Despite the 10-year tenure of the DC Extended Universe, it actually happened to miss quite a few iconic DC Comics relationships that are huge in the source material. It adapted some of the most important ones, includingSuperman (Henry Cavill) & Lois Lane (Amy Adams), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) & the Joker (Jared Leto) and even Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) & Steve Trevor (Steve Trevor). Unfortunately, the DCEU only produced fifteen movies and simply didn’t have the time to explore other relationships.
For example, Batman (Ben Affleck) didn’t even have the time to explore a romantic story in the first place. There are a plethora of missed opportunities in this cinematic universe, and some of the largest are certainly the relationships from the comic books that could have enhanced some of the stories within it.This list will address the biggest DC relationships that never made it to the DCEU. There won’t be any particular ranking; instead, the list will merely discuss these couples and ponder why they never translated into live-action.
10Batman & Talia al Ghul
No Damien Wayne in this universe.
One of the most famous DC Comics relationships was between the legendary Batman and one of his greatest enemies, Talia al Ghul. This odd pairing eventually birthed the current Robin, Damien Wayne, Batman’s only biological son. While the young man is getting adapted toJames Gunn’s DCU,the DCEU could have also used Talia’s presence.
It would have made for an interesting plot, seeing thatAffleck’sBruce never even had a Robinfighting alongside him (aside from the one Joker murdered in the past). Talia’s presence would also have fit this more antagonistic adaptation of Batman, given the dark rut he is in when viewers first meet him inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
9Killer Croc & Enchantress
They were in the same movie together already!
Although they were in the same movie together—the awfulSuicide Squad—the Killer Croc-Enchantress relationship never made its way to the big screen. In the DC Comics universe, they fall for each other when they both end up on DC Rebirth’s iteration of the Suicide Squad. In fact,their love is actually incredibly cute.
The Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) inSuicide Squad, however, barely interact. In fact, she’s in a relationship with Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman). If Enchantress had made it out to the other end of the film, however, and this iteration of the team also survived the rest of the DCEU, this relationship could have budded into something pretty dang adorable.
Suicide Squad
8Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy
You suck, Joker.
The best relationship in Harley Quinn’s life is definitely with Poison Ivy. It’shealthy and absolutely beloved by fanseverywhere. People are absolutely enthralled with this relationship for Harley, as it’s done so much for her character arc over the years. After making it out of the abusive relationship she had with the Joker, moving on to Poison Ivy was an awesome choice made by the folks over at DC.
Best represented in the currentHarley Quinnanimated series,Harley and Ivy’s relationship should have made it to the screen. The latter was never introduced to the DCEU, but with how profoundly important the former was to it, this pairing would have fit very well. Ivy could have easily been brought into the universe in one of the films Harley had a part in. Definitely a missed opportunity, as they could have made a great andentertaining DC film together.
Harley Quinn
7Barry Allen & Jessica Cruz
Another way they could have introduced the Green Lantern Corps!
Thanks to The CWThe Flashseries, Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris West (Candice Patton) are the most well-known couple for the second Scarlet Speedster. They’ve been a consistent relationship at the core of the DC Comics universe for years. Even the DCEU seemed like they’d eventually try and make an attempt at it. Iris isn’t the only woman that Barry has been in a relationship with, though. He’s actually also been together withan underappreciated member of the Green Lantern Corps, Jessica Cruz.
Superhero-on-superhero love is always beloved by the comic book fan base.Barry and Jessica’s time together was short but meaningful. They even had a short story where they meet their children from an alternate future in which they go on to get married. It’sa unique and unexpected relationshipthat could have really switched things up for the already different-than-usual DCEU universe.
6Batman & Catwoman
Easily the most iconic Batman relationship.
The most popular Batman relationship in DC Comics is quite easily the one he’s had on and off with Catwoman.The two even almost got married in 2022, until the writers decided to redirect because comic books love the classic status quo. The bat and the cat have a very long history in the canon that makes for incredible dynamics whenever they get together.
