Justice League to Reference Old Gods and New Gods Mythology

Without actually saying the words “New Gods,” Justice League producers during a set visit last week seemingly confirmed that when the hordes of Apokolips come to invade Earth in that film, it won’t just be another alien invasion, but a story with a lot of mythology behind it.

“Back before history, mankind, the Atlanteans before they were underwater, the Amazonians (sic), and actually the Old Gods, teamed together and decided that, based on an event that happened, these Mother Boxes were going to be placed in the care of as I said, the Amazonians (sic), mankind, and the Atlanteans,” explained executive producer Charles Roven.

That mention of the Old Gods is, of course, intriguing. In New Gods #1, featuring the introduction of the mythology behind Darkseid and his minions, among many other beloved DC Comics characters, the story opened with a caption box that “There came a time when the Old Gods died.”

Of course, with the involvement of Aquaman and Wonder Woman, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some classic mythological gods and monsters in the film. Aquaman and Atlantis have ties to Poseidon, of course, and Wonder Woman’s origins are bound to the gods of Olympus. Just how those Old Gods – and the New Gods who succeeded them in the comics – will play into the larger story isn’t totally clear yet, but just that one mention of the little-used Old Gods concept has our interest piqued.

“[New Gods creator Jack] Kirby was crazy and a great guy, and there’s a lot of influence, you know? Sort of New Gods stuff, and we were digging on that,” said Justice League director Zack Snyder. “That’s the Mother Boxes and that Apokoliptian world and all that stuff. You can’t really do that stuff without some… I don’t know if I’d call it weird. Larger than life. There, yes, thank you. The kind of scope-y, sci-fi, cool, but I think it’s fun stuff.”

Justice League, directed by Zack Snyder, is filming now. It also stars Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, and Ezra Miller as The Flash. Spider-Man villain Willem Dafoe has joined the cast as the Aquaman supporting-character Vulko. Amber Heard will appear as Mera, as well.

The movie is set to hit theaters on November 17, 2017 – the twenty-fifth anniversary of the release of Superman #75, the best-selling finale to “Doomsday!: The Death of Superman.”