Warner Bros. reportedly did not want Martian Manhunter to be included in Zack Snyder's Justice League due to other plans for the character. Once something audiences never thought they would see, Warner Bros. released Zack Snyder's Justice League on HBO Max on March 18, 2021. The film was considered by many a major improvement over the theatrical cut the studio released in 2017, praised for its epic scope and inclusion of DC Easter eggs.

One of the big reveals in Zack Snyder's Justice League was the identity of Martian Manhunter. In the film, the character first appears after having designed himself as Martha Kent to talk with Lois Lane, and transforms into his Martian form before turning into his human alter-ego General Swanwick from Man of Steel and Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, played by Harry Lennix. The character then reappears at the end of the film as a hint of what was to come had Snyder's vision for the DCEU continued as planned.

Related: How Zack Snyder's Martian Manhunter Compares To DC Comics

In a report by Rolling Stone regarding the behind-the-scenes conflicts of Zack Snyder's Justice League, one argument arose on the status of Martian Manhunter. Sources say that the character was not in the original script of Zack Snyder's Justice League, and the studio was blindsided by the inclusion. Warner Bros. executive Walter Hamada reportedly requested Martian Manhunter be removed from the film, as they had different plans for the character. Snyder reportedly threatened to delete other footage if he was not allowed to include the character, but the director denies this claim, saying he would not have the ability to do so. Jason Kilar, then CEO of WarnerMedia, ruled in Snyder's favor and allowed Martian Manhunter to be included in the film.

Justice League Martian Manhunter Lennix Man Of Steel

For context, it is worth noting that Martian Manhunter was not originally going to be featured at the end of the film. The original plan was to include John Stewart as Green Lantern, and Snyder had cast Wayne T. Carr to play the character. Warner Bros. reportedly blocked this request, as they had plans for Green Lantern as well, and at the time it was reported that the concession was for Martian Manhunter to take the spot. The final scene of Zack Snyder's Justice League with Bruce Wayne meeting Martian Manhunter was shot during the film's reshoots, so it is likely it was not in the script and something Snyder added once the project got the green light.

What project Warner Bros. had planned for Martian Manhunter is unknown. There is a chance the character could have been intended for Black Adam or The Flash, or possibly a DC streaming series, since Supergirl, which also featured the character, was coming to an end after six seasons. Now that the character has appeared in Zack Snyder's Justice League, it will be interesting to see if Warner Bros. still has plans for the character and if Lennix will be invited back, or if the DCEU will simply move on.

Next: Why Martian Manhunter Is Better Than Snyder's Original Green Lantern Plan

Source: Rolling Stone

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