Skip to main content

Here’s what you missed in the Batman vs. Superman teaser

Comic book aficionados worldwide are losing their minds over the most recent teaser trailer for Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman, set for release next March. The movie’s premise, while exciting, has left many non-comic book readers scratching their heads. Check any online forum commenting on the trailer and you’ll find plenty of “I don’t get it, aren’t they both good guys?” or “How could Batman possibly stand a chance in that fight?” Well we’re here to answer some of those questions.

(CAUTION: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)

Recommended Videos

This newest DC movie draws heavily on a four-part comic book miniseries from 1986 called The Dark Knight Returns. The miniseries tells the tale of an older Bruce Wayne (specifically age 55 in the comics) who decides to come out of retirement and return to crime fighting. As the story goes, neither the Gotham City Police nor the United States government take kindly to this. That’s the basic gist of the story without giving too much away. Now let’s take a look at what you may have missed during the teaser.

All right, it becomes clear right away that some messianic imagery is being associated with Superman. This is an interesting approach to what might really happen if Superman came to earth, as opposed the more lighthearted acceptance of Christopher Reeve’s superman in the 1978 film.

In the scene below we see a group of soldiers kneeling before the Man from Krypton, who frankly is looking neither surprised nor terribly humbled. What you may have missed, in the very quick glimpse we got of this scene, is that the kneeling soldiers have the symbol of the house of El on their shoulders. Does Superman have his own army? Stay tuned.

Soldiers sporting the sign for the house of El kneel before Superman.
Soldiers sporting the sign for the house of El kneel before Superman. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Perhaps the Easter Egg clue that has us nerds most excited is the presence of the Riddler’s green question mark in this scene with Batman.

Batman stands somewhere in ruins.
Batman stands somewhere in ruins. Image used with permission by copyright holder

In another very specific homage to The Dark Knight Returns, we see Ben Affleck’s Batman classically framed, overlooking his city below him. What many people mistook to be an antenna atop the building, is revealed to be a rifle upon closer inspection. (The Dark Knight Returns introduces gunfire from Batman as well, though the comic stayed true to the idea that he doesn’t much like guns, as all his bullets wererubber and his rifle was separately used to shoot a grapple line between buildings).

These are just a few things you might have missed during the paralyzingly amazing teaser for Batman v. Superman. We are, of course, already getting hyped up to see more footage, which should be made available through IMAX trailers soon.

If you wanted to learn more about the possible plot for this new DC installment, and perhaps get the answers to what on earth that metal Bat-suit is for, look into The Dark Knight Returns. But we’re warning you, it’s likely to contain spoilers.

Andre Revilla
Andre Revilla is an entrepreneur and writer based in Chicago that has been covering and working in the consumer tech space…
The best Superman movies, ranked
history channel superhero origins docuseries batman v superman henry cavill crowd

Superman remains one of the world's most iconic and beloved superheroes, thanks in large dpart to his presence on the silver screen. The blue Boy Scout has been a part of some of the best and worst films in history, but for the most part, he has made an indelible mark on popular culture by appearing in some of cinema's best and most influential superhero movies.

Even though this is a "best" Superman list, we will include Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and Superman III with Richard Pryor, which aren't great but still have some redeemable qualities. Now that Henry Cavill's Superman has officially returned to the DC Universe with more of him to come in future films, here's a ranked list of the best Superman movies of all time.
9. Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)

Read more
Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms pushed back to 2026
A knight holds his sword as he walks down the street.

One of the ideas behind running two different Game of Thrones prequels at once was to keep the franchise alive on HBO and Max during the long breaks between seasons. However, the next prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will now be skipping 2025 altogether. And that may mean both House of the Dragon season 3 and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms could come out in the same year.

Via Variety, HBO confirmed the delay when it screened a trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms during its upfront presentation. The trailer ended with a vague 2026 release window, but HBO CEO Casey Bloys suggested that it would be released in winter 2026. That would have it premiere on HBO and Max in either January or February 2026. HBO hasn't announced when House of the Dragon will return. But if season 3 doesn't premiere in 2026, then pushing it back to 2027 would mean a nearly three-year gap between seasons. House of the Dragon season 3 is currently in production.

Read more
Andor: Why the Disney+ show is a triumph of Star Wars’ flexibility
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor inside a ship in the Star Wars series Andor season 2.

Director Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story easily became the best Star Wars movie of the Disney era. Even so, few could have predicted that writer Tony Gilroy would also turn Rogue One into a launchpad for Andor, one of Star Wars’s best live-action productions in general. With Andor season 2 finished and the story of Diego Luna’s tragic hero, Cassian, concluded, the series cemented itself as another example of the galaxy far, far away’s creative versatility.

There is no question that Andor’s approach to realism is decidedly different than much of the franchise’s more operatic sci-fi adventures. While the Disney+ Star Wars series’ adherence to grit and realism might not strike a chord with fans who appreciate the franchise’s more fantastical side, it’s still a triumph for its image as a whole. Whether realistic or mystical, Andor shows across two seasons how this franchise’s sandbox rewards different sci-fi subgenres without losing its identity or needing a big legacy name to sell it.

Read more