A new extended trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice debuted at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, and it is full of dark surprises.
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It opens with Superman (Henry Cavill) testifying before Congress about the Battle of Metropolis, an event that has not made the Man of Steel very popular with humanity.
Specifically, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), who was in Metropolis that day, and watched Superman's battle with General Zod demolish one of his buildings.
And it would appear perhaps Wayne's family died in the tower.
This taunting message could have meant the larger "Wayne Enterprises" family, but who sent it? Perhaps… the Joker?
Speaking of the Joker, it looks like Batman v Superman will incorporate at least part of the classic DC Comics story in which he kills Jason Todd — aka the second Robin.
Grim!
The trailer also suggests that Robin's death put Batman into retirement, but if so, the Battle of Metropolis pushed Wayne to get back into Dark Knight shape.
In the Comic-Con panel, Affleck said that director Zack Snyder thought of him for the role because he had a very specific idea in mind for it.
And, indeed, Wayne's outlook on life is quite gloomy in Batman v Superman.
As for the Superman side of Batman v Superman, the trailer makes clear that the Man of Steel is not happy with Batman's brand of brutal vigilantism.
"This bat vigilante is like a one man reign of terror," says Clark Kent to his editor Perry White (Laurence Fishburne), which provokes this telling response from White: "You don't get to decide what the right thing is. No one cares about Clark Kent taking on the Batman."
And Batman apparently DGAF about taking on Superman, either.
Although maaaaaybe he should?
Plus, there's another superhero that both Batman and Superman need to contend with.
And she is formidable.
In the panel, Gal Gadot was clearly thrilled to finally be able to talk about being the first actor to play Wonder Woman in a major feature film.
"She's very sophisticated, loving, and has a lot of emotional intelligence," Gadot continued. "I feel very, very privileged to be the one who's going to bring her back to life."
The Comic-Con trailer also presented some strange, curious moments, like this sepia-toned sequence of a WWII-like Batman battling masked soldiers wearing Superman's insignia.
They kind of look like updated Nazi soldiers. Is Superman being thought of here as a literal übermensch bent on dominating humanity? If so, that is a very, very dark approach to a character conceived as standing for truth, justice, and the American way.
And why is Superman bowing in front of Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg)?
Perhaps it has to do with this giant piece of kryptonite?
Or why Lex is talking about "red capes" with such sinister bemusement?
Hopefully, Supes and Bats can eventually hash out their differences. The world needs saving, guys…
…and Wonder Woman is getting sick of waiting on you.
