Ever since the DCU was announced, fan casts for new characters have abounded, but I can’t believe how much I want one of the silliest to happen. Although it was announced in late 2023, casting for some of the DC Universe’s main characters has been relatively sparse. For instance, of the Justice League’s main players, only Superman has been cast so far, with David Corenswet filling the role for the DCU’s upcoming debut movie, Superman.

This is partly because DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn has already started to spotlight many of the lesser-known characters within DC. Superman alone will bring such characters as Mister Terrific and Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern to the fore, while Supergirl will see Milly Alcock’s тιтular hero star opposite Jason Momoa’s Lobo. With this precedent, I can foresee the arrival of another unusual character in a future Superman or Supergirl movie, and I hope James Gunn makes the right call with this wildcard fan cast.

Danny DeVito Playing Mister Mxyzptlk Is A Surreal Idea For The DCU – But A Great One

Mister Mxyzptlk Is One Of DC’s Wildest Characters

Mister Mxyzptlk is a Superman character who is more of an annoyance than an outright villain. The extradimensional trickster is a nigh-omnipotent being who uses his powers to toy with and harᴀss Superman rather than inflict harm upon him. As a result, Mister Mxyzptlk is one of DC’s most off-the-wall and often comedic characters whose peculiarity is a perfect fit for the DCU, and Danny DeVito is arguably one of the best actors who could portray him.

DeVito is best known today for portraying Frank Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a distinctly unscrupulous character with a penchant for sowing chaos. This alone parallels Mister Mxyzptlk, although I can’t help but see the physical resemblance between the two, especially regarding DeVito’s distinctive hairstyle. I can also see Mister Mxyzptlk’s typically unserious adventures being capably served by Danny DeVito, who has made a name for himself with comedy roles. Better yet, he even boasts experience with DC movies.

Danny DeVito’s Batman Movie History Proves He’s Perfect For A Role Like Mister Mxyzptlk

DeVito’s Penguin Is Incredibly Eccentric

Another of Danny DeVito’s most famous roles was Batman Returns‘ Oswald Cobblepot, AKA Penguin. The 1997 classic is regarded as one of the most definitive superhero movies ever made, with Michael Keaton’s тιтular hero starring opposite DeVito in the aforementioned role and Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle, AKA Catwoman. Before Batman became synonymous with grounded superhero adaptations, the characters featured in Batman Returns leaned into the outlandish, with DeVito’s Penguin being a prime example.

DeVito’s exaggerated rendition of Cobblepot is also a prime example of why he would make a great Mister Mxyzptlk. The trickster villain is inherently outlandish, and while DeVito’s Penguin isn’t exactly similar in most characteristics, he is proof of DeVito’s proficiency in embracing the cartoonish. On top of that, having DeVito return to a DC adaptation after nearly three decades of skipping out on the superhero craze in such a capacity would likely be extremely well-received by fans of both DC and DeVito’s Penguin.

James Gunn’s Comic Villain History Suggests The DCU Could Really Pull Off A Mister Mxyzptlk Story

James Gunn Has Proved His Proficiency With Peculiar Villains

Mister Mxyzptlk is far from a simple villain, and I feel that James Gunn is best placed to bring him to life on the big screen. James Gunn’s superhero movie credentials prove that he can rise to this unique challenge, as adapting obscure and downright ridiculous villains has proven to be his forte. The Suicide Squad alone saw him make fan favorites of such obscure villains as Ratcatcher 2 and Polka-Dot Man, while debuting Starro, a giant starfish with one central eye, and somehow making it somewhat sympathetic.

Gunn is also an expert at balancing tones. Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy is both hilarious and heartfelt in equal measure, which imbues me with faith that Gunn could capably handle introducing such an unconventional and comedic character as Mister Mxyzptlk without it derailing the deeper moments of whatever story he is introduced in. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 itself featured the outlandish Ego the Living Planet who was central to the movie’s most emotional moments. Coupled with DeVito’s distinctive talents, I think the DCU is now the perfect place, with this particular casting, to introduce the Superman foil.