JUSTICE LEAGUE: Zack Snyder Opens Up On Knightmare And Martian Manhunter Scenes - SPOILERS

Justice League director Zack Snyder has talked in detail about some key moments and lines of dialogue in the "Snyder Cut," specifically relating to the Knightmare flashforward and Martian Manhunter...

By JoshWilding - Mar 18, 2021 05:03 AM EST

Filed Under: Justice League

Zack Snyder's Justice League is now streaming on HBO Max, and in some production notes for the DC Comics adaptation, the filmmaker has opened up about two key, very spoilery scenes.

The first is the Knightmare scene near the end of the movie which sees Ben Affleck's Batman and Jared Leto's Joker finally come face-to-face. During the sequence, there are mentions of both Robin and Harley Quinn (along with some big hints about what happened to them both).

Asked if the scene was meant to tie things up or open the door to future stories, Snyder responded: "It does open doors, I know. The main notion is that Joker killed Robin. The revelation of the scene is that Harley is dead, and Batman was there in that moment," the director reveals. "As well as that, somehow Joker has to help Batman fix the world. Which is all part of this post-apocalyptic nightmare reality we were gunning toward in the second and third movies."

The subject of Martian Manhunter also came up, and Snyder admitted that he's always been a fan of the character. That explains why he's in the "Snyder Cut," and the director says he saw him as a "springboard" for future stories.

"For years, I have been thinking about having Swanwick’s alter ego be Martian Manhunter. I really saw him as a springboard. So, we thought: Let’s have Martian Manhunter take on the shape of Martha Kent to get Lois to reengage with the world."

As for the character's final meeting with Bruce Wayne, the idea was indeed to lay the groundwork for a sequel.

"[I brought] him back to launch a Darkseid war. It’s a way to talk about what Bruce Wayne’s role really was. Also, if Darkseid comes, you’re going to need all hands on deck to face that."

It's an exciting prospect, but one we're not sure will ever become a reality. Ultimately, it may depend on how many subscribers Zack Snyder's Justice League drives to HBO Max over the coming weeks.

Click on the "Next" button below to check
out a breakdown of the Justice League 2 plot!

10. Justice League 2 Begins

Following the events of Justice League, the team reassembles to deal with a natural disaster, but ultimately go their separate ways as they each have things to deal with in their personal lives.

Remember, an earlier version of the film was set to include romance between Bruce Wayne and Lois Lane, and while that won't be part of the "Snyder Cut," it was set to heavily influence the sequel. Lois may have gone back to Superman, but she and Bruce are working together secretly to find Lex Luthor. However, the Dark Knight knows she's hiding something.

Lex, meanwhile, is assembling a team. Tracking down Doctor Poison, Captain Cold, Orm, and Black Manta, the villain puts a group together with the aim of destroying the League.

Each of those baddies were, of course, set to be introduced in Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Aquaman respectively.

9. Batman Versus The Riddler

While all this is happening, Superman struggles to return to his normal life now Clark Kent is "dead," and learns Lois is pregnant. Wonder Woman discovers a way to return to Themyscira, and Cyborg helps the Flash clear his father's name.

Menalippe, the Amazon who warned Diana of Steppenwolf's attack helps her see a vision of her home, but Wonder Woman also sees herself becoming the God of War and killing Superman.

Aquaman is embroiled in Atlantean conflicts as that plays out, and struggles to "Unite the Seven" following a battle with the Unseen. Batman is also pretty busy, tracking The Riddler to an abandoned cabin. He learns that Lex approached the villain and tasked him with solving the Anti-Life Equation...which he did.

With that, he shoots himself in front of the Dark Knight.

8. The Anti-Life Equation

Lex manages to activate the Mother Boxes, and plans to take the Anti-Life Equation for himself.

Much to his surprise, it's then that Darkseid arrives, taking the power from Lex as he had hoped both thousands of years earlier and when he sent Steppenwolf to Earth in Justice League. Superman asks Batman to protect Lois ("his world") and heads off to battel the villain. Bruce and Lois argue, and she claims he's not the father when he admits knowing she's pregnant.

Lex tells Darkseid he has the power to kill Superman, but that's not what he wants. Instead, he wishes to make the Krytonian subservient to him, and to do that, he must be broken. Luthor points Darkseid in Lois' direction, and he arrives in the Batcave. Bruce, feeling powerless and overwhelmed is frozen as Darkeid uses the Omega beam to kill Lois.

Superman witnesses this, but is too slow, and falls under Darkseid, and the Anti-Life Equation's, control.

7. The Fall Of The League

Lex's team attacks. Doctor Poison unleashes a special gas on Themyscira which kills the Amazons, including Wonder Woman (who dies in her mother's arms after returning home). Aquaman, meanwhile, is overpowered by Orm and Black Manta, and Mera only barely manages to escape.

