Strong, silent types assemble to champion ‘Justice League’
DC Comics brought out the biggest, baddest superhero collective this side of the Avengers on Wednesday night.
Ben Affleck (Batman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Henry Cavill (Superman) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman) all rumbled onto the stage for Jus
tice League at CinemaCon. This was the moment that theater owners, who are gathered for their annual national convention, have been waiting for all week.
And the superheroes didn’t say a word.
Warner Bros. was happy to let the footage from Justice League and director Zack Snyder do the talking during the studio’s presentation.
With the supergroup at his side, Snyder noted that the project is “the culmination of a journey of seven years.” He added, “I would throw to the cast, but they are too awesome.”
Affleck, who in January pulled out of directing the solo Batman outing, wore a natty suit that would make billionaire Bruce Wayne jealous. In his first major outing since announcing that he underwent treatment for alcohol addiction, he stayed mostly silent, giving a slight wave and mouthing “Thank you” from the stage.
The extended footage shown from Justice League, which built upon the trailer, went over well.
Affleck’s Bruce Wayne was seen in a warehouse with Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince/Wonder Woman entering. The two banter, with Wayne saying there’s a battle coming. “Not coming, Bruce,” she says. “It’s already here.”
This was followed by extended battle scenes and another moment showing Prince, Wayne and Barry Allen/The Flash talking in street clothes as the famed BatSignal flashes in the sky.
“Awesome, that’s the Bat-Signal, that means we have to go now,” Allen says. “It’s so cool.” Justice League hits theaters Nov. 17.
Here’s how DC Comics’ other movies played out at CinemaCon:
WONDER WOMAN
Gadot wasn’t there, having given birth to a daughter about two weeks ago. Instead, Gadot sent a video greeting. But Chris Pine (Steve Trevor), sporting a freshly shaved head, and director Patty Jenkins filled in.
Their clip featured details on the love relationship that develops between Trevor and Wonder Woman and an extended scene on a ship during World War I. As the two sail toward the war in Europe, Trevor gallantly and clumsily declines to lay down with Wonder Woman to rest. He says he does not sleep with a woman “out of the confines of marriage.” Wonder Woman arrives in theaters June 2.
AQUAMAN
Before joining his Justice League colleagues, Momoa spoke for his solo superhero effort, announcing that filming was about to begin.
“We haven’t shot anything. I’m literally leaving tonight to start shooting in Australia,” he said.
Momoa showed a sizzle reel of concept art featuring director James Wan and images of the underwater world of Atlantis.