The DC Extended Universe, or DCEU, began in 2013 with Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder. The film featured many easter eggs that teased future DCEU appearances, like several LexCorp logos and a Wayne Enterprises satellite. Many of the easter eggs sprinkled throughout these films are nothing more than nods or homages to past stories involving these characters, while others could hold deeper meaning for what’s to come on the silver screen.
As the future of the DCEU continuity is a little uncertain, especially with rumors floating around that The Flash movie will potentially undo the history of the DCEU, it’s nice to know that the filmmakers are fans themselves. Consequently, they insert small references and nods to what came before while teasing what may lie ahead.
10 Watchmen Actors Sprinkled Throughout The DCEU
The fact that Zack Snyder helmed most of the films in the DCEU led many of those films to feature cameos (or even full supporting roles) from actors that starred in Snyder’s Watchmen adaptation. Patrick Wilson played Nite Owl in the Watchmen while also playing Aquaman’s brother and nemesis Orm/Ocean Master.
Billy Crudup played Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen and also Henry Allen, the Flash’s father. Jeffery Dean Morgan played the Comedian and also Thomas Wayne in the opening of Batman V Superman. And one that fans may have missed was a cameo appearance of Carla Gugino, or rather her voice. She played Sally Jupiter in Watchmen and voiced the Kryptonian A.I. Kelex in Man of Steel.
9 The Alternate Kryptonian Suits In The Snyder Cut
After the Justice League resurrects Superman, he returns to the Kryptonian ship and walks down a hall full of alternate Kryptonian suits. We see the classic red and blue suit, but we also see some others that fans may not be familiar with. Clark ultimately passes on the classic Superman outfit in favor for the black version worn by Superman in the comics after his resurrection.
Clark also passes two Kryptonian military suits resembling the ones worn in Man of Steel by Faora and General Zod. And the final suit, seen way in the background, is one that appears to be a Kryptonian outpost suit seen in the Man of Steel prequel comic. Or could it be a prototype Lexosuit worn by Lex Luthor in the comics?
8 Batman and Superman’s Classic Themes In Justice League
When Joss Whedon took over Justice League directing duties for Zack Snyder, Danny Elfman was brought in to score the film. When Batman meets Commissioner Gordon, the classic 1989 Batman theme, also composed by Elfman, can be heard. And when Superman returns, you can hear a slightly warped version of John Williams’s Superman theme.
When Snyder was given the chance to complete his vision, the composer who worked with him on Batman V Superman, Junkie XL, returned to compose Snyder’s Justice League. Both Elfman and Junkie XL are amazing composers and each of their styles fit their films well.
7 Batman’s Rogues Gallery Teased In Batman V Superman
Batman V Superman features many easter eggs involving the larger DC Universe such as the mention of Kandor when Lex introduces Zod’s body into the birthing chamber or the scientist Emmett Vale, the creator of Metallo in the comics, who explains kryptonite to Lex Luthor.
The film also features some subtle and not-so-subtle hints at Batman’s larger rogues gallery. One that is not-so-subtle is the “Ha Ha Ha” spray-painted on Robin’s suit in the Batcave, referencing Robin’s death at Joker’s hands. One that is more subtle is a question mark spray-painted on one of the pillars in the abandoned building where Batman challenges Superman.
6 The Fallen Green Lantern At The Hall Of Justice
The Darkseid invasion flashback in Synder’s Justice League is by far one of the most epic scenes of the entire DCEU. The forces of man, Atlantis, Themyscira, the Greek gods, and even a Green Lantern align to fend off the invading Apokolips armies. But the Green Lantern seen in this flashback is not the only Lantern that appears in the film.
When Cyborg taps into the Mother Boxes and views a possible future, he sees a mind-controlled Superman hovering over a destroyed Hall of Justice. And lying in the rubble of the Hall is a masked Green Lantern that appears to be Kilowog, a high-ranking Corps member.
5 Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben Exists In The DCEU?
There hasn’t been an official Marvel/DC comic book crossover for years, and it’s even less likely that there will be a film crossover anytime soon. But that doesn’t stop the “big two” from throwing in an easter egg or two referencing their competitor.
In the Justice League film, when Superman is resurrected and turns on the League, he battles the Flash at super speed. As Flash stumbles his way across the large memorial, the name “Ben Parker” can be seen just over his left shoulder. This could be a coincidence, but it’s cooler to assume the production team inserted that name just for fun.
4 Perry White Refers To The Year “1938”
One of Clark’s motivations in Batman V Superman is to investigate the vigilante Batman. This is explored further in the Ultimate Edition as Clark visits Gotham and asks the locals what they think of Batman’s unconventional, violent approach to crimefighting. Clark’s investigation faces opposition from Perry White, editor of the Daily Planet.
Perry just wants Clark to cover sports, which he never does as he’s too busy with Batman, then Lex, and then Doomsday, etc. In an argument about ethics and reporting the things that matter, Perry tells Clark that “it’s not 1938.” Action Comics #1, the debut of the Superman character, was published in 1938.
3 The Original Jimmy Olsen Returns
The character of Jimmy Olsen was almost entirely absent from the DCEU. He appeared briefly in Lois’s first scene in Batman V Superman as the photographer that accompanies her to Nairomi, but is killed in that same scene.
However, an alternate version of Jimmy Olsen appears in the form of Marc McClure, the actor who played Jimmy in Richard Donner’s Superman films. After the Justice League resurrects Superman, a police officer is seen just outside the memorial, and that’s Marc McClure. It’s always nice to see previous DC actors return in one form or another.
2 Fun Star Wars Reference In Batman V Superman
This is one viewers would never find unless they were looking for it, or unless they happened to watch Batman V Superman and Star Wars: A New Hope back to back with eyes and ears trained to pick up on one small detail. When Batman visits Lex Luthor in prison to inform him of his transfer to Arkham Asylum, Lex is sporting the prisoner ID “16-TK-421”.
This number is significant because in A New Hope – after Luke and Han disguise themselves as stormtroopers to free Princess Leia – an Imperial officer addresses Han with the ID “TK-421.” This most likely has no relevance beyond a fun nod to someone on the production team’s favorite movie.
1 The Open Pod Aboard The Kryptonian Ship
Man of Steel: The Prequel is a comic book published in 2013 coinciding with the release of the Man of Steel film. The comic was written by Geoff Johns, David S. Goyer, Sterling Gates, Zack Snyder and was illustrated by Jerry Ordway. The comic follows Kara Zor-El’s space mission that unintentionally lands her on Earth.
Fast forward to the events of Man of Steel, when Clark enters the 20,000-year-old Kryptonian ship for the first time, he finds withered corpses of people in containment pods with one pod open and empty. The prequel comic heavily implies that Kara survived her crash and existed on Earth. What happened to Kara after that is still a mystery.
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