What is "Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice?" Is it a sequel to 2013's "Man of Steel?" Is it a launching pad for Warner Bros.' DC Extended Universe? Is it a "Justice League" prequel? The answer may depend on who you ask, as the film follows Henry Cavill's Superman while introducing a handful of new characters such as Ben Affleck's Batman and Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman.
The main characters will also be (briefly) joined by Justice League members Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg/Victor Stone (Ray Fisher), as each will be introduced in "Dawn of Justice." And we haven't even mentioned Lex Luthor, Doomsday and other familiar names from DC Comics. If the movie sounds crowded, it's because it is. Fortunately, director Zack Snyder assures fans that this isn't just a halfhearted backdoor to the upcoming "Justice League" films.
"I really feel like this movie...I mean as far as the other Justice League characters go, it's very small roles," he said during his interview on the Hall of Justice podcast. "It's a whisper that they exist. Except for Wonder Woman, we see her pretty well. But the movie is about Batman and Superman. And we really do take time with them, and we really do drill down on the 'why' of them, and what they stand for, and their beliefs, and them as characters. That's pretty much the 'why' of the movie. But again, it does begin the conversation that these guys are out there."
This could mean that audiences won't get more than a brief glimpse at the other characters - enough to establish that they exist in the DCEU - when "Dawn of Justice" finally arrives. Minimizing the roles of other Justice League members is the right way to go as anything more substantial would distract from the central plot of this film.
Ultimately, this is movie is about Batman and Superman (and, to a lesser extent, Wonder Woman). It's OK if Snyder wants to start dropping hints about future developments, but jumping right into the "Avengers" style team-up would feel forced and undeserved. Thankfully, that does not appear to be the case.
"Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice" will hit theaters on March 25.