People know that a solo Affleck Batman film was planned at one point, so Catwoman definitely could have made an appearance there.
The age of Ben Affleck’s Batman would cause people to assume that he most certainly met Catwoman at some point in his career,meaning she could have easily been inserted into a storyas an old flame. People know that a solo Affleck Batman film was planned at one point, so Catwoman definitely could have made an appearance there. Considering the characterization of the Bats in the DECEU, the lack of this relationship is a massive missed opportunity.
5Harley Quinn & Deadshot
There’s a cut of the film where this is reality!
Not only have Harley Quinn and Deadshot (Will Smith) had a relationship in the comics universe, butthey just barely got one in 2016’slame release ofSuicide Squadin the original cut of the film director David Ayer intended to put out. In the Ayer cut of the film, supposedly,Harley and Deadshot’s relationshiphelps her break free of Joker’s mental control.
This couple certainly would have been a very cool one in the DCEU as a whole. It could have caused an interesting arc for both of them if theSuicide Squadhad actually been successful and continued the franchise forward. Maybe since the storyline was cut from Ayer’s original film, it could be brought back with the DCU, although many will logically complain if Harley is paired with anyone but Ivy.
4Barry Allen & Iris West
She’s his lightning rod.
The greatest relationship in Barry Allen’s life is with Iris West. At this point in the comics,they’re pretty much soulmatesthat readers can’t see ever breaking apart. Now, the DCEU tried to do this relationship in their films, but it never really played out, largely because there was only one Flash movie. Fans got close to getting it, though.
Audiences got to see a little tease of their mutual attraction ina short scene fromZack Snyder’s Justice League, but she didn’t stick around for the rest of the project. They attempted to follow up once again in the absolute failure that wasThe Flashmovie, where they never got together, butit was teased as they grew closer.
3Hawkman & Hawkgirl
The legendary Hawks.
Audiences were first introduced to these two characters in the Arrowverse, but Hawkgirl was specifically popularized for her main role inthe iconicJustice Leagueanimated series. She’s such a renowned character that many were quite confused whenshe didn’t appear next to Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) inBlack Adamwith the rest of the Justice Society.
Her absence disappointed a lot of fans, as seeing them work together on the big screen would have been quite the treat. Not to mention,the two are pretty much always together, so it begged the question of where she possibly could have been during the huge world-ending plot ofBlack Adam. One can only hope that James Gunn has a love for these two and their relationship and will include them in the DCU.
2Superman & Wonder Woman
The two strongest Justice Leaguers sittin' in a tree!
The only kind of relationship Wonder Woman ever had in the DCEU was the one she shared with Steve Trevor in the firstWonder Woman. However,Superman and Wonder Woman ofter get paired in the comics. That doesn’t mean that the DC Comics readers necessarily like the couple together, though, and not just because people vastly prefer Clark Kent with Lois Lane.
The two simply aren’t that great together. It’s like hooking up the two most popular kids in school—it’s boring. It felt like the writers only put them with each other because they’re both the most powerful Justice League members. Viewers didn’t get to see this in the movies, and it’s definitely for the best. Based on whatZack Snyderhas said about the future of his DC world,Lois and Clark’s relationshipwould have been incredibly important moving forward.
1Batman & Wonder Woman
Opposites really do attract.
One of the most famous in-League relationships is between the woman of great power and the man with no powers. Batman and Wonder Woman havequite a history as romantic partners. It was all but confirmed briefly inJustice League Unlimitedand eventually fully done later in the comics. This is quite an interesting relationship, given how different the two are and how they can often disagree on their methods of crime fighting.
They’d always had a mutual attraction for one another, so when they eventually got together, it made a lot of sense. This couple has a lot more approval from fans because it actually provides an interesting premise. They had something of a few moments in the DCEU, especially inJustice League, but nothing ever came of it, which stinks, because they’re two ofthe DCEU’s best characters.
Justice League
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