Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice featured a confusing "Knightmare" scene that even director Zack Snyder doesn't fully understand. The nascent DC Extended Universe was heavily shaped by auteur Zack Snyder, and it proved deeply divisive. The sheer scale of the division is perfectly indicated by Batman V Superman's performance on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes; the film has a critic score of just 28 percent, but an audience score of 68 percent.

One of the more confusing moments saw Batman experience a mysterious vision in which he glimpsed a dark future. According to Snyder, Batman is seeing a future timeline in which Superman had lost his beloved Lois Lane and had become susceptible to Darkseid's Anti-Life Equation. This evil Superman became a tyrant, conquering Earth. Then, in a startling twist, Batman awoke to find Flash projecting himself from the future into the Batcave. It was all very confusing; to what extent was Batman dreaming, and to what extent was he being granted a vision by a time traveling Flash?

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Zack Snyder has been doing a commentary live-stream for Batman V Superman on Vero, and as part of that, he's admitted even he isn't entirely sure what's going on in the Knightmare scene. As he noted, Bruce Wayne is waiting for some files to decrypt at the time. "So he... falls asleep, maybe," Snyder observes. "I'm not sure. Could be a consequence of Flash running on the cosmic treadmill and creating a rift. Could be a combination of those things."

Flash's innate connection to the Speed Force potentially allows him to travel in time, although in the comics he tends to use a device called the "Cosmic Treadmill" to help him build up enough speed. Snyder is clearly alluding to this idea, confirming that Batman is supposed to have experienced an actual future timeline; the Flash of this future was reaching out to him in an attempt to rewrite history. Unfortunately, even Snyder now admits he isn't quite sure how this was happening, explaining why general viewers were confused by the scene. No doubt Snyder would have eventually settled on an idea as he continued his story, which was intended to explore this Knightmare timeline.

Unfortunately, the Knightmare scene is now best understand as a sort of cinematic relic, part of a storyline that will never happen. Warner Bros. lost confidence in Snyder's vision for the DCEU, in large part because of the critical reception to Batman V Superman, and they pivoted in a different direction. Although Snyder originally remained in charge of Justice League, he left partway through production after a family tragedy and was replaced by Joss Whedon. Snyder's plan was forgotten - and, as a result, the Knightmare scene is now even more confusing, a signpost to a destination that will never be reached.

More: What Went Wrong With Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Source: Zack Snyder