During a director's commentary for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Zack Snyder revealed General Swanwick/Martian Manhunter knew Superman's identity. Harry Lennix debuted as Swanwick in 2013's Man of Steel, also directed by Snyder. He followed that up with appearances in both Batman v Superman and Justice League. Snyder directed all three, though he had to leave Justice League before it was complete due to a family tragedy. This led to a different film than the one Snyder envisioned, with fans dubbing his version the "Snyder Cut." Since confirming the Cut's existence, Snyder has teased plot points and scenes that didn't make it into the final film.

Late last year, Snyder revealed via a storyboard that his version of the movie revealed Swanwick was actually J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter in disguise. In the comics, Martian Manhunter is a friend to Superman, as the two fight alongside one another in the Justice League. As a Green Martian, he has a variety of powers, including the ability to shape shift. This makes it possible for him to impersonate anyone. In the DCEU, Swanwick's relationship with Henry Cavill's Superman is complicated. The two don't see eye-to-eye in Man of Steel, though Swanwick does warm up to him in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Related: How Justice League's Martian Manhunter Reveal Would've Changed The DCEU

Now, Snyder lends some clarity to the relationship between Martian Manhunter and Superman. During his live-stream commentary of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Snyder revealed Martian Manhunter knew about Superman's secret identity. This is important, as it shows Swanwick had leverage over Clark but chose not to use it. It also speaks to the larger role Martian Manhunter could have played in Snyder's version of Justice League, as precious few know who Superman truly is.

Justice League Zack Snyder Cut Swanwick Martian Manhunter

The future of the DCEU is in flux right now as Warner Bros., along with other distributors, faces delays due the coronavirus. Wonder Woman 1984, originally set for June, has now been pushed to August. It's possible The Batman, with Robert Pattinson taking over the title role from Ben Affleck, may also face a release delay as well. The movie was forced to stop filming earlier this month, with an original two-week hold on production. Director Matt Reeves has since said The Batman will wait "till it is safe for us all to resume." Luckily, The Suicide Squad is still on track so far, with James Gunn recently revealing he's been editing it from home.

Snyder's reveal about Martian Manhunter and Superman will surprise many fans, though some may have suspected it. As Swanwick was already keeping his identity a secret, it makes sense he would be keeping even more to himself. Though fans may never see the Snyder Cut and moment Swanwick revealed he was actually Martian Manhunter, it's still interesting to hear more details from Snyder about what could have been. At the very least, fans know Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice contain the director's true vision.

More: Justice League: Clues Martian Manhunter Was In The DCEU Since Man of Steel

Source: Zack Snyder

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