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Villain unveiled? Batman v Superman international spot gives new hints

The opening of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is less than two weeks away, so moviegoers won’t have to wait long to find out what happens when the two iconic superheroes share the screen. Fans who don’t want to wait, however, got a new hint today about what is to come, thanks to a new international spot. The trailer contains new footage and possibly confirms a rumor about a potential villain.

After building up the conflict between the “Son of Krypton” and the “Bat of Gotham,” the preview weaves in scenes that hadn’t been featured before. As Variety points out, Batman (played by Ben Affleck) is shown approaching a desert fortress, and it could very well be Apokolips, the home of DC Comics supervillain Darkseid. The character has been rumored to make an appearance in the film, which makes this footage seem telling.

Later, we see a newspaper clipping in the hands of Bruce Wayne, and it is an article about the destruction of Wayne Tower and the dozens who were killed there. The ominous words “You Let Your Family Die” are scrawled on the clipping in red. Needless to say, the off-duty Batman does not look pleased.

The new footage also features Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot); we get a quick look at her in black leather striding down a hallway. More familiar faces fill the rest of the spot, including co-stars Superman (Henry Cavill), Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), and Lois Lane (Amy Adams).

Directed by Zack Snyder, the film is framed as a match-up between Batman and Superman after the latter wreaked havoc on Metropolis. However, the synopsis warns that “another threat endangers humanity,” so we will have to wait and see how Darkseid or other villains come into play.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens in theaters on March 25.

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Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
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