Examining the SDCC “Justice League” Trailer with Screenshots

Now that we’ve all had a chance to watch and rewatch the “Justice League” trailer shown and released in conjunction with San Diego Comic-Con, let’s take a closer look at some of the elements, especially those pertaining to Superman.

I’ve captured 10 stills from the four minute, 11 second video that was released online. The first (as can be seen in the slideshow below), shows the Superman “S” shield on a large display on the side of a bridge with a woman’s voice saying, “The world remains in mourning after the death of the Superman”.

We then see Batman approaching the remains of the Superman memorial statue that was broken during the fight with Doomsday in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, with other voices reporting a range of topics, including an increase in crime and Lex Luthor’s incarceration inside Arkham Asylum. A Daily Planet newspaper headline reports “World Without Hope”.

As the Amazonian women look on, a Boom Tube forms around the Mother Box in their care… and Steppenwolf arrives on Earth! Steppenwolf’s voice is heard exclaiming, “No protectors here. No Lanterns. No Kryptonian. This world will fall… like all the others.”

We see Bruce Wayne looking at a hologram of what appears to be a woman wearing a red cape and red boots… with what appear to be tattoos on her right leg. Is this Supergirl? Some fans are suggesting it’s Superman… but the legs don’t appear to be wearing blue tights, and the shape of the leg looks female.

Steppenwolf wields his giant axe, breaking the ground around him. His army of Parademons invading Earth.

In what reminded me of “Superman III”, Alfred says, “One misses the days when one’s biggest concerns were exploding windup penguins.” As he’s talking to Bruce Wayne, it’s more likely a reference to Batman’s villain, the Penguin.

Batman’s voice: “Superman was a beacon to the world. He didn’t just save people, he made them see the best parts of themselves.”

As Alfred works in the Batcave, the liquid in his drinking glass vibrates as we hear consecutive rumbles. As someone walks towards him he straightens up saying, “He said you’d come. Now let’s hope you’re not too late.” Is that the hint of a red-caped shoulder we see as he talks to the person in front of him? Has Superman returned?

170723-JLSDCCtrailer01.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer02.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer03.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer04.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer05.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer06.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer07.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer08.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer09.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer10.jpeg
previous arrow
next arrow
170723-JLSDCCtrailer01.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer02.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer03.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer04.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer05.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer06.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer07.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer08.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer09.jpeg
170723-JLSDCCtrailer10.jpeg
previous arrow
next arrow

16 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Nate1986
Nate1986
July 23, 2017 9:43 pm

Some mistakes:
– That’s Superman in the hologram. Those are the patterns on the suit’s legs.

– The Penguin toys reference isn’t from Superman III, but the fact that one of Batman’s villains is named Penguin.

– It is Superman Alfred talks to.

Question: nothing in trailer 1, talked about in trailer 2; will Superman appear in trailer 3?

July 24, 2017 10:42 am
Reply to  Steve Younis

I agree that it looks like it might be a naked leg, but the strange patterns leads me to believe it’s a hologram of Superman that just looks off due to being…well…a hologram. 1) The plot is already balancing a myriad of characters and plot points. I think randomly throwing Supergirl into the mix would be overkill. 2) In the wake of Wonder Woman, the casting of Supergirl would be HUGE news, and a highly coveted role. Not something I think they could or would keep underwraps. 3) That’s definitely Superman’s cape in the final shot. : ) Edited to… Read more »

Supermaniac
Supermaniac
July 24, 2017 2:03 pm
Reply to 

I think randomly throwing Supergirl into the mix would be overkill.

It might be overkill (that really hasn’t slowed this franchise down – ever), but Supergirl’s existence is not random in this universe; she was definitely hinted at in Man of Steel.

July 24, 2017 4:08 pm
Reply to  Supermaniac

You’re not wrong, I was just under the impression they were going for a more “linear” approach with the plot this time out, after all the flack BvS got for being overstuffed.

AdrianS
AdrianS
July 23, 2017 10:12 pm

That’s not Batman in the second pic. It’s the bottom of an umbrella. Some people have said they think it’s Lois, but it isn’t clear since the person is in silhouette.

