicule for those who disliked “Suicide Squad”. Interestingly, Slipknot initially had more screen time due to a narrative technique used for other Suicide Squad members.

When “Suicide Squad” premiered, it was revealed by writer/director David Ayer that he had filmed a flashback scene showing Slipknot’s criminal past and backstory, similar to those given for the main characters. This would have heightened the impact of his early death, as audiences might have expected him to be a lasting character. However, Ayer decided to remove this scene due to pace concerns and because it seemed excessive to provide so much background information for a character who was soon killed off. As a result, Slipknot became one of the least developed characters in the widely criticized “Suicide Squad,” often seen as a humorous misstep in the portrayal of anti-heroes.

Arthur learns to breathe underwater in Aquaman

2018’s “Aquaman” movie was a game-changing, thrilling live-action debut for this iconic DC Comics character, Aquaman. I was hooked as Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry/Aquaman battled it out with Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson) and Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). What made this movie even more exciting was how it transitioned seamlessly from a treasure hunting adventure to a monstrous creature feature. Interestingly, the film’s creators initially planned an extra scene that delved into the early life of Arthur Curry. In this scene, young Curry, struggling with teenage challenges at school, would have discovered his ability to breathe underwater for the first time.

During filming, director James Wan later commented that a particular scene in “Aquaman” turned out to be unnecessary once they started editing the movie. It wasn’t crucial to show Amber Heard’s early underwater days as it was more important to focus on other significant moments from Mera’s past, like her first realization of being able to communicate with marine life, for instance. Consequently, this flashback scene was removed from the final version of “Aquaman”. Despite its absence, the film still offers plenty of underwater excitement without this glimpse into the title character’s early life.

The reason for Rick Flag and Amanda Waller’s rivalry was cut from The Suicide Squad

As a fan, I’d rephrase it like this: In “The Suicide Squad” of 2021, I, Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), spearhead a group of villains, destined to die, providing a cover for the “true” heroes to infiltrate Corto Maltese unnoticed. Surviving this mission, I join forces with the movie’s primary characters on a quest to defeat Starro and free the island. In the end, my role in this motley crew of costumed misfits doesn’t carry much weight. I’m just another pawn that Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) can manipulate. However, it turns out that James Gunn, the writer and director, crafted a scene to unveil that Waller held a personal grudge against me, which explains why I was on this team in the first place.

In an unused scene, Flag speculates why Waller would risk someone like him in this particular mission. A flashback then unfolds where Flag teasingly ridicules Waller for wearing a vibrant work outfit that resembles a group of clowns having an accident. John Economos chuckles at the joke, but Waller remains unamused, giving Flag a stern glare. However, this seemingly harmless office joke seems to spark Waller’s decision to assign Flag a mission with high mortality risk. Despite revealing Waller’s vengeful side and offering some comic relief, this misguided joke never made it to the big screen.

A cut Black Adam post-credits scene teased more Doctor Fate

In the final moments of the “Black Adam” film released in theaters, a single post-credit scene features Henry Cavill’s Superman, hinting at a potential clash with Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam. This encounter alone could reshape the power dynamics within the DC universe. Interestingly, there was initially another post-credit scene meant to tease the return of yet another DC Comics character. The character of Doctor Fate, played by Pierce Brosnan, was well-liked in “Black Adam,” and his selfless sacrifice at the end of the movie left fans feeling let down. However, a deleted post-credit scene from “Black Adam” could have significantly altered the direction of the DCEU: At the film’s conclusion, someone is depicted picking up Doctor Fate’s helmet.

As a dedicated gamer, I can share my perspective on the intriguing Doctor Fate scene in Black Adam. The identity of the character portrayed wasn’t explicitly disclosed – whether it was Pierce Brosnan or another figure stepping into the role – but it certainly left an impression that Doctor Fate’s story within the DCEU wasn’t over yet.

The reason behind its exclusion from the final cut remains unclear, be it due to production issues or creative decisions. It was likely done to avoid any potential distractions from the highly anticipated Black Adam versus Superman showdown. The impact of the film’s climax, heavily reliant on Doctor Fate’s sacrifice, might have been a factor in its exclusion from the end-credits scene.

Given that DC Studios co-head James Gunn has hinted at not returning to the Black Adam universe soon, it seems this Doctor Fate tease was best left on the cutting room floor.

