It’s the OTHER superhero civil war of 2016. Here’s why we’re super-stoked about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice...
1) It’s the dawn of the DC movie universe
Taking its cue from the now 12-strong Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series of superhero flicks, Batman v Superman marks the first proper flowering of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). With 11 films currently planned (taking us up to 2020), this is Marvel’s long-time comic rival finally going head-to-head with them in the film stakes. The upcoming movies include solo outings for Wonder Woman, The Flash and Aquaman, all of whom are to be teased in Batman v Superman.
2) It’s the first time Batman and Superman have ever shared the screen
DC’s twin titans have occasionally rubbed shoulders in the comic world, but never on screen (well, unless you count The Lego Movie). It’s an interesting decision that’s been made to pit them **against** each other. We don’t know much about the story yet, but we’re intrigued to how a fight works between Superman, who has more powers than perhaps any other superhero out there, and Batman, who’s essentially a regular guy, albeit an über-tough one, in a bat suit.
3) Ben Affleck as Batman
Let’s make this clear, Batman v Superman has nothing to do with the continuity of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, so expect a very different Batman this time round. The trailer implies that Bruce Wayne blames Superman for the death of someone close to him, suggesting that this Batman is a more haunted figure than we’re used to. And the freshly beefed out Ben Affleck looks to be perfect casting as the DCEU’s new Bat.
4) Jesse Eisenberg as a very new Lex Luthor
Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey have both had a stab at Superman’s follically-challenged arch-nemesis, but Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor looks like a refreshing, and very 21st century take on the veteran baddie. This Lex appears to be a blazingly contemporary villain, a psycho who made his millions quite young in the dot.com world. Mark Zuckerberg gone bad, anyone?
5) It looks to be a very grown-up superhero movie
Man of Steel may have been blasted in some quarters for being a bit po-faced and joyless, but its defenders have quite rightly praised it for ploughing a very different path than its Marvel rivals. Eschewing the bright colours and quippy Joss Whedon-isms of the MCU movies, Warner’s DC pictures seem tailored for an older, more demanding demographic and Batman v Superman looks as if it’s going to be an emotional cinema experience.
6) It has an amazing cast
Apart from Man of Steel returnees Laurence Fishburne, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon and Diane Lane, there’s also Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Batman’s butler, Alfred, Holly Hunter as a US Senator, Game of Thrones’ Jason Momoa as Aquaman and former model Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.
7) Hans Zimmer is promising another stirring score
We’re salivating to find out see how Hans Zimmer differentiates his Batman v Superman music from his note work on the three Christopher Nolan/Christian Bale Batmans. His soaring scores have helped define the DC movie universe so far, and his work on Man of Steel was sublime stuff, crafting a more emotional, nuanced musical palette for Superman after John Williams’ iconic, fanfare-y score for the Christopher Reeve movies.
8) It’s Wonder Woman's big screen debut
She starred in an endearingly cheesy 1970s TV series and nearly made to the big screen in an unmade Joss Whedon film in the noughties, but now Wonder Woman finally makes her big screen bow, ready for her first solo flight in 2017. We don’t know yet how big her role in Batman v Superman will be, but we suspect DC will be using this film to tease WW before her big reveal in her own movie. That film is currently shooting and co-stars Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis and Ewen Bremner.
9) It has an all-new Batmobile
As anticipated as any new iteration of Batman is, the new Batmobile that usually comes with it is equally as exciting. After the sleek and sexy Batmobiles of the 90s films and the tank-like “Tumbler” of the Dark Knight trilogy comes… well, something in the middle. Batman’s new wheels looks seriously intimidating, resembling something from the future-world of The Terminator. Don’t mess with the bat.
10) It ties into the
Man of Steel storyline
Director Zack Snyder’s first DC film, Man of Steel, was a bold attempt to do something bracingly radical with the Superman story. While Bryan Singer’s franchise-reviving Superman Returns was too in thrall to the Reeve series, Snyder’s movie gave the character a dark and psychological makeover – a Superman for our times. We can’t wait to see more of that in Batman v Superman, and also to see more of Clark Kent.
We only managed a frustratingly brief glimpse of Henry Cavill as Clark Kent at the end of the last movie, so we’re looking forward to more of his take on Superman’s bespectacled alter ego.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice arrives on 25th March 2016.