Nate1986
Nate1986
July 23, 2017 10:20 pm
Reply to  AdrianS

That’s true. She was in the first trailer with the umbrella.

Supermaniac
Supermaniac
July 24, 2017 2:04 pm
Reply to  AdrianS

It’s the Bat-Umbrella.

mindhavens
mindhavens
July 24, 2017 6:03 am

Bless you Steve thinking the Penguins are a Superman III reference, that love for the character is what makes this site so special. It’s definitely a reference to The Penguin and sadly Synder doesn’t seem to want to put any Reeve/Donner Easter Eggs in there – he even holds back from letting Clark rip open his shirt to reveal his Superman suit. He was also interviewed about the Easter Egg in MOS where Henry Cavill’s face briefly morphs into Christopher Reeve’s when he looking into the World Engine and said “it’s not there, people see what they wanted to see”… Read more »

Supermaniac
Supermaniac
July 24, 2017 10:36 am

Thoughts on the Justice League trailer: • Snyder still in love with the blue filter. Ugh. • Please. Aquaman is not – nor should be – Lobo. • Either Superman has started to shave his legs, or that’s Supergirl that Bruce is looking at in the hologram (remember Supergirl was hinted at in MOS). • The “wind-up Penguin” comment is a reference to The Penguin. • That interpretation of the Flash’s costume is hands-down the worst in modern superhero movies. • Steppenwolf is the worst choice for a major superhero movie villain since Bane. He looks like a Thor reject.… Read more »

ELKing
ELKing
July 24, 2017 5:44 pm

I don’t feel its a female that Bruce is looking at in the hologram, I think it’s Superman, the design reminds me of a sci/fi effect I once saw in a movie, its like a scanning pattern and I think it’s Lois at the memorial in the rain holding an umbrella. The Penguin reference is from ‘Batman Returns’…my opinion on everything.

jagross0325
jagross0325
July 24, 2017 6:34 pm

Here are my thoughts. I think the hologram is of Supergirl. As a far as everyone is concerned Superman is dead. So maybe Bruce gets wind of another Kryptonian. Then at the end of the trailer everyone thinks Alfred is talking to Superman saying He said you would come hope you’re not too late. I think again everyone believes Superman is dead so why would anyone think he would come. That red could be Supergirl’s cape. Maybe coming to help against a possibly risen bad Superman? We know from Bruce’s vision in BvS that they want to go all Injustice… Read more »

BurMa78
BurMa78
July 25, 2017 4:43 am
Reply to  jagross0325

Well.. here we go. My first post. I just saw the trailer and was thrilled. I agree with you guys who state this might be a female leg (with red boots n cape) in that hologram Bruce is looking at. It´s transparent as a hologram should be but the leg has some sort of tribal tattoo or wears patern stockings. I can truely imagine that the Alfred scene is referring back to exactly this short sequence in which Bruce might plan to bring up another superhero who has hidden on earth longer than Superman did and now needs to be… Read more »

SuperFunTime
SuperFunTime
July 30, 2017 7:16 pm
Reply to  jagross0325

I think the hologram is Supergirl. The cape seems too short for Superman. The legs also seem, kind of, too thin for him. Also, the red is much brighter than it normally is in this Superman’s costume. However, at the end of trailer when Alfred is talking to someone, I think it’s Superman… but maybe someone else too. Alfred says, “… now let’s hope you’re not too late.” That could be said to one person, or more than one person. I believe he is saying this to Superman, but if someone else is there, then I would imagine it would… Read more »

July 25, 2017 11:13 am

Posted two comments and now they’ve disappeared, I think Bruce
Wayne will be responsible for the resurrection of Superman and so
Alfred is not shocked when he see him revived saying Bruce told
him Superman would return.

BurMa78
BurMa78
July 25, 2017 6:17 pm

Hmmm, I realize they did an extremely good job on confusing at least me! Repeating the trailer over and over again I am not sure about my Supergirl comment any longer… Some people see a green light in Alfred’s glasses, some others are convinced to see Supe’s red cape. Watching this scene the liquid in the glass is shaking twice. What if both is true? Superman AND Green Lantern appearing (by landing on the Floor and letting it shake) to save the day?!?!