It may be hard for some to believe, but the theatrical premiere of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is right around the corner. In a little over a week (as of this writing), fans will be able to witness the “greatest gladiator match in the history of the world,” as director Zack Snyder pits DC Comics’ two biggest icons against each other in a physical and philosophical battle of wills and launches the much-anticipated DC Extended Universe. Tickets are available for pre-order and are outperforming other comparable titles, hinting that a lucrative opening weekend is in the film’s future.
By now, moviegoers are either sold on the concept or not, so there’s very little Warner Bros. can do to sway uninterested parties. But that won’t stop them from trying. Their marketing campaign has been relentless down the home stretch, with television ads and viral websites working hard to raise levels of excitement. The barrage of advertising continues with a featurette from Doritos (watch it above), looking at the various character motivations.
Highlighted by interviews with cast members including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, and Jesse Eisenberg, the video mostly reiterates what has already been revealed about Batman V Superman‘s narrative. After the catastrophic Battle of Metropolis in Man of Steel, Bruce Wayne blames Superman for the destruction and wants to hold the Kryptonian accountable for his actions. Clark Kent views Batman as a ruthless vigilante that must be brought to justice. As Cavill says, Superman likes to “do everything by the book,” whereas Batman is more of a “do whatever it takes” kind of hero.
Time is also dedicated to detailing Lex Luthor’s role in the story. According to Eisenberg, the character is something of a business rival to Wayne and has a hatred for Superman, leading him to learn everything about the pair. Snyder also weighs in, adding that Luthor serves as a “puppet master” behind-the-scenes and manipulates the heroes into combat with each other. It’s long been assumed that Lex is working towards an ulterior agenda, with multiple plot summaries hinting that his rise to power is the greater threat that could endanger the world. It will be interesting to see how he interacts with both Clark and Bruce early on in the film, when the Batman V Superman portion of the title promises to be the most prominent and tensions between the superheroes are high. Considering the amount of research Lex has done, he should be a worthy adversary.
Footage wise, the featurette mainly recycles clips from the previous trailers, but there is one new addition. An extra portion of the title fight is shown, as Superman blocks a kick attack from Batman and throws the Caped Crusader through a building. More Batman dialogue is also heard; Gotham’s Dark Knight tells Krypton’s Last Son, “You are not brave. Men are brave.” It’s a fascinating choice of words that provides some insight into Wayne’s psyche. Affleck has mentioned in the past that Superman’s appearance causes Bruce to question his identity and wonder if he has a place in the new world. It sounds as if Batman is out to prove he is the “better” of the duo since he is a mortal man, not an indestructible alien – and he may have a point.
It won’t be long until moviegoers find out #WhoWillWin, but the larger question many want answered pertains to the quality of the film. An early reaction suggested that it may be as divisive as Man of Steel, but it includes a moment between Superman and Batman that would melt even the most cynical person’s heart. For their part, WB is confident in their ability to win fans over, moving forth on Justice League production in April 2016. Hopefully, everyone will be clamoring to see more after the Dawn of Justice.
NEXT: Henry Cavill Talks Clark Kent
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on March 25th, 2016, followed by Suicide Squad on August 5th, 2016; Wonder Woman on June 23rd, 2017; Justice League Part One on November 17th, 2017; The Flash on March 16th, 2018; Aquaman on July 27th, 2018; Shazam on April 5th, 2019; Justice League Part Two on June 14th, 2019; Cyborg on April 3rd, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps. on June 19th, 2020.
