Snyder Cut of Justice League is finally unravelling Batman’s Knightmare sequence
DC’s characteristically dark theme coupled with its array of genius villains allows their writers to easily explore pretty damning story plots. One interesting plot from DC’s alternate universe theory is the Knightmare sequence. And Zack Snyder has been long teasing it for his Justice League. We first saw it in Batman vs Superman, however, the plot was left there to open up in probably JL 2. Nonetheless, the director recently teased an extended cut of the sequence with the Joker.
What is the Knightmare Sequence?
The Knightmare sequence refers to a lengthy conflict between Superman’s Regime and Batman’s insurgency in a possible future timeline. In the Knightmare timeline, Superman assumes totalitarian control of Earth while Batman and his army of insurgents seeking to overthrow the tyrant government. After years of brutal warfare that would consequently leave Earth desolate and pretty much apocalyptic, Superman would capture a battle-worn Batman and kill him. Crazy right?
The Knightmare sequence explores what would happen if Superman switched sides. In the sequence, Darkseid kills Lois Lane, causing Superman to become totally devastated. He consequently becomes susceptible to Darkseid’s Anti-Life Equation and spirals out of control. Deciding humans to be unfit to maintain law and order, Superman assumes total control of Earth and allies with the forces of Apokolips to aid in his tyrannical regime. He ruled over all and killed anyone that opposed him.
Sperman Kills The Justice League
Batman consequently formed the insurgents and the war to overthrow Superman and the regime began. It would last for years with Batman and his insurgents losing the war. Notable casualties include Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Shazam and The Joker. After years of hunting the Bat, Superman’s regime soldiers eventually capture him in a hidden bunker. Superman is duly informed and quickly arrives at the scene to finish off his old friend and end the insurgency. A glimpse of which we saw in Batman vs Superman.
Watch: Knightmare-Future (Extended) | Batman v Superman (UltraHD, HDR)
After Batman is killed, Cyborg helps The Flash run back in time through his cosmic treadmill to warn the present Batman of Superman’s tyranny. Unfortunately, he runs too far back in time and instead delivers his message to a Batman that hasn’t even met him (The Flash) yet. But Batman uses his intuition and heeds the warning from future Flash, leading to the formation of the Justice League.
In 2013, the video game Injustice: Gods Among Us was released with a story mode that resembled the Knightmare Sequence. But instead of Darkseid, The Joker was resembled for killing Lois Lane and driving Superman insane.
Batfleck’s Knightmare in Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Zack Snyder is one DC director that has constantly expressed interest in exploring the Knightmare sequence. If you recall, in DC’s Batman vs Superman,Batman battles parademons in a desert city in what appears to be a dream or flashback of some sort. He is consequently captured and taken to Superman who emerges in a black suit. Unfortunately, the movie never explained what that scene meant.
However, as more details of Zack Snyder’s 4-hour Justice league remake emerge, a lot of the set images show that the Knightmare sequence might be at play. Especially Joker’s addition to Justice League Snyder confirmed to Vanity Fair the sequence will be further explored in his cut. By the looks of it Darkseid replaces Doomsday as the big bad in ZSJL and of course Superman is seen in his black suit.
Snyder, who was initially directing the 2017 release of the Justice League movie was recently asked if the scene would ever be explained. He said “…Or if someone lost someone close to them, they might be susceptible to a certain Equation and might blame a certain Bat for events that a too soon Bruce would know nothing about.”
With DC completely overhauling the scripts for their upcoming movies, it seems Zack Snyder’s upcoming Justice League Director’s cut is the only timeline where the Knightmare sequence can develop.
