5 Things Justice League Trailer 2 Needs to Accomplish

Update: WATCH the Justice League Trailer HERE!

DC Films has chosen to close this week out with some major buzz surrounding the imminent release of the new Justice League trailer, and the Interwebs have responded, in kind!

So far, we’ve had a new Justice League team image, as well as individual character posters for Batman, Flash, Wonder Woman Cyborg and Aquaman – along with trailer tease clips for each character.

However, while all this teasing is good and fun, fans actually need to see something more when the actual trailer drops. The DC Extended universe is at a “do or die” junction with this film, and this new trailer is the best chance to turn things around and get the positive hype going, as a strong lead-in to the Wonder Woman solo movie in June.

With that pressure on its shoulders, Here are 5 Things the New Justice League Trailer Needs to Accomplish.

Superpowered Gods

The no. 1 thing that the new Justice League trailer needs to accomplish is selling the world on why DC’s superhero team is considered to be a much bigger powerhouse than Marvel’s Avengers. 

Zack Snyder has taken a lot of heat for his work, ever since 2011’s Sucker Punch. However, before all the controversy over misogyny or superhero canon, he was a breakout star thanks to his visual talents. 

The Justice League trailer teasers have all showcased individual heroes in some impressive moments of action – now let’s just see them using those powers in coordination, as a team, and minds will be blown!

Balanced Humor

When the Justice League Comic-Con trailer hit, the major takeaway was that it was cut together primarily to showcase one thing: That Justice League wouldn’t be as dour and humorless as many thought Man of Steel and Batman v Superman were. 

However, a teaser trailer cut together early on in production is one thing; the new Justice League trailer needs to demonstrate that not only does the humor exist in the film, but that it is properly balanced and witty enough to avoid being a major distraction or annoyance. 

Great Villain(s)

While superheroes working together as a team is the main selling point of Justice League, by now, comic book movie fans know that a superhero story is only as good as its villain. The DCEU has produced some great villains so far (Michael Shannon’s Zod); but a lot more of them have been divisive or outright hated (Lex Luhthor, Doomsday, Joker, Enchantress..). 

General Steppenwolf and his evil armies form Apokolips are the main villains for Justice League – but Lex Luthor is also in the mix somewhere (awaiting redemption with fans), and we have yet to officially meet Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke, who will also debut in the film. 

The new Justice League trailer needs to show us threats worthy of The League – and make it look like more than CGI monstrosities and generic henchmen (or Parademons). 

True Heorism

The DC Extended Universe films have featured a several DC Comics heroes, but they haven’t exactly featured them doing much of anything that heroic. 

The controversy over Superman’s behavior in Man of Steel is well documented; and the Superman/Batman conflict in Dawn of Justice didn’t exactly endear them with fans. Oddly enough, it’s Suicide Squad’s team of villains that probably caused the least amount of human/property collateral damage in any DC movie, thus far. 

In Justice League, the team will be battling an extraterrestrial warmonger with an entire invasion force at his disposal, over the fate of the Earth. While those are the highest stakes there can be, fans need to see the Justice League heroes fighting with awareness of their surroundings, and compassion for the innocent people that might get caught in the crossfire. And the new trailer needs to make that heroic overtone felt. 

Return of Superman

We know that it’s going to be treated as a big secret – even though it’s not one – but we need for the new Justice League trailer to give us a tease that the Man of Steel is returning from the dead. Not only that: we’re hoping that this latest trailer will indicate one of two pathways for Superman’s return: 

1. He returns naturally, through his own power, and becomes the full-fledged embodiment of hope, optimism, and heroism that DCEU fans have been waiting for, saving the day at the eleventh hour.  

2. His body is taken by Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips, and he is remade into one of their dark, warped, servants. It would be a fun way to give Henry Cavill a new dimension to his character; would be a fun meta middle finger to the “Superman’s too dark,” crowd; and could even serve as a DCEU twist on Bizarro Superman. 

 

Honorable Mention: Darkseid

If he’s going to be in the DCEU, then saving him for a full reveal is fine (let’s not repeat Batman v Superman‘s Doomsday reveal mistake…).

However, take a page from the Injustice games and give fans an ominous tease in the new Justice League trailer! 

Two fiery eyes lighting up the dark screen with the villain’s signature scarlet Omega Beams and a deep baritone line of dialogue would be enough.

And it would instantly raise the buzz level on this Justice League film event (both halves) as fans know the road is leading to one of DC Comics’ most epic and iconic foes. 

More Justice League

 

In Justice League, fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman‘s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League is directed by Zack Snyder, from a screenplay by Chris Terrio, and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Ciarán Hinds, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons and Jesse Eisenberg.

MORE JUSTICE LEAGUE:

• Every Justice League Trailer 2 Teaser in One Video
• New Justice League Team Poster
• Which DC Movie Can Fit Between Justice League And Aquaman? 

Are you excited for the film? Let us know with your vote in our Anticipation Rankings!