Zack Snyder's Justice League cast sees the return of familiar DCEU characters, but particularly introduces new people who weren't in the theatrical version. The four-hour rendition of Snyder's original Justice League plan officially brings the director's vision to life. The theatrical cut, besides its short running time, removed a lot of elements, plots, and characters that Snyder had laid out for his film. That's why it became clear, even before the campaign began to get the original movie released, how significantly different the 2017 version was from Snyder's film.
For reasons that will perhaps always remain unclear, Zack Snyder's Justice League had key layers that got taken out from the theatrical cut. Many of the removed characters had either all of their scenes cut or reshot to fit better with Joss Whedon's problematic retooling of Justice League. Some characters, like Steppenwolf, had their character design completely changed due to the studio finding his initial look being too scary. But thanks to HBO Max, everything that got trimmed in 2017, is in the Snyder Cut.
While Zack Snyder's Justice League has multiple returning characters from the other films, the movie introduces many new ones too. Some will even carry over to upcoming DC films that are in the works. There are a handful of characters that did appear in the theatrical cut but are restored to the depictions that Snyder was originally going to do. Here's every new, returning, and supporting character in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Ray Porter as Darkseid
One of the most famous Justice League villains makes his cinematic debut through Zack Snyder's Justice League with Ray Porter as Uxas a.k.a. Darkseid. While he serves more like a figure in the background, Darkseid is the ultimate big bad of this story. Darkseid tried to conquer Earth when he was still Uxas but was stopped by Earth's first generation of heroes. Porter's body of work includes The Sandman, the DC/Vertigo audio drama where he voices several characters, including Wesley Dodds, Hector Hall, and many more. If people look closely at Argo, Porter can be spotted as a first assistant director.
Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf
While he was in the theatrical cut of Justice League, the official and real version of Steppenwolf is given his proper due in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Ciarán hinds portray Darkseid's uncle who is seeking redemption from his fellow New Gods. Steppenwolf's mission is to collect the three Mother Boxes that have been on Earth for decades in order to gain respect back from Darkseid and his elite. Outside of portraying the DC foe, Hinds has done several sci-fi/fantasy projects such as Game of Thrones as well as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2.
Peter Guinness as Desaad
Another New God that gets his cinematic debut is Desaad, one of Darkseid's closest servants who is played by Peter Guinness. Desaad is initially the character that Steppenwolf is reporting to while carrying out the mission to locate the Mother Boxes. Zack Snyder's Justice League isn't Guinness' first DC project he's part of as he can also be seen in the Batman prequel series Pennyworth where he played General Malcolm, but his voice can also be heard in several Doctor Who audio dramas.
J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon
One of Batman's closest allies has and always will be Commissioner James Gordon, who is played by J.K. Simmons in Zack Snyder's Justice League. The Snyder Cut sees him in a very traditional role where he's working together with the Dark Knight as he puts the Justice League together. This is not the first time Simmons has played a big iconic comic book character as he played J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and is also playing an MCU take on the character in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Joe Morton as Silas Stone
With Cyborg being one of the main characters in Zack Snyder's Justice League, his family is also an important part of Victor's story. Joe Morton plays his father Silas Stone, who was able to use a Mother Box to give Victor a second chance at life but as a cyborg. While the Stone men have a tricky relationship, Silas sacrifices himself by heating up the third final Mother Box before Steppenwolf could take it so that the league could locate it afterward. Morton's filmography involves Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, as well as Eureka.
Karen Bryson as Elinore Stone
While Victor had a struggling relationship with his father, his mother Elinore Stone was a parent he was much closer with as Karen Bryson plays her in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Even though Elinore has a tragic fate after dying in the car crash that changed Victor's life forever, it gets established that she was the more present parent in his life. Bryson is known for her work on shows like Shameless, as well as Safe, Bulletproof, White Wall, and will soon be seen in Matchmakers.
