With Zack Snyder’s superhero fight flick almost upon us, it’s time to make sure you’re up to speed on everything there is to know about the epic match-up between DC’s two most iconic heroes.
Here’s your crash course on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
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Two years have passed since the events of Man of Steel. In the aftermath of his devastating battle with Zod, which destroyed much of Metropolis, Superman has become a controversial figure. The people he’s sworn to protect — including a certain Billionaire Bat-vigilante — now see him as an alien threat that must be contained.
The film is inspired by decades of comic book history in which the pair have teamed up and faced off time and again. Much of it looks ripped right from the pages of Frank Miller’s classic mini-series The Dark Knight Returns (1986), but this isn’t an adaptation. You can expect plenty of surprises in the film.
Henry Cavill is back as the Man of Steel. This time, he’s playing a more complex Superman, struggling with the repercussions of killing his nemesis and destroying half of city in the process. He’s also dealing with the onslaught of skepticism (and outright anger) from a public he vowed to protect.
Ben Affleck stars as Bruce Wayne, a veteran version of Batman who screenwriter David Goyer has called “tired, weary, and seasoned.” He may be tired, but he’s got a sweet new Batmobile and Supe-buster armor, which — like a lot of things in the movie — is straight out of Miller’s comics.
Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman, in the character’s long overdue big screen, live-action debut. Before turning super heroine, she was Diana, a demi-god Amazon, the daughter of Zeus. And despite her youthful appearance, she’s actually hundreds of years old by the time we meet her on screen.
Jesse Eisenberg plays iconic villain Lex Luthor, a narcissistic mogul who hatches his own plot against Superman. Doomsday, who we’ve seen in the trailers, is also there to wreak havoc which ultimately brings the titular characters back together.
Lois Lane is back at Superman’s side, and Alfred Pennyworth will be Wayne’s ever-faithful servant but with bit more hands-on than his usual butler persona.
What about Robin? We’ve all seen the busted Robin suit from the trailer with the Joker graffiti. So it’s a no-brainer that Joker killed ONE of the Robins, and we still may see a version of the sidekick in this film.
Numerous other characters are in the mix too, including members of the formative Justice League. Aquaman is in, played by Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones). Same goes for Cyborg, who’ll be played by Ray Fisher, and The Flash, played in this version by Ezra Miller. It’s possible these guys will just have cameo-style introductions, but we’re hoping for more.
What else is in store? All will be revealed when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on Friday.
