The DC Extended Universe is now in full effect with Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad setting the stage this year for much larger things to come. The former of those to movies spent a good amount of time establishing the larger world, including numerous teases for the upcoming Justice League movie that's due in theaters next fall. Not only did viewers get their first look at heroes such as Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg, a deleted scene involving Lex Luthor (which is available on the "Ultimate Edition") revealed the villain Steppenwolf. The uncle of famed DC antagonist Darkseid, Steppenwolf has been confirmed as the big bad in Justice League.
With so much focus on the superheroes in the DCEU finally teaming up, little has been said about Steppenwolf's role in the movie. In fact, director Zack Snyder made it all the way through production without revealing who would be playing the character in the crossover event. But now, an actor has been revealed. Game of Thrones star Ciaran Hinds will portray Steppenwolf.
The news comes courtesy of The Wrap, who say that Hinds recently wrapped on Justice League. Unsurprisingly, the role is motion-capture, with an obvious comparison being Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their sources say that Steppenwolf's apperance will be upgraded from his earlier Batman V Superman cameo for Justice League, so it will be interesting to see how the character was designed. Snyder is well-known as a fan of the comics, so perhaps he went with something more accurate to the source material.
While the actual Justice League plot has been kept under lock and key, it's long been stated that Steppenwolf's ultimate goal is acquiring the three mother boxes that belonged to mankind, the Amazonians, and the Atlanteans. What the villain ultimately wishes to do with these objects remains to be seen; the boxes can essentially do anything its user desires. For instance, a mother box is what transforms Victor Stone into Cyborg during the brief scene in Dawn of Justice. Presumably, Steppenwolf wants to bring destruction to Earth, as Bruce Wayne's terrifying "Knightmare" suggested, and the trio of all-powerful MacGuffins will help him realize his master plan. As a lieutenant of Darkseid, there's probably something massive in store.
As for the actor bringing Steppenwolf to life, Hinds should prove to be another great hire for the DCEU. He has made a name for himself as a versatile character actor, appearing in a number of projects over the years, including Munich, There Will Be Blood, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2. Hinds has demonstrated a great range throughout his career, so chances are he can do this antagonistic role justice. For all the ups and downs the franchise has experienced in the early going, casting hasn't been a real issue for the DCEU, so hopefully Steppenwolf can be a compelling and intimidating threat.
NEXT: Justice League Prologue Explained
Source: The Wrap