That explains their absence from the Knightmare timeline, and while Flash survives thanks to Cyborg's intervention, Victor Stone winds up being torn in half.

Batman barely escapes Superman, and when the Man of Steel comes face-to-face with Lex...he burns him where he stands.

Five years later, we're in the Knightmare timeline. What's left of the Justice League struggles to survive a world ruled over by Darkseid, and as they approach the dilapidated Wayne Manor, they need to hurry because "he's coming."

6. Justice League 3

That's how Justice League 2 concludes, but the third film opens with Green Lantern's introduction.

He arrives on this desolate Earth searching for his partner, and finds an unexpected ally in Batman (who helps shield him from the Parademons). Deadshot shows up to lend a helping hand, as does the Flash.

The Dark Knight warns Barry to stay out of the fight because he's too valuable, but the Scarlet Speedster doesn't listen and is almost killed. Green Lantern saves him, and their iconic friendship begins. They return to Wayne Manor, Batman explaining that he has a plan to stop Darkseid.

The space faring superhero is on board, but wonders how they plan on defeating the villain...

5. Making Things Right

Cyborg is building the Cosmic Treadmill, but there are a lot of complications that come with time-travel. For starters, they don't know where exactly Barry will end up, and it's something they can only try pulling off once a year (when the planets align).

Earth's population has fallen to Darkseid, becoming his new Parademons or Superman's soldiers. That's how Deadshot lost his daughter, and it's why the team need to steal a Mother Box. That powerful weapon can power the Cosmic Treadmill, but only four 10 - 15 seconds. What can the Flash possibly tell Batman in that time?

They all agree on "You have to stop Lex," but Bruce later pulls Barry to one side and whispers something else in his ear that will be more effective. The Scarlet Speedster is shocked.

With that, the mission to retake a Mother Box begins.

4. Superman Battles The League

They get it, but not without attracting Superman's attention. Deadshot attempts to slow him down with a Kryptonite bullet, but is killed by the Man of Steel.

Mera is crushed after trying to remove the water from his body, and Green Lantern proves to be no match for Superman after he uses his corrupted heat vision to blow apart the hero's ring...and him along with it! Cyborg is tossed to the Parademons and ripped apart, leaving only Batman and his Kryptonite spear left standing.

He fails to stop Superman, and is impaled by his one-time ally.

Just before he can reach the Flash, however, the Fastest Man Alive manages to race back in time!

3. The Flash's Message

The Flash arrives in the Batcave moments after Bruce's argument with Lois, telling him that she lied and he is, in fact, the baby's father.

Lois overhears, and is this time able to tell Batman what she wanted to last time they met before Darkseid's attack: Lex has assembled a team he plans to use to target the Justice League.

Again, Darkseid attacks, and history appears to be repeating itself. The Flash vanishes from existence, and the Caped Crusader leaps into action, saving Lois, but taking a shot from the Omega Beams. An empowered, angry Superman forces Darkseid to retreat, and races into action to stop Lex from killing his fellow heroes.

The Injustice League is defeated, but Bruce is dying, and tells Lois he wishes they could have had a life together outside the cave. He heads into battle for what may be his final mission.

2. The Fall Of Batman And Darkseid

Earth has united against Darkseid. The countries of the world come together and combine their forces to stop the villain (and Lex), with Wonder Woman leading Themyscira, and Aquaman bringing the Atlanteans back into the fight.

Even the entire Green Lantern Corps get in on the action, and the entire DC Universe (men, Amazons, Atlanteans, and even aliens) assembles to save the planet.

There are casualties - Hippolyta dies in Diana's arms - but the League is unstoppable; Flash is now so fast, he can be in two places at once, while Cyborg takes control of the Mother Boxes and destroys them to weaken Darkseid.

Ultimately, it's Batman who sacrifices his life to put an end to the villain once and for all.

1. 20 Years Later...

Following the battle, Wonder Woman becomes the new leader of Themyscira. She negotiates peace between every country of the world, ushering a new era for the planet.

Aquaman is crowned the rightful ruler of Atlantis, and Cyborg has evolved, becoming a God of the digital age and transforming himself to once again look human. Superman knows Bruce is the father of Lois' child, but still loves her, and wants to be a father to the boy. With that, he has a reason to be Clark again.

There are a couple of missing pieces (what happened to Lex and the Flash?), but twenty years later, a memorial service for Batman sees Commissioner Barbara Gordon asks Lois when she plans to tell him the truth about Bruce. Surrounded by the League, she tells her son that his dad was Batman.

The movie ends in Gotham City with the emergence of a familiar figure. Bruce and Lois' son has decided to take over the mantle to protect his father's home and legacy. Batman lives again!

