Warner Bros. has unleashed a new trailer for its upcoming Justice League film, and it’s full of exciting new footage. The studio debuted the first part of the teaser last night at CinemaCon in Los Angeles, revealing that British actor Robert Pattinson will lend his talents to the role of Batman in the movie. What’s more, we finally learn the villainous intentions of the film’s main antagonist, Steppenwolf.
The footage shows off a variety of Batman’s famous gadgets and his incredibly varied and impressive wardrobe, and it also gives us our first good look at some of his enemies, who range from classic to celebrity. Topping the list is arguably the greatest villain of them all: Lex Luthor (also voiced by Henson).
Who Is Lex Luthor?
Before we dive into the details of the trailer, let’s take a quick step back to revisit the character’s origins. Directly inspired by the rich and famous, the late, great Dr. Marston created the character in the early 1970s and named him after his childhood hero, billionaire philanthropist and founder of LexCorp, Lex Luther. As you might imagine, Lex is not someone you want to mess with. Not only does he have unlimited resources and the ability to bring friends and family with him, but he also has a genius intellect that he likes to flex in your face. The trailer teases some of his classic catch phrases (such as “I’ll be back” and “It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s Lex Luthor!”) as well as the fact that he is the father of Harley Quinn, the Joker’s psychotic ex-wife (played by actress Rachel Denette).
Another famous villain who will appear in Justice League is Hugo Strange, a.k.a. the Enchantress. Portrayed by Hollywood heavyweight Jessica Chastain, the villainess is a sorceress who swaps out body parts to suit her whim. She is a prime example of a villain whose power allows her to alter her looks, and perhaps that is what inspired the design of the costume featured in the trailer. We also get to see Chastain’s character in action as she uses her powers to ensnare people and manipulate them with her words. As a result, many of her foes become her henchmen. Interestingly enough, the trailer reveals that the head of the Justice League, Batman, is actually in a relationship with her. Chastain is best known for her roles in The Help, A Most Violent Year, and Zero Dark Thirty, and she will next be seen in Disney’s upcoming live adaptation of Aladdin alongside Will Smith and Jasmine.
Robert Pattinson Revealed to Be The New Batman
Now that we’ve covered the basics of the villainous characters who will appear in Justice League, it’s time to meet the man behind the mask: Robert Pattinson. The actor rose to fame with his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, and he went on to establish himself as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Most recently, he starred in the hugely successful movie, Good Morning, Sunshine, and its sequel, The Lobster. The role of Scott Lang, a.k.a. the Antman, in the upcoming Marvel epic, Avengers: Infinity War, is reportedly one of the most challenging of his career, so it’s no wonder he is taking a break from acting to focus on his personal life. But as we’ve seen with other famous Hollywood stars, success has not dimmed his charisma. It seems like it’s going to be a while before we see Pattinson back on the big screen.
So is this the end of an era for Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor? Will Donald Trump step in and save us all from this devastating blow to celebrity coupledom? Only time will tell. For now, we are left with the tantalizing prospect of seeing Robert Pattinson don the cowl and take on the villains of the universe. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see that?