A new trailer for Zack Snyder's Justice League has come out; those assuming that the movie would be the same as the one from 2017 with some extra scenes were proven wrong. The trailer showcased a vastly different film that is said to be four hours long and will debut on HBO Max on March 18th.
The trailer featured a good mix of untampered Snyder footage fans had already seen. There was a lot of new footage including characters that had not been seen in the 2017 version. There are a lot of changes to spot in the trailer but what are the biggest ones?
The Death Heard 'Round The Universe
The trailer opens up on a dying Superman during the events of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. It's not just reused footage either, it's a new slow-motion shot of Superman screaming from Doomsday's wound in his chest. His screaming sends a wave all over the world.
With Lex Luthor's monologue going off in the background, this scream hints that it is the bell that brings the forces of Apokolips to Earth once again. It was said in the 2017 Justice League that Superman's death awoke the Mother Boxes: perhaps this is what they were originally referring to.
The Bat-Tank
In a very quick shot, Ben Affleck's Batman seems to be sporting an iconic vehicle from comic book history. Much like how the fight between him and Superman was inspired by The Dark Knight Returns, this vehicle is the War Machine AKA Bat-Tank from the same graphic novel.
Frank Miller's early work with Batman has left a major impact. In many ways, it revolutionized the comic book world and was the inspiration for many Batman stories to come. That's why fans will look forward to seeing the Bat-Tank in action.
The Tone Fits
One of the biggest problems with the 2017 version was that it never felt like a Zack Snyder film. From beginning to end, Justice League felt way too family-friendly and out of touch with the previous films. This was the result of Joss Whedon's reshooting and tampering with the entire movie.
The new trailer, if it reflects the final product, comes much closer to feeling like the third chapter of Zack Snyder's trilogy. It's dark and epic, very reminiscent of films like The Lord Of The Rings. The stakes feel higher and less like a big-budget Super Friends episode.
The Knightmare Continues
Fans only got a small glimpse into the apocalyptic future known as Knightmare in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. It is a world where Darkseid has taken over and Superman is his general while Batman leads a resistance.
Over the years since Snyder began teasing his version of Justice League, he had plans to do a three-part Justice League trilogy with one part in the Knightmare world. Since this version will likely be his last involvement with the DCEU, Snyder seems to be making an entire section of the film dedicated to the Knightmare timeline.
The Speed Force
Zack Snyder also teased that his Knightmare movie would have had Barry Allen's Flash going back in time to prevent Darkseid from killing the Justice League. Snyder teased through storyboards unclear glimpses of Barry inside the Speed Force as he travels through time.
The trailer did showcase Ezra Miller's Barry Allen saving Iris West in one of the most famous deleted scenes. The new trailer showcased two instances in which Barry is inside the Speed Force. Whether it's the future Barry or present Barry experiencing it is unclear but it will be interesting to see the DCEU's take on the Speed Force.
More Cyborg, The Merrier
Originally, Cyborg was supposed to be the heart and soul of Snyder's version. The trailer for the new movie definitely hints at way more screen time for Ray Fisher as both Victor Stone and Cyborg. Sadly, there is a high chance it will be Ray Fisher's last appearance as the character.
Fans loved Ray Fisher as Cyborg despite the small screen time. However, the actor has gone on record and raised his concerns over how production and the filming were handled under Joss Whedon.
The Real Steppenwolf
One of the first hints that something was shady was when actor Ciarán Hinds openly admitted that the version of Steppenwolf that was shown in theaters was not the version he signed up for. It's true, the Steppenwolf in the 2017 version looks absolutely nothing like what was teased in Batman V Superman.
Snyder has thankfully fixed that with not only a better design and better CGI but also a more demonic voice for Hinds. Steppenwolf also appears to be more than just a punching bag; he appears to be more of an Apokoliptan warrior that is not to be trifled with.
Black Suit Superman
Possibly the most infamous change that Joss Whedon made was with Superman. Nearly all of Superman's scenes were reshot with Henry Cavill coming back with a mustache due to filming Mission Impossible: Fallout. Rather than adding a beard to Superman to make it fit, Joss decided to use CGI to remove the mustache.
As a result, Superman became a laughing stock due to the awful CGI. Well, all the original Superman footage is back and Henry Cavill has no CGI lip. He also looks absolutely perfect. The only digital altering is that Snyder replaced the blue and red with the iconic black suit from the comics.
Darkseid Has Arrived
Many suspected that Darkseid would be nothing but an extended cameo. However, footage from the trailer and what Snyder has teased on his social media hints that Darkseid is the main antagonist. Steppenwolf is just a pawn who does Darkseid's bidding through most of the film.
Darkseid also just looks great: he looks how Darkseid should look. The same goes for his Apokoliptan generals like Granny Goodness and Desaad. They all look great and updated while being loyal to what fans love from the comics.
Jared Leto Is Back!
Like most comic book movie trailers, the trailer for Zack Snyder's Justice League ends on a stinger. In the Knightmare future, Batman recruits the help of someone into his resistance. Who? None other than his greatest rival: the Joker, played by Jared Leto from Suicide Squad.
Thanks to Warner Bros. granting Zack Snyder more budget to finish his version, he was also allowed to film extra scenes. This included bringing back Jared Leto so he and Ben Affleck's Batman can interact for the first and possibly final time. The face tattoos are gone, he's embracing the "society" memes, and his new apocalyptic look has fans ready to see Jared Leto's big second chance.