Another week another glimpse behind the scenes from Zack Snyder on Vero. Last week, it was Ezra Miller’s Flash admiring Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn on the set of Justice League. This week Snyder shared the first time the Trinity of Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) were photographed together.
While Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was the first time the characters had ever met on film, this is a significant moment because it basically represents the first ever meeting of these characters for a live-action movie.
Superman’s first big budget appearance in a live-action film was in 1978 with Superman: The Movie, which then spawned 3 sequels. Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983) and the horrific Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), where he was played by Christopher Reeve. The character wouldn’t return until 2006 in the soft reboot Superman Returns starring Brandon Routh as the blue boy scout, which used Superman and Superman II as a loose backstory.
When Superman Returns didn’t live up to expectations, the character was dormant on film again until Zack Snyder brought him back in 2013’s Man of Steel. Starring Henry Cavill. This time, Superman’s updated origin film would launch the DC on film universe that we know today.
Batman’s first blockbuster live-action film was 1989’s Batman starring Michael Keaton. He would return (get it?) in 1992’s Batman Returns. 1995 saw Val Kilmer don the cape and cowl in Batman Forever, but Kilmer was then replaced by George Clooney in 1997’s disasterous Batman & Robin that everyone tries to forget about. However, Batman & Robin did feature the first crossover Easter Egg when Batman mentions to Robin “This is why Superman works alone.”
The Dark Knight Detective would not return to film until 2005’s Batman Begins starring Christian Bale, which spawned the sequel’s The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), thus creating one of the greatest cinematic trilogies of all time.
Wonder Woman, unfortunately, never received the live-action film treatment her fellow Trinity members got. However, she did have her own TV series from 1975-1979 starring Lynda Carter.
Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman
As you can see, DC’s Trinity has been around in live-action form for a long time now, so Snyder’s post and his work on Batman v Superman was a significant moment for DC fans who have been waiting for this. In the film, the three icons would team up to battle Lex’s abomination Doomsday, which cost Superman his life.
Justice League saw Wonder Woman and Batman try to honor his death by forming their super team to protect Earth. But, as Bruce Wayne realized in the film, the world needs Superman.
Although Zack Snyder seems to be done with DC films for the foreseeable future, I’m sure we’ll have more of these fun behind the scenes photos and inside scoops to look forward to.