(Exclusive) What the Batman/Superman Trailer Tells Us

We analyze the footage for clues in this superhero throwdown.

Story by Matt Cummings

Warner Bros. is moving forward with a huge expansion of its Justice League universe, hiring a replacement director for Wonder Woman, prepping for a Suicide Squad film, and revealing their possible choice to direct Aquaman. At the center of this is the highly-anticipated Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, a film designed to officially launch the entire ship of DC's greatest superheroes. In anticipation of that event, Director Zack Snyder is hosting an exclusive event at nearby IMAX theaters, whereby fans were promised a view of the trailer on Monday, April 27th.

And then the Internet happened.

It was revealed on Thursday that a subtitled Portuguese version of the trailer was leaked using a handheld camera or cellphone and eventually uploaded to YouTube. The trailer was quickly removed, but not before companies like CNET and others posted it, causing immediate fan reaction. While we're posting it (yet), our recent viewing of the footage makes several things very clear and raises at least one very interesting question.

A Crisis of Confidence

The trailer begins with a selection of very dark music from Composer Hans Zimmer and a narrator's voice pondering, "Is it really surprising that the most powerful man in the world should be a figure of controversy?" As the footage continues, we see a darkened park with a large figure at its center. Commentators like Physicist Neil Degrasse Tyson and others jump to remark, "We as a population on this planet have been looking for a savior." Another replies, "Human beings have a horrible track record of following people with great power." "Maybe he's just a guy trying to do the right thing." We also hear Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg): "We know better now, don't we? Devils don't come from hell. They come from the sky." Finally, what appears to be DC Comics stalwart Lezlie Thompkins' (Holly Hunter) voice concludes with, "The world has been so caught up with what he can do that no one has asked what he should do." As the park scene focuses on the statue, we see that it's Superman with graffiti on his chest that reads, "FALSE GOD" scribbled in graffiti. Then, for the very first time, audiences saw Affleck out of costume (as Bruce Wayne) and in costume (as Batman).

It's clear that the city-wide destruction of Metropolis - as shown in Man of Steel - is still fresh in people's minds. With both rabid supporters and fierce detractors weighing in - with Superman tending to a group of people with white-painted faces, as well as four armed men kneeling before him in another sequence - it's clear that the world is decidedly split on whether Superman is friend of foe.

The Arrival of The Caped Crusader

We haven't seen a live image of Actor Ben Affleck's face since Sad Bat arrived last Summer. Here, we're treated to a long look of him (albeit blurred due to technical issues) as he stares at what looks like a worn Batsuit. We know that Batman has either been dealing with crime in Gotham for awhile, or has retired ala Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. We see images of the Batmobile blazing through an explosion, as well as what looks like the Batwing firing on a team near a dock. Perhaps these are both Batman, as the scenes are cut too short to tell if he's working with someone. We're inclined to believe the former, as perhaps he's still fighting crime in Gotham when the events of Metropolis unfold.

Frien-emies?

The trailer concludes with an armored Batman (shown in the San Diego Comic-Con footage) preparing to do battle in a heavy rainstorm against The Last Son of Krypton. He asked Supes, "Tell me, do you bleed? You will!" We're pretty sure this sequence happens perhaps late Act 1/early Act 2, as the duo have to work out their differences before coming together. Unless there's something seriously wrong with Superman (as some of the footage might suggests), there has to be enough time for both to deal with their concerns over each other, a fact that we can't wait to see. Do both of them see the other as genuine threats to their systems, or are they just merely misunderstood stooges of the media? The other force to deal with is Lex Luthor, who clearly sees both as a threat to humanity. We don't yet know the reasons for his opinion, but we're sure to see it played out here. Perhaps he discovers that Kryptonite will harm the Man of Steel, or perhaps Batman uses it when the two tussle, giving Luthor the advantage he needs.

The Big Question

As we well know, other stars like Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman) will also appear in the film. Where do they figure in the larger story, and will their screentime be merely limited to glorified cameos? Regardless of their places in the story, we're definitely primed for what's looking like a strong competitor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We'll have to see whether Monday's event will be canceled or if entirely new scenes are being prepped to keep audience interest high.

At the time of this post, Warner Bros. has not yet commented on the leaked trailer. Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice will be released on March 25, 2016 and also stars Amy Adams as Lois Lane), Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, and Diane Lane as Martha Kent. Suicide Squad will be released on August 5th, 2016, Wonder Woman on June 23rd, 2017, and Justice League on November 17th, 2017.

Discuss this review with fellow SJF fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @SandwichJohnFilms, and follow author Matt Cummings at @mfc90125.