Need A Refresher Before Justice League? Check This Out!
It’s been a winding road to the November release of Justice League. The team-up event from the DC Extended Universe promises one of the biggest moments in superhero history. Even with only four movies before this film, there’s a lot of ground to cover.
Below is a break down of all things DCEU and Justice League as we head into the release. You will find a history of the DC Extended Universe, a look into each major character, and some news of what will happen in the movie.
1. Previous DCEU Films
Man of Steel:
The most recent DC cinematic universe began with 2013’s Man of Steel. Filmmaker Zack Snyder reinvented Superman; stripping back the “boy scout” mentality and replacing it with a more introspective take on the hero. It tore the fan base apart as some welcomed the change, while others grabbed their pitchforks.
While Man of Steel has the label as the first film in this series, it serves mostly as a solo origin story for Superman. There are some easter eggs for things to come, but nothing major happens to distract from this being a real look at Superman. Even the villains being Zod and Faora works to show the struggles of what Superman’s life on Earth is. In hindsight, every decision in this movie led into the next. Especially the killing of Zod; that moment weighs in on him during the entirety of Batman v Superman.
Batman v Superman
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the most polarizing superhero film in the last decade. If the first entry divided fans, this built a wall in-between them. Taking the finale of Man of Steel and adding Bruce Wayne’s point of view, Batman v Superman is the real launching pad for the DC Extended Universe. Much to the dismay of some fans, there is a lot of world building happening and introduces things that wouldn’t pay off until later films. It also continued the radical alternative takes on the DC characters, examples being Jessie Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor and a more brutal Batman.
When looking at how these movies will affect the DCEU and Justice League, Batman v Superman is considered as the source of everything. Not only did it give minor introductions of all of the League members, but Justice League’s story directly follows this. Also, the film includes a “Knightmare” sequence that plays into Justice League. That dream/premonition gave viewers the first look at a militant Superman and Parademons.
Suicide Squad:
Unlike other films in the DCEU, Suicide Squad will most likely not play a significant role in the upcoming movie. David Ayer’s take on the criminal gang was plagued with production drama and a critical bashing; it’s hard being the film to follow Batman v Superman. Much of the original cut got lost in the shuffle, and it felt like a half-heartened attempt at both a standalone film and as a world-building event.
Suicide Squad did give fans another look at The Flash and some more Batman scenes, but nothing of real substance. It’s also apparent that there isn’t room for any more characters in an already character-filled Justice League movie.
Wonder Woman:
Bow down to the queen. Wonder Woman is the movie that saved the public perception of the DC Extended Universe. Not only is the film a powerful experience, but it has a sleek style of filmmaking. Patty Jenkins took on the task of bringing this Amazonian to screen after 75 years and swing the favor back over to the brand. She did just that when the film opened to record-breaking numbers and ranks highly on movie review aggregator sites.
With the Wonder Woman solo film set in the past, there wasn’t a lot of chances to dive into the current DCEU timeline. That doesn’t mean it won’t connect to Justice League at all. In multiple trailers for the film, you can see the Amazons battling it out with Parademons. The San Diego Comic-Con trailer also revealed that a Mother Box is on Themyscira, the home of Wonder Woman.
