This is a sequel to
Man of Steel.
Emphasis on Superman’s heroic deeds since his battle with Zod—he’s constantly doing good, and plagued by self-doubt that he can’t do more (eventually sewing the seeds for
Justice League).
Additional time spent with Clark Kent, outside of his interactions with Lois Lane & Martha.
- John Henry Irons is Clark’s neighbor & friend, and Jimmy Olsen is the Daily Planet’s latest intern (with an eye for photography).
- Natasha Irons is one of Superman’s biggest fans.
Like the film, Lex Luthor is the CEO of LexCorp & his criminal activity is secret.
Luthor’s exploits in Gotham City are being shut down by Batman. Metallo is Luthor’s muscle, like KGBeast in the actual film.
- Batman’s introduction in the film is him disrupting the sale of a large piece of Kryptonite which he brings back to the Batcave for further analysis.
- The deal is being brokered by Oswald Cobblepot at the Gotham Harbor.
In this version, Batman absolutely DOES NOT kill. He’s more brutal now than ever before which worries Alfred but never crosses the line to murder.
- We still get Jason Todd’s ravaged Robin suit in the Batcave.
Without the Kryptonite, Luthor is forced to attack the Man of Steel in a less direct approach.
- He frames Superman (with the aid of Metallo’s super-strength) which causes Batman to attack him with the stolen Kryptonite.
- Senator Reilly (named after Lorraine Reilly in DC Comics) serves a similar role as Finch in the film.
The fight between Batman and Superman ends with Superman rescuing a bystander, no ‘Martha’ reveal—it further puts things in perspective for Batman.
- The fight even passes through Crime Alley (the randomness of Superman’s arrival in Man of Steel mirrors the randomness of petty crime like the murder of Thomas & Martha Wayne—which doesn't go unnoticed, or unsaid, by Batman).
Instead of Doomsday, Superman and Batman battle against Bizarro—created from Superman’s DNA (obtained by Lex Luthor during the heroes’ fight).
It is revealed to the audience at the end of the film that Swanwick is J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter (think of him watching tv & morphing, like in Cooke’s
New Frontier).
- This will be a surprise, but subtlety teased throughout the film in his interactions.
In a post credit scene, we see a bit of the bigger world of super-powered beings that Luthor has been teasing: Paradise Island.
- We get our first glimpse of WONDER WOMAN (Ana de Armas) on horseback on the beach, gazing out into the waters...her destiny beyond these shores.
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