Zack Snyder wanted the Green Lantern John Stewart in his Justice League director’s cut

Despite Zack Snyder returning to fulfill his original vision with “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” in 2021, a crucial scene was vetoed by Warner Bros. executives. Initially, Snyder planned to end the movie with a meeting between Bruce Wayne and Green Lantern John Stewart (played by Wayne T. Carr), marking the first live-action portrayal of this popular superhero. This encounter would have hinted at a vast cosmic universe filled with more superheroes than what was depicted in “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.” Regrettably, studio executives intervened and prevented Snyder from incorporating the scene into his director’s cut, as they had other plans for John Stewart.

As a passionate admirer of Zack Snyder’s work, I can relate to his feelings of frustration when he couldn’t include a specific cameo in “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.” The thought of him leaving the entire project crossed my mind too. However, the filmmaker ultimately gave in and, in the final cut that hit Max, Batman (Wayne) had an unexpected meeting with Harry Lennix’s Martian Manhunter instead. This alignment perfectly matched Snyder’s dream to round off his “Justice League” version with the earthbound Justice League member interacting with a space-faring vigilante. Yet, it wasn’t the initial plan for that scene, which would have introduced a popular comic book character to live-action far earlier than James Gunn’s idea of a Green Lantern series starring Stewart in the style of “True Detective.

The original Shazam! Fury of the Gods end-credits scene featured Hawkman and Cyclone

2019’s film “Shazam!” received numerous accolades for its thrilling action scenes and playful tone, but its successor, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” faced a series of challenges in production, one of which was the sudden change in the post-credits scene. Originally, characters Hawkman and Cyclone from “Black Adam” were intended to appear at the end of the credits, inviting Shazam to join the Justice Society. However, these plans were abruptly scrapped just before release, leaving Zachary Levi, who plays Shazam, disappointed. Instead, Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee, reprising their roles from “Peacemaker” and “The Suicide Squad,” appeared in the mid-credits scene asking Shazam to join the team.

David F. Sandberg, director of “Fury of the Gods”, explained that a scene they had planned was cut three days before it was supposed to be filmed. Since the gas station set for the scene had already been constructed, Sandberg decided to utilize it despite the absence of the “Black Adam” actors. Producer Peter Safran then suggested that Holland and Agee would stand in as Hawkman and Cyclone instead. Although this didn’t quite fit with Sandberg’s original concept, he went ahead with it to prevent wasting the set and props. Consequently, filming began on this revised mid-credits scene featuring these characters acting as recruiters for the Justice Society.

The ending of The Flash was supposed to feature different characters

Given the tumultuous background of “The Flash” movie, it’s understandable that the final product didn’t meet expectations. The production was fraught with issues, not just those related to the allegations against the lead actor Ezra Miller. During this time, DC films were undergoing significant changes, which significantly affected the film’s original ending. In the released version, Barry Allen returns to his initial timeline after realizing he can’t prevent his mother’s death, although he subtly adjusts events to ensure his father isn’t wrongfully accused. However, all these alterations resulted in a changed Bruce Wayne, as instead of Ben Affleck, Barry encounters George Clooney portraying the character.

You might not be aware that multiple endings were filmed before this one. The initial concept featured Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Sasha Calle as Supergirl, essentially undoing their earlier demises. When Discovery took over Warner Bros. in 2022, the new executives running DC films decided to incorporate Henry Cavill’s Superman and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman into the ending, which led to a reshoot with these characters along with Supergirl and Keaton’s Batman. However, this revised version was discarded when James Gunn and Peter Safran took charge of DC Studios and had different plans for the direction of live-action DC movies. These plans did not include Tyler Hoechlin’s Flash reprising his role with these versions of Superman and Wonder Woman, so last-minute reshoots were carried out.

Two Batman cameos were filmed for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Just like The Flash, the movie Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom faced a rocky journey towards the big screen. With the future of DC films undergoing significant shifts throughout its lengthy production, many parts of the sequel had to be frequently adjusted. This even extended to plans for Bruce Wayne’s cameo. Interestingly, both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck filmed scenes as their respective versions of Batman for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. However, only one version was intended to be included, depending on how the release schedule unfolded.

Initially, it was uncertain if ‘Aquaman [and the Lost Kingdom]’ would release before or after ‘The Flash’, as director James Wan explained to Entertainment Weekly. This left both him and Jason Momoa, who plays Aquaman, unsure about which Batman might appear in their movie. In the end, neither Ben Affleck nor Michael Keaton’s version of Batman made it into ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’, meaning all the commotion surrounding the DC Extended Universe’s finale turned out to be unnecessary.

2025-07-08 00:31