In a 5,000 word article detailing the complex tale of the “Snyder Cut” of Justice League, one sentence sent fans into a mild frenzy: “He has reshot the ending with a hero cameo that will blow hard-core fans’ minds.”
That quote comes from Vanity Fair’s recent, comprehensive article on the film and movement, which will culminate in the March 18 release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a four-hour, black and white completion of a project Snyder left in 2017 and has since returned to, after a groundswell of encouragement from the fans. But that’s another story.
[referenced id=”1674128″ url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2021/02/wb-wanted-to-release-snyders-justice-league-as-raw-footage-with-no-special-effects/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/23/fvuu6h1wz7fuq1r0uf8l-300×169.jpg” title=”WB Wanted to Release Snyder’s Justice League as Raw Footage With No Special Effects” excerpt=”When Zack Snyder left Justice League after fights with Warner Bros. and a family tragedy, he had a four-hour version of the movie on his computer — four hours of raw, CG-less footage, all in black and white. That’s the “Snyder Cut” that could’ve been coming to streaming services next…”]
This story is about that teased cameo. The line was picked up on blogs across the internet and speculation ran rampant as to which DC Comics character it might be — many were leaning towards one of the Green Lanterns. The theorising got so big, in fact, one potential candidate, Ryan Reynolds, addressed it on Twitter.
It’s not me. But what a cool pirate flag to cameo as Hal. Maybe it’s another GL? But for me, the suit stays in the closet. I mean, computer. https://t.co/QU4NRVadiz
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 22, 2021
Well, Gizmodo spoke to a source with knowledge of the film and we know who the cameo actually is. It’s cool, yes, but you may want to lower your expectations just a smidge.
According to our source, the cameo is none other than DC’s J’onn J’onzz, otherwise known as Martian Manhunter.
Now, fans might be thinking “Wait, it can’t be him. We already knew Martian Manhunter was in the movie. The actor himself confirmed it.” That’s true. You may recall actor Harry Lennix played General Swanwick in 2013’s Man of Steel. Snyder had intended that character to turn into the shapeshifting green hero eventually, he’s even in the Joss Whedon version of Justice League.
In recent weeks, Lennix even talked to Variety to reveal that he filmed motion capture for Snyder’s Justice League. “[I got a call from Zack that said] “Hey, when can you come in and shoot?” So that was great,” Lennix told the trade. “I found out that it was a possibility, or at least that Martian Manhunter was going to be in it, when he revealed through the storyboard that Martha Kent is coming by visiting Lois, and then after she leaves, she reveals herself to be, in fact, Calvin Swanwick, or the Martian Manhunter. That’s how I knew about it.”
The actor is referring to storyboards Snyder revealed back in October 2019 of the scene in with Martian Manhunter reveals himself. Snyder had previously shot half of the scene but just needed the Lennix part. It seems possible that’s the scene in question here. So if all of this was already out there in the universe, why was it referred to as something that “will blow hard-core fans’ minds?” As far as we can tell, Vanity Fair was just being spoiler averse for a readership that isn’t up on all the latest superhero news. But we can confirm the reference is in regards to Martian Manhunter’s appearance.
To be fair, not everyone reads Variety. Not everyone saw Zack Snyder’s Vero two years ago. A fair amount of people won’t know it’s coming and those people will certainly be surprised (which is why we put this reveal behind a spoiler bar today). It’s not Ryan Reynolds type of mind-blowing of course, the newly cast Supergirl, or any number of other fun, multiverse recasting predictions that have dominated social media in the last 24 hours. But, it’s pretty cool nonetheless. Another instance of Snyder finally getting to complete a vision he’s planned for years.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League hits Binge on March 18.
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