Justice League: Zack Snyder confirms Martian Manhunter was in the plans
In a social media post, Zack Snyder posted storyboards that confirm Harry Lenix as Martian Manhunter in Snyder’s Justice League movie.
The infamous “Snyder Cut” has been on the minds of many fans. The term refers to Justice League director Zack Snyder’s version of the movie before it was changed by Joss Whedon after Snyder took a leave of absence due to family loss.
There has been much debate on whether this director’s cut actually exists. However, in a post on Vero, Snyder confirms that Harry Lennix’s General Calvin Swanwick was J’onn J’onzz / Martian Manhunter in disguise. Snyder also confirms that he finished shooting Martian Manhunter’s scenes but was not able to finish Lennix’s side of shooting that would have commenced in Los Angeles.
Comic Book Resources points out that theories of Swanwick being Martian Manhunter have been around since Man of Steel:
"The Martian Manhunter/Swanwick theory has been floated since Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013. Toward the end of the movie, there was a cryptic exchange between Swanwick and Superman where Kal-El asked, why he’s being followed by drones. Swanwick knowingly said he’d try to help but added, “Even if I were willing to try, what makes you think they’d listen?”. This was followed by Superman’s odd response of, “I don’t know, General. Guess I’ll have to trust you.”"
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This news will only strengthen fan appeal for a director’s cut of Justice League in Snyder’s vision. Warner Bros., however, would probably like to leave the movie in the past, considering how much of a box office failure it was.
It is nice that Lennix had a bigger role carved out for him and that his character was not simply a nod to Superman artist Curt Swan. It is also nice to learn that Martian Manhunter was in the plans for the DCEU and would have most likely gotten his own solo movie.
The reveal of General Swanwick as J’onn J’onzz probably would have gone down similarly to David Harewood’s Hank Henshaw in Supergirl. How far Snyder would have gone with his version of the character will probably be another thing fans can speculate about.
Either way, the inclusion of Martian Manhunter likely would not have saved Justice League’s box office numbers. What fans can hope for is that J’onn J’onzz is still in the books for future plans to appear in a solo movie or with an ensemble.
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Would you like to have seen Swanwick as Martian Manhunter? Are you still hoping he appears in a future DC movie? Let us know in the comments below!