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99 Comments

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BuzzKillington - 3/18/2021, 5:06 AM

"For years, I have been thinking about having Swanwick’s alter ego be Martian Manhunter. I really saw him as a springboard."

SpaceAgent - 3/18/2021, 5:18 AM

@BuzzKillington -

dracula - 3/18/2021, 11:55 AM

@BuzzKillington - Also Manhunter sits out another alien invasion

WakandanQueen - 3/18/2021, 5:07 AM

Superman had two dads, the Jesus allegories are endless

bkmeijer2 - 3/18/2021, 5:33 AM

@WakandanQueen - Jesus had two dads? Isn't his whole thing his mom was a virgin?

Kumkani - 3/18/2021, 5:11 AM

Okay so I'm not seeing a lot of people talk about Batman in the Snyder Cut. Is it possible he's the weakest point?

GhostDog - 3/18/2021, 5:16 AM

@Kumkani - I’m almost 2 hours in and Batman is probably the least interesting so far I’d have to say. He’s just...there delivering exposition

RageDriver2401 - 3/18/2021, 5:22 AM

@Kumkani - I cringed so hard whenever Batman said "faith". Batman is a man of contingencies, that is THE ABSOLUTE LAST thing he would rely on.

GhostDog - 3/18/2021, 5:13 AM

No way he’s being honest about Swanwick

bkmeijer2 - 3/18/2021, 5:32 AM

@BlackBeltJones - maybe he has thought about it, but my guess is that the fan speculation finalized his decision on makimng Swanwick MM

SpaceAgent - 3/18/2021, 5:17 AM

Out of all the movies ever released,
this was certainly one of them.

roboticJohnson - 3/18/2021, 5:17 AM

Yeah, no. General Swanwick was never supposed to be martian manhunter, that much is clear. It doesn't make sense no matter how he spins it. "He helps lois reconnect to the world" you know what would help with that? Having her super boyfriend. You know how he could still be alive? If you had helped at all with doomsday. And about joker, there needs to be a reason they need him, otherwise he's just too unstable and volatile and could do more harm than good for the team in the nightmare future.

CorndogBurglar - 3/18/2021, 5:22 AM

@roboticJohnson - I haven't watched it yet, but do they not say why Joker is helping them?

roboticJohnson - 3/18/2021, 5:26 AM

@CorndogBurglar - I should rewatch that part honestly, but if my memory serves me right, no, not at all. In fact, he's a distraction for the team (batman in particular) more than anything.

RageDriver2401 - 3/18/2021, 5:21 AM

Since we're discussing spoilers here, why would you make that final classic shot of Superman with the black suit? Why? Just why? Why does Snyder hate traditional Superman?

roboticJohnson - 3/18/2021, 5:25 AM

@RageDriver2401 - how can you say that snyder hates superman? Simply because he barely talks and gets no character development in his last 2 movies? Or is it because this superman is way more aggressive than he should be, like when he tortures steppenwolf at the end? Or is it because of the bruce x lois thing? Seriously man, maybe you're the one who hates superman(/s just in case)

JonAwesome - 3/18/2021, 5:45 AM

@RageDriver2401 - I agree! I’m cool with the black suit for after he is brought back and the final battle but that shouldn’t be his suit moving forward! When he opened his shirt at the end I was like wtf?!

heisei24 - 3/18/2021, 5:23 AM

To be honest, that Martha>Martian Manhunter reveal actually ruins the talk scene with Lois for me

bs77 - 3/18/2021, 5:26 AM

Snyder never says anything that is remotely interesting. His version of DC is completely singular. No-one else ever would have treated these characters in this bizarre way. I'm starting to think everything he knows about DC he learned from a schizophrenic homeless man that sleeps near his favorite Starbucks.

bkmeijer2 - 3/18/2021, 5:31 AM

"Let’s have Martian Manhunter take on the shape of Martha Kent to get Lois to reengage with the world"

I haven't seen the movie yet, but wouldn't the scene work much better if it was just Martha Kent? No need to have MM there, who has a small to no important relation with Lois at all.

heisei24 - 3/18/2021, 7:09 AM

@bkmeijer - Definitely would work much better. If he really wants to shove MM there, could've just have MM spying them

OmegaDaGrodd - 3/18/2021, 5:36 AM

SPOILERS: Saw the Joker scene and it is hilariously stupid in just basic follow through on the premise the scene sets out to establish. They have Cyborg making it a point to talk about how they can't be out in the open for long because Superman will find them

Then suddenly Joker appears and he and Batman have the longest, silliest conversation possible in the slowest way they can......and then after those 2 finish talking about nothing for 5 minutes, Superman finds them, just like Cyborg said they would. A hilarious way to die.

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