Artnewspess: Zack Snyder has joined a growing list of filmmakers and artists who have taken to social media to help entertain fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Snyder marked the fourth anniversary of the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice by releasing a new director’s commentary track for the Ultimate Cut of the divisive DC movie.As spotted by The Hollywood Reporter, Snyder’s live commentary track was released on the Vero app over the weekend. It sheds light on some of the lingering questions surrounding the film and what Snyder refers to as a five-movie story arc (which, of course, was cut short when Snyder left Justice League and was replaced by Joss Whedon). Read on for the most interesting revelations from this new commentary track.
Martian Manhunter: Hiding In Plain Sight
One of the more noteworthy reveals came as Snyder confirmed Harry Lennix’s character, Lt. General Calvin Swanwick, was intended to be Martian Manhunter in disguise. Though the reveal was being saved for a later movie, Snyder said it was planned as far back as Swanwick’s first appearance in Man of Steel. Lennix himself was apparently aware of that twist and tailored his performance accordingly.
Jimmy Olsen’s Death
As for the controversial choice to kill off Michael Cassidy’s Jimmy Olsen early in the film, Snyder argued for the importance of taking Superman’s pal off the board early, saying all the deaths in his DC movies are meant to create lasting repercussions. Snyder hinted Jimmy’s death would have affected future movies in a way that we don’t see in the finished version of Justice League, creating a chain reaction of cause and effect. Snyder also revealed that he originally envisioned a much more in-depth action sequence when Superman arrives to rescue Lois in Africa.
Wonder Woman’s Past
In one of the more interesting behind-the-scenes DCEU tidbits, Snyder revealed 2017’s Wonder Woman wasn’t always intended to be set during World War I. While the idea that Gal Gadot’s Diana was active long before Batman and Superman was always part of the plan, the filmmakers discussed anchoring her origin story in even older conflicts like the American Civil War or the Crimean War. Apparently there were other even other versions of the photo Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne uncovers of Diana and her team, in case one of those other conflicts was used instead.
Batman’s Knightmare
Snyder also shed more light on the surreal “Knightmare” sequence, where Bruce dreams of a hellish future where Superman has become a servant of Apokolips. Snyder reiterated that this sequence was intended to set the stage for his two Justice League movies. At some point in this five-movie arc, Lois Lane would have been killed, dealing a crushing blow to Superman and making him vulnerable to Darkseid’s influence. That’s the catalyst for the dystopian world seen in this flash-forward/dream sequence.
The reason Bruce sees Ezra Miller’s Flash is that the future versions of Batman and Cyborg are trying to find the right point in time to send Barry back and prevent Lois’ death. Barry’s trip through time creates a rift which allows the world of the future to briefly bleed into the present. Fans would even have seen Barry use his Cosmic Treadmill while travelling through time.
The Martha Controversy
Love it or hate it, Batman v Superman is arguably most remembered for the moment when the Dark Knight nearly kills the Man of Steel, only to be stopped dead in his tracks when he hears the name “Martha.” Snyder defended this scene, arguing the point wasn’t that Batman and Superman have mothers with the same name, but that hearing the name shocks Batman back into reality. It allows him to see Superman as a real person with a family and a life of his own, rather than a faceless monster to be defeated. Batman realizes in this scene that he’s about to become every bit as evil as the man who killed his parents, but is instead able to pull himself from the brink and regain his own sense of humanity. This is embodied in the image of Batman’s damaged helmet, which shows the man emerging from beneath the armor.
For more on DC’s abandoned movie plans, find out what Snyder has to say about the existence of the long-rumored “Snyder Cut” and the real reason Affleck dropped out of The Batman. Then see where Affleck falls in our ranking of all the movie Batmans.
