The last week saw this year’s annual San Diego Comic Con, typically a huge event for the unveiling of movie news. There, Warner Bros. dropped a new trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Zack Synder, who previously helmed Man of Steel, returns to direct this follow-up.
Trailers don’t always present an accurate portrayal of the final film. That said, if this one does, we’re in for a far superior experience than Synder gave us his first time out.
One criticism of Man of Steel focused on its exhaustive action in the third act. Lots of buildings blew up and fell over, but we never saw the personal impact of that devastation.
Batman v Superman appears to fill those emotional gaps. It turns out that Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne was present in Metropolis on the day Superman’s fight with Zod destroyed a significant portion of the city. Among the buildings demolished was one owned by Wayne and staffed by people he considered family. Wayne’s experience gives weight to what was in Man of Steel little more than popcorn entertainment.
The new film seems poised to run with the themes only hinted at previously, particularly Pa Kent’s apprehension at how the world would react to an alien among us. Indeed, if Holly Hunter’s senator and Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor are any indication, there are plenty of people displeased with the Man of Steel.
Other imagery in the trailer suggests that we will get a glimpse of the Joker, at least a reference if not in the flesh. It appears as though the clown is aware of the Dark Knight’s true identity and actively trolling him.
Another cool bit, Synder appears to be borrowing liberally from the “Injustice: Gods Among Us” storyline where a rogue Superman raises an army and ascends to global dictatorship. While that turn of events seems unlikely in this film, the visual comparisons are undeniable. Just look at those soldiers with Superman’s emblem sewn on their shoulders. Perhaps they are some kind of misguided militants acting in his name. Perhaps Lex Luthor is working to undermine Superman’s public image. Either way, that scene with Batman taking on a squad of these super-troopers looks unlike anything we’ve seen before.
We won’t have to wait too long. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25th next year.
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