A new Justice League trailer landed at Comic-Con this weekend, and – at four minutes long – it's absolutely packed with new footage.
Here's what we learned from it, including some plot speculation, so beware of accidental SPOILERS.
1. Steppenwolf uses a Boom Tube to travel
We always knew Mother Boxes were going to play a big part of the Justice League film, mainly because they were set up in Batman v Superman, and the plot revolves around Steppenwolf searching out the three of those McGuffins that exist on Earth. There's one on Atlantis, Themyscira, and one that's lives inside Cyborg (it's how Cyborg was created).
However, this is the first confirmation we've got they'll be used as a method of travel (called a Boom Tube in the comics). In this shot, we see the film's big bad popping up in what looks like a modern-day Themyscira (we don't see Antiope anywhere, so we're assuming it's not a flashback), and then later on in the trailer...
2. Steppenwolf travels to Atlantis
... We see him popping up in Atlantis. This is a cool moment, with Steppenwolf's axe apparently as water-proof as a Casio watch. We're guessing he took a Boom Tube to get to Atlantis (either that or he did a LOT of swimming).
So, if we see the villain in two of the places he has to go to grab Mother Boxes in the trailer, what does it mean for the third one – living Mother Box Cyborg?
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3. The League has a Mother Box
We're hoping the Mother Box has come from Atlantis or Themyscira, but as we don't see Cyborg in this scene, we can't be sure. We hope Cyborg hasn't been killed, or has transformed into one (speaking of Transformers – Steppenwolf sounds a bit like one in the trailer, which is pretty weird, you guys).
But, however they got it, we'd bet our last Bat-dollar that the League are talking about using it to travel to Apokolips, Steppenwolf's home world (Boom Tubes aren't just used for one-way trips).
That'll be why Aquaman is discussing death (it takes a lot to scare Aquaman - we see him riding a Parademon like a surfboard in this trailer, for goodness sake), because that's usually the consequence of rocking up in Darkseid's (DC's Thanos) manor.
4. Wonder Woman can dodge bullets – sort of
Warner Bros is super proud of Wonder Woman; the character, her home and her pals are all over this trailer. In this shot, the film reiterates that, like Superman, Wonder Woman is faster than a speeding bullet. Though, in this instance, the power is a bit pointless, as that bullet wasn't going to hit her anyway.
Speaking of Superman...
5. Superman is definitely coming back
Yep, Superman's returning in this film – and we're pretty sure this is from the specific scene where it happens.
This shot looks like the League are in front of Superman's tomb to us (look at the flowers behind the League, and, beyond that, the location), and they're looking pretty awe-struck.
But where's missing member Batman? Is he in such a pickle that the remaining members of the League have to resurrect Superman somehow?
6. Superman has leg tattoos?
If you pause this shot of Bruce looking at – what must be – Superman's fluttering cape (is it a hologram?) at precisely the right moment, you can see what look like tribal tattoos on the character's leg.
Which is obviously pretty strange. Is Bruce looking at someone else with a red cape? Lex did say, 'The red capes are coming' in BvS, which is plural we suppose.
Speaking of red capes...
7. Alfred's talking to someone in a red cape
We're pretty certain this one's Superman, though a lot of people seem to be hoping it's a Green Lantern for some reason (presumably because Lanterns are mentioned by Steppenwolf elsewhere in the trailer).
This doesn't make sense – there are Red Lanterns, obviously, but they don't tend to wear capes.
Alfred's being pretty sincere in this scene, which makes a change from his other appearances, which seem to suggest he'll be the comic relief.
8. LEGO Batman might hold the key to the future of the Justice League (seriously)
We liked pretty much every single one of Alfred's lines in this trailer, but our favourite has got to be the bit where he jokes about exploding penguins. Even if Bruce doesn't look as amused as us.
Beyond how funny it is, the joke could have an important implication.
In The LEGO Batman Movie, all the previous incarnations of the Batman movies exist (including BvS), and LEGO Batman is aware of them. This Justice League gag appears to be a reference to Batman Returns. Is this a potential Multiverse hint, ahead of the (Comic Con confirmed) Flashpoint film?
Could we see Ben Affleck's Batman meeting Will Arnett's at some point? Man, we hope so.
9. Wonder Woman's living in London
The first voice we hear in the trailer belongs to a British person, who's complaining about the fact someone's about to rob the bank they work in (man, we British people do love to moan, don't we?).
Then Wonder Woman swoops in, and all's right in the world. Combine this with a separate establishing shot of London, and it's safe to assume that's where Wonder Woman's made her home.
We predict this bank robbery sequence will be the opening scene of the film (because if you've got a chance to copy The Dark Knight, you should always take it).
10. Cyborg knows who Batman is
In this scene, when Cyborg takes electronic control of Batman's new vehicle (the nightcrawler), he utters the immortal words: "I'll take it from here, Alfred," over the intercom, sounding basically exactly like Batman.
Only one problem, Alfred doesn't know who the hell Cyborg (aka Victor Stone) is.
Does this mean Batman's casually chatted to Cyborg about his home-life? Or has Cyborg hacked into the Bat-computer? Either way, if Stone knows Alfred, he knows his connection to Bruce.
11. Batman looks as awesome as ever
We couldn't end this feature without mentioning this shot, which is INCREDIBLE.
Zack Snyder recently handed over the directing reins to Joss Whedon, but everything we see in this trailer belongs to Zack – these kinds of effects shots take way too long to render to be last minute additions. He sure knows how to frame a Batman image. We hope Matt Reeves is paying close attention to every Bat-shot in this trailer.
No wonder Ben Affleck was keen to dismiss the rumours he wants to leave the role at Comic Con – who'd want to stop doing a character that constantly looks this cool?
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Freelancer writer
Sam is an entertainment writer with NCTJ accreditation and a twenty-year career as a film journalist.
Starting out as a staff writer at Total Film, moving up to Deputy Online Editor, Sam was responsible for Total Film’s YouTube channel, where he revolutionised the magazine’s approach to video junkets, creating influential formats that spread to other outlets.
He’s interviewed a wide range of film icons, including directors such as David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Ridley Scott, Michael Bay and Sam Raimi, as well as actors such as Meryl Streep, Nic Cage, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Anne Hathaway, Margot Robbie, Natalie Portman, Kermit the Frog, all of the Avengers and many more.
Sam has also interviewed several comic creators, including Stan Lee, Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and he has a zombie cameo in The Walking Dead comic.
In 2014, Sam went freelance, working directly for film studios including Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox and Disney, as well as covering red carpet events for film marketing company PMA Productions.
Sam is the co-host, producer and editor of the Arrow Video podcast, which has seen year-on-year growth since its creation in 2017, gaining over half a million listens in that time.
His byline has appeared in outlets such as Yahoo, MTV, Dazed, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Good Housekeeping among others.
In 2012, Sam made it to the final of the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year competition, and went on to become a filmmaker himself, directing three features that have all played major festivals, and secured distribution – starring in two of them.
Jim Carrey once mistook Sam for Johnny Cash, and John Carpenter told him to ‘Keep up the good work.’ He promises to try his best.
