Summary
WhilstDCbarely dipped its toes into the concepts of the Multiverse before heading into a bold new reboot with James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU, there were some surprising faces seen across various movies. MostDCCameos were not all that exciting and featured characters too obscure, or actors, celebrities, and politicians that feature as mere easter eggs rather than for comic fans to enjoy.
Yet, there were some cameos in DC movies that are still pretty memorable, and there were a few surprising ones that would have fans confused and bewildered if that even happened. Looking back on some cameos across various DC and DCEU movies, some fans of the franchise might reminisce on how strange these worlds were before the igniting reboot ofSupermanin theaters on July 04, 2025.
8Julie Andrews
The Karathen Protects King Atlan’s Body Without Mary Poppins’ Glee
Whilst audiences won’t exactly look at the Karathen inAquaman(2018) and think of Julie Andrews, they might hear hints of her voice in the performance. This dreaded beast battles Aquaman whilst defending the body and trident of King Atlan, waiting for an Atlantean worthy enough to wield his armor and weapon to become the king of the seven seas.Little does Arthur Curry and the audience knowthat this defender of righteousness is Mary Poppins.
It’s rather funny to think that Julie Andrews agreed to play the Karathen in Aquaman, especially when one considers her iconic filmography as the titular Mary Poppins. It’s a delightful voice cameo that most fans might have missed when they watchedAquamanfor the first time, or even to this day.
7Lynda Carter
The OG Wonder Woman Returns
Whilst some DC fans might not have checked outWonder Woman 1984due to dwindling interest in the DCEU, the end credits scene of the movie featured a rather different Wonder Woman, one that many might recall from the TV series in the 1970s. The scene itself depicts none other than Lynda Carter saving a baby, a heroic homage to the first and original live-action Wonder Woman.
Instead of playing Diana Prince, Lynda Carter plays an Amazon warrior who had left Themyscira to live with humans. Named Asteria, it’s a shame that Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot never got a double Wonder Woman team-up that could’vemade for some badass momentsin the DC Universe.
6Jeffrey Dean Morgan
The Father Of Bruce Wayne Is Played By Negan
It’s hard to get cooler than Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and this actor is no stranger to comic book franchises. Starring as Negan inThe Walking Dead, Joe Kessler inThe Boys, and the Comedian inWatchmen(2009), Jeffrey Dean Morgan returned to the DC world to work with Zack Snyder, albeit briefly. Jeffrey Dean Morgan features as Thomas Wayne, depicting the tragic and traumatic demise of Bruce’s parents that night in Crime Alley.
Whilst Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s appearance is brief, it’s noticeable, and it begs the question of why he agreed to play such a small part. Were there expectations to return for a potentialFlashpointmovie where he would be able to don his own cowl as a Thomas Wayne Batman? Or was it just for fun?
5Stan Lee
The King Of Cameos Appears In The Rival Franchise
A surprising cameo that probably no one expected was Stan Lee appearing in a DC movie. The most respected man in Marvel Comics had a cameo in practically every Marvel movie until he sadly passed away in 2018, the same year that he appeared inTeen Titans Go! To The Movies. Surprisingly, Stan Lee is no stranger to DC, as he wrote for theJust Imagineseries, which features Stan Lee’s own re-imaginings of DC classics like Batman and Superman.
The cameo itself has an animated Stan Lee in the Warner Bros. backlot, breaking the fourth wall as he grabs the camera and pulls off some iconic Marvel hero poses in one of his “subtle cameos”. It’s a cute and comedic moment that pays homage to someone responsible for many of the greatest comic heroes known today.
4George Clooney
Batman Returns, But It’s Not The One Fans Expected
The farewell to the DCEU begins withThe Flash(2023), and the DC-Multiverse opens wide,showcasing old heroesfrom decades prior to this moment. Yet, there’s one hero in particular that fans might not have expected to see, and it’s a Batman that many thought was dead and buried after the divisive reception toBatman & Robinin 1997.
It’s not Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, or even Christian Bale who gets to leave the DCEU as its last Batman, but instead, George Clooney. The fact that Clooney gets a quick little cameo at the end of this universe’s time on-screen is rather comedic and shows that Clooney is a pretty good sport about his short time as the Caped Crusader.
3Nicolas Cage
The Iconic Nicolas Cage Finally Dons The Superman Costume
Nicolas Cage is a true movie star, and he’s given every role he’s been in 100% of his energy and charisma. From recent releases likeLonglegs(2024) to classics likeFace/Off(1997), there’sa Nic Cage movie for everybody. Yet, perhaps one of his best roles would never see the light of day, with Tim Burton’s canceledSuperman Lives, where Cage would have played Superman/Clark Kent in a different yet familiar take on the character.
Nicolas Cage finally got his chance to play the character in a quick cameo that celebrates all the weird and wonderful ideas of the DC Multiverse, providing fans with a glimpse into Nicolas Cage’s world as he fights a giant spider. Strangely enough, the cameo is CGI, but it’s undeniably Nic Cage.
2Jared Leto
Joker And Batman Finally Come Face-To-Face At The End Of The World
For DC’s first cinematic universe, it always felt incomplete consideringthe Joker and Batmannever interacted once. Luckily, when Zack Snyder was given the chance to show the world his version ofJustice Leaguein 2021, he made sure to film a little extra scene between the Caped Crusader and the Clown Prince of Crime, which finally saw the potential chemistry that Jared Leto and Ben Affleck could have had together on-screen for future movies.
Jared Leto’s cameo appearance as the Joker gives him some level of redemption for the character seen inSuicide Squad(2016), and whilst it’s fairly short, it’s definitely memorable and shows fans the potential that Leto could have had in a universe that never continued.
1Henry Cavill
The Hierarchy Of Power In The DCEU Returns
The DCEU was born withMan of Steel(2013), and Henry Cavill donned the red cape and the Kryptonian crest to become the new Superman. Sadly, Henry Cavill’s time as Superman was relatively short-lived, and despite the DCEU spanning 10 years, he only appeared as Superman 4 times, and didn’t have the most screen time out of all the other DC characters, nor did he even receive a sequel for his own movie.
Hope was rekindled with the post-credits scene ofBlack Adam(2022), where Henry Cavill returns as Superman to face off against Black Adam, promising a battle of the ages. It’s an exciting cameo that rekindles hope for the DCEU, butit was short-lived, as Henry Cavill announced just weeks after that DC would be moving on with a reboot.