Zheng Kai as Ryan Choi
A DC character that also gets his due cinematically in Zack Snyder's Justice League is Zheng Kai's Ryan Choi who in the comics is the second version of The Atom. In Zack Snyder's Justice League, he works with Silas at STAR Labs and while Silas passes away, the ending teases Ryan's possible Atom future. Ryan was another character that got cut from the 2017 iteration of the film. Kai can be seen in films like Shadow, Ex-Files, Ex-Files 2, My Lucky Star, and The Great Wall.
Kiersey Clemons as Iris West
With the proper introduction of Barry Allen a.k.a. Flash, also comes a few important characters from his mythology. One of them is his love interest Iris West, played by Kiersey Clemons that was another cast member that got added back for Zack Snyder's Justice League. She and Barry first meet each other before his job interview, with both of them seemingly smitten by the other. But Barry is forced to unveil his powers to Iris after she almost dies in a car accident. While Clemons will be back as Iris in The Flash film, the actress is also known for her work in Dope, Scoob!, as well as the TV shows Transparent and Angie Tribecca.
Billy Crudup as Henry Allen
One of the more tragic characters in Flash's mythology is Henry Allen, Barry's father who was framed for his wife Nora's murder. In Zack Snyder's Justice League, Henry is played by Billy Crudup who is part of Barry's story throughout the movie. While he's serving a sentence at Iron Height, Henry tries to convince Barry to stop obsessing about trying to clear his name and try to live his life. Crudup has worked with Snyder previously as he portrayed Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen and even though he was going to reprise the role of Barry's father in The Flash film, he has exited the project due to scheduling issues with The Morning Show.
Harry Lennix as Martian Manhunter
While Harry Lennix has played General Swanwick in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, his real character gets revealed in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Swanwick was only a disguise for J'onn J'onzz a.k.a. the Martian Manhunter who poses as Martha Kent when trying to help Lois Lane with her grief. Martian Manhunter is the one that closes out the film as he reaches out to Batman about the coming war. Outside of his DCEU films, Lennix is also known for his current gig on The Blacklist.
Jared Leto as The Joker
Even though he wasn't originally part of Zack Snyder's Justice League, Jared Leto reprises the role of Joker after first portraying the Batman villain in Suicide Squad. The Joker that is seen in the Snyder Cut is a very different Clown Prince of Crime. While it's only for one scene, Leto's Joker is part of the Knightmare timeline that Bruce has a vision of where the two rivals are actually working side-by-side. Leto's filmography also includes Dallas Buyers Club, Blade Runner 2049, and soon Morbius where he'll portray the iconic Marvel vampire.
Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke
Another DC character whose original story gets restored in Zack Snyder's Justice League is Joe Manganiello's Slade Wilson a.k.a. Deathstroke. Despite having a brief cameo in the theatrical iteration, Zack Snyder's Justice League actually shows what Deathstroke's real role is. Deathstroke is also given more screentime here by being revealed as one of Batman's allies in the Knightmare sequence. Outside of the role of Deathstroke, Manganiello is known for his roles in True Blood and the Magic Mike films.
Zack Snyder's Justice League Main Cast
Henry Cavill as Superman - Portraying the Last Son of Krypton once more in Zack Snyder's Justice League, Cavill has played Superman since 2013's Man of Steel. Aside from his portrayal of Superman, Cavill is currently portraying Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's The Witcher and has garnered more recognition for his roles in Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Enola Holmes.
Ben Affleck as Batman - After his DCEU debut in Batman v Superman, Affleck plays Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman once more who helps putting the Justice League together. The busy actor/director/writer will be back as the Dark Knight in The Flash movie, but before playing the Caped Crusader, he made a name for himself appearing in films like Good Will Hunting, Daredevil, Armageddon, Argo, and more.
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman - Gadot plays the iconic DC heroine for the fourth time (fifth if including the theatrical cut) as she and Bruce together create the Justice League as they recruit the new players. While also starring in her own Wonder Woman franchise, Gadot will be back in the third installment that is in development. Outside her DC adventures, Gadot famously played Gisele in three Fast & Furious installments.
