James Gunn confirms the first hero depicted in Superman‘s Hall of Justice mural, teasing the character’s DCU debut. Among Superman‘s dozens of easter eggs and comic book references, a mural in the Hall of Justice stands out due to its hints at several heroes. The fact that the Justice Gang are housed in the Hall of Justice during Superman suggests that a previous superhero team created and inhabited the building years or decades before.

In an interview with Josh Horowitz, James Gunn addresses the Hall of Justice’s mural and confirms that one of the heroes painted on it is Doctor Fate. Gunn also confirms Jay Garrick isn’t included in the mural, and he struggles to remember whether Alan Scott is in there as well. Check out Gunn’s full comments below:

Josh Horowitz: So, people are now starting to pick the [Hall of Justice mural] apart and see some notable faces.

James Gunn: Who do they think?

Josh Horowitz: Jay Garrick, Flash

James Gunn: Nope

Josh Horowitz: Alan Scott, Green Lantern.

James Gunn: I don’t think so. I got to look at the mural

Josh Horowitz: Doctor Fate?

James Gunn: I think Dr. Fate’s in there. Yeah.

What James Gunn’s Hall Of Justice Mural Comments Mean

Doctor Fate Is One Step Closer To Returning To Live-Action

Doctor Fate made his first-ever live-action movie appearance in Black Adam, where Pierce Brosnan’s Kent Nelson and his modern Justice Society team joined forces with Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam. Brosnan’s Doctor Fate died in Black Adam, and the DCU reboot suggested his portrayal would be left behind for good. However, Doctor Fate’s presence in Superman‘s Hall of Justice mural suggests the magical hero will return to the big screen sooner rather than later.

What’s more, the Doctor Fate design in Superman‘s reference-filled Hall of Justice mural is extremely similar to Pierce Brosnan’s DCEU character. After James Gunn’s comments, there’s a considerable chance Brosnan’s Doctor Fate will join the DCU’s list of DCEU alumni. Meanwhile, the absence of other Justice Society heroes like Jay Garrick and Alan Scott suggests that the DCU will take its time to find them the perfect debut and the right casting.

Our Take On James Gunn’s Hall Of Justice Mural Comments

James Gunn’s DCU Will Likely Introduce The Justice Society At Some Point

David Corenswet’s Superman lives in a universe where metahumans made themselves known centuries before he revealed his presence to the world. In this continuity, the Justice League won’t be the first superhero team. While the Justice Gang seems to set the stage for the Justice League’s introduction later down the line, it’s possible that the Gang itself is a continuation of a previous team of heroic metahumans — the Justice Society of America.

More often than not, the Justice Society’s status as Earth’s first major superhero team is overshadowed by the Justice League. James Gunn’s DCU may avoid this problem by establishing the Justice Society firmly in the DCU’s past, and possibly by centering a movie or a show around them. Doctor Fate, Jay Garrick, and Alan Scott are only three of the JSA heroes who could serve as mentors and icons to modern-day heroes like Barry Allen, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Superman‘s Guy Gardner.

Source: Josh Horowitz