New Gods & New Threads: Everything We Know About ‘Justice League’

By Jaclyn Cascio (@jaclynator)
 
The DC is a few years behind Marvel in creating a cohesive cinematic universe. The Avengers assembled their superhero team in 2012 after several standalone projects. Not to be outdone, 5 years later, DC is uniting some of their big-name characters in the film Justice League. Let’s see what we know so far about the DCEU flick!
 
The Justice League dream began for Warner Bros. in 2007. They had writers, a director, and even a cast. However, the Writer’s Strike began and other obstacles arose, putting the project on hold. Meanwhile, the Christopher Nolan Batman films were going strong with the immense success of The Dark Knight in 2008. Warner Bros. decided to develop individual DC films and place a Justice League movie on the back burner. They were sure they would make the film at some point, but getting the timing right was more important. The waiting paid off as everything began to come together when Man of Steel was released and the DCEU construction started.
 
In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced Justice League, and teased that it would be released in two parts, both being directed by Zack Snyder. (One would be released November 2017 and the second part would premiere in June 2019.) More recently, Snyder has stated that the two-part plan is off the table and there will be two separate films. Additionally, the 2019 date has been delayed, due to the development of a solo Batman movie with Ben Affleck.
 
After Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice killed it at the box office but lost with the critics and divided the fans, Geoff Johns (DC president and chief creative officer) and Jon Berg were brought on board in May 2016 to produce Justice League and take charge of the DCEU as a whole. They are joined on the project by producers Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder. With Zack Snyder at the helm, principal photography began in April 2016, moving around various locations before completing filming in October 2016.
 

 
The screenplay by Chris Terrio (Argo) is based on the “New Gods” comic book series by Jack Kirby. Months after the events of Batman v Superman, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) has lost some of his cynicism and hopelessness, inspired by the sacrifice made by Superman (Henry Cavill). With new dangers approaching, Batman is joined by Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) in an attempt to gather a team of meta-humans to face the threat of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) and the Parademons (the winged creatures in the desert nightmare of Bruce Wayne in BvS). Steppenwolf is the uncle of Darkseid, who is perhaps one of the most dangerous villains in the DC universe. Steppenwolf is also a commanding officer of Darkseid’s forces on the planet Apokolips. With the Parademons, he is looking for Mother Boxes on Earth. We know that one is protected by the Atlanteans and another was used to create Cyborg. But what that means for Steppenwolf and his opposition remains to be seen.
 
Meanwhile, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) will have their hands full trying to work as a team and keep the planet safe. (Sorry folks, no Green Lantern in the DCEU just yet!) Luckily, they should get some help from supporting cast, such as Lois Lane (Amy Adams), Nuidis Vulko (Willem Dafoe), Martha Kent (Diane Lane), Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), James Gordon (J.K. Simmons), Dr. Silas Stone (Joe Morton), and Mera (Amber Heard), among others.
 
While the team works together to fight the forces of evil, we are left to wonder about the fate of Superman. Last we knew, Clark Kent had been buried after sacrificing himself to destroy Doomsday. But final scenes with dirt on the grave levitating has hinted at the resurrection of the Kryptonian hero. Henry Cavill filmed scenes for the film, and was even seen wearing the dark uniform familiar to comic book fans from Superman’s resurrection. But the trailer, concerningly, had no Superman. Snyder told USA Today that Cavill’s scenes were cut. “We didn’t feel he was completely necessary for the story we’re telling in this film.” Has Superman’s role been completely erased from the film, or will we still see the alien fighting the good fight? Check out the trailer (released this March) below and tell us what you think!
 

 
Although Justice League sounds like a serious action movie, akin to the previous films within the DCEU franchise, Geoff Johns has promised that the film will be “hopeful and optimistic” in comparison. The trailer gives us hope that it will have some lighter material. Although not yet rated, it is likely that Justice League will be PG-13, as the movies from the DCEU have been in the past. (Let’s be honest, if Suicide Squad was only PG-13, it’s difficult to imagine Justice League surpassing it.)
 
Justice League will premiere in the U.S. in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D on November 17, 2017. (And if you were worried about the 170 minute run time for the movie posted on IMDb, don’t worry. Snyder has debunked the rumor.) While you wait, you can follow development and promotional information about the film on Twitter (@justiceleaguewb) or the movie’s official Facebook page.

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