Jason Momoa as Aquaman - While DCEU fans have already seen Momoa through Aquaman, Zack Snyder's Justice League depicts how his arc would have originally been set up ahead of his solo film. In Zack Snyder's Justice League, Arthur Curry initially dismisses the invitation to join the new team but ends up coming together with the heroes. Aquaman 2 will be the next DC project for Momoa who has also appeared in Apple+'s See as well as season 1 of Game of Thrones, which is where many people will recognize him from.
Ezra Miller as The Flash - Miller's version of the Scarlet Speedster is another new member that becomes part of the Justice League. This take on The Flash is also the only DCEU character to have ever crossed paths with DC TV through the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths where he had an infamous scene with Grant Gustin's Barry Allen. Miller will reprise the role in Andy Muschietti's The Flash film that will include Affleck's Batman and Clemons's Iris. Before Flash, though, Miller appeared in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and holds a big role in Warner Bros.' Fantastic Beasts series.
Ray Fisher as Cyborg - The character that gets his arc restored the most in Zack Snyder's Justice League is Fisher's Cyborg. He was originally going to appear in The Flash but was removed from the project amidst Fisher's ongoing dispute with the studio and DC Films for how they mistreated him along with other cast members during Joss Whedon's abusive production of Justice League. Fisher will be starring in the limited series Women of the Movement on ABC.
Zack Snyder's Justice League Supporting Cast
Amy Adams as Lois Lane - The character that is able to ground Superman after his resurrection in Zack Snyder's Justice League is Adams's Lois who overcomes her grief throughout the film's progression. Besides having portrayed Lois Lane for several DC films, Adams' long body of work includes Enchanted, American Hustle, Sharp Objects, and The Fighter.
Diane Lane as Martha Kent - Not only is Lane back as Clark's Earth mother Martha but she also briefly portrays Martian Manhunter disguised as her. Outside of the DC films she's been in, Lane has starred in movies like Hollywoodland (that features Affleck playing George Reeves, TV's Superman) as well as House of Cards.
Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth - Bruce may be fighting the streets of Gotham City by himself, but Batman will always have Alfred helping from a distance. Between the release of the theatrical cut and Zack Snyder's Justice League, Irons took on another big DC property. While it ran for one season, HBO's critically acclaimed Watchmen series saw Irons portray Adrian Veidt a.k.a. Ozymandias.
Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor - Despite appearing in the theatrical cut, Eisenberg's return as Lex Luthor for the Snyder Cut restores what his cameo was supposed to be. Lex still gets out of Arkham Asylum and is united with Deathstroke, but instead of proposing a "league of their own", he reveals to Slade that Bruce is Batman. Outside of playing Superman's most iconic villain, Eisenberg is recognized for The Social Network, Zombieland, and the Now You See Me franchise.
Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta - Earth's original heroes that fought Darkseid consisted of Amazons, including Nielsen's Queen Hippolyta. While not confirmed, Nielsen is expected to appear in Wonder Woman 3. Besides playing Wonder Woman's mother, Nielsen is known for her roles in The Following, Gladiator, I Am The Night, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Robin Wright as Antiope - While Antiope's dead in the present time, Wright's Themysciran character returns in the Snyder Cut through flashbacks where she fought alongside Earth's heroes against Darkseid's invasion. This was similar to Wright's appearance in Wonder Woman 1984 where she featured in flashbacks to Diana's childhood. Some of Wright's filmography includes her big role on House of Cards as well as The Princess Bride and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Amber Heard as Mera - Despite appearing in the theatrical cut as Mera, Heard's return to the DC heroine is more expanded this time around including also being part of the Knightmare sequence. Heard is confirmed to be reprising the role in Aquaman 2, debunking reports that she had been fired from the film. Besides playing Mera, Heard has starred in projects like The Stand, Magic Mike XXL, and The Danish Girl.
Willem Dafoe as Vulko - Dafoe was another actor whose character was removed from Whedon's Justice League with Vulko officially restored as part of the Snyder Cut. He's assumingly coming back for Aquaman 2, but Vulko isn't his first comic book role. Dafoe portrayed Norman Osborn a.k.a. Green Goblin in Raimi's Spider-Man universe who is reportedly going to appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Dafoe's film history also includes The Lighthouse and At Eternity's Gate.
