Justice League I

## Release chronology

"*I've been well sustained by all the chaos that humanity has kept on themselves. But now I'm ready. I will bring forth the most horrifying war they deserve.*"
―Ares
***Justice League I*** is a 2017 superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name. It is the 9th film in the DC Extended Universe and the 9th installment of the Golden Age. It was released on November 17, 2017.

The film is followed by sequels *Justice League II* in 2022, *Justice League III* in 2026, *Justice League: The Anti-Life Equation - Part I* in 2028, *Justice League: The Anti-Life Equation - Part II* in 2029, and *Crisis on Infinite Earths* in 2032.

The film introduces Ares, Wonder Girl, Artemis of Bana-Mighdall, Aqualad, Tula, and Darkseid into the DCEU.

## Synopsis

The newly created Justice League must prevent the return of an ancient war between Amazons and Atlanteans organized by Ares, whom corrupts the Amazons minds, making them his army meanwhile King Orm declares war against mankind after killing his mother and taking control of the Seven Kingdoms.

## Plot

Note: bold text indicates fight sequence.

* Prologue

"*Those witches summoned them!*"
―Orin I
1,032 BC, Earth. The New God Darkseid and his army attempted to conquer Earth using the three ancient Mother Boxes. The attempt was **foiled** by a combined legion of the Old Gods, Amazons, Atlanteans, and Green Lanterns. The Mother Boxes were unintentionally left behind during their retreat. After the battle, tensions arise between the Atlanteans and the Amazons, causing Zeus to break the fight.

* Main plot

After a day at the Daily Planet (who was visited by business mogul Ares Buchanan) and saving a few people, Superman meets with Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter, who tells them of a possible candidate, the Flash of Central City. Superman and Wonder Woman then visits the Flash, who agrees and suggests another member, Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern of Earth. Hal rejects the offer and leaves.

In the Kingdom of Atlantis, Queen Atlanna and her son Aquaman chats before being interrupted by Prince Orm Marius who declares war on the surface, citing visions of the destruction of Atlantis at the hands of ignorant humans, his mother Queen Atlanna dismisses him of these delusions. Bres then kills the queen under Orm's command, as he takes the throne.

"*The hell are you doing on my city."
"Your welcome. Oh, just trying to warm you up on the whole super team idea."
"I made it clear I wasn't interested. Go back to Metropolis, Clark.*"
―Batman and Superman
On Themyscira, Bres and Pomoxis, Orm's allies, disguise themselves. In Gotham, Batman tries to **subdue** Solomon Grundy, before Superman arrives and helps him. Batman dismisses Superman, as he persuades him to join the new super team. Pomoxis manages to disguise their way to the Themysciran palace, where they kill Queen Hippolyta and leaves a trace to persuade the Amazons to war. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Flash hangs out when an Amazon informs Diana of the queen's murder. She quickly fly there and gathers with the Amazons to mourn when Ares shows up, after a brief **fight** Ares manages to subdue the Amazons and mind controls them.

Wonder Woman returns to Superman and Flash and goes to Gotham to tell Batman about what happened on Themyscira. Batman figures something is off and informs Superman, who brings the Flash. He tells them both about Wonder Woman and that she should be confronted. The three confront Wonder Woman and Batman manages to steal her lasso and uses it on her, revealing the truth. Martian Manhunter tries to bring her mind back but couldn't due to Old God magic being too powerful. Batman then advises that they travel to Themyscira, using his plane, the Flying Fox. Before then, they ask Wonder Woman how they can keep her from going anywhere, she reveals her embarrassing weakness: being bound by a man.

"*Call me, Ocean Master.*"
―Orm to Arthur
Aquaman returns to Atlantis and finds Orm on the throne, who tells him of their mother's murder by Amazons. Against Arthur's protests, Orm mobilizes the Atlantean army to attack Themyscira. Aquaman then travel to Themyscira, hoping to warn the Amazons, however he was attacked on sight and has to retreat. Bres and Pomoxis sees this and tells Orm, who then sent soldiers to intercept Aquaman, who defeats them, but barely.

"*My brother's trying to start World War 3, he knew the Amazons would be the first line of defense so he's trying to wipe them out first. If he does that, who knows what happens next.*"
―Aquaman to the Justice League
As the Justice League was close by, his mind was read by Martian Manhunter. They then take Aquaman into the Flying Fox. He advises not to land on Themyscira as of now, the men then devise a plan. Back in the Batcave, Alfred holds Wonder Woman before she finally manages to free herself. He then warns Batman of her escape. Superman is sent to intercept Wonder Woman, causing them to **fight**. Amidst the fight, the Atlanteans began their assault on Themyscira, enraging Wonder Woman, who quickly destroys their military equipment. Superman hurries back to the Flying Fox, the team then decide to intervene and join the war.

"*You won't win. This war will stay on this island.*"
―Superman to Ares
Upon arrival, Aquaman confronts his brother while the Justice League tries their best to stop the war by diminishing weaponry on both sides. Flash contacts Hal and asks for his help, which Hal finally accepts. Batman prepares an EMP-like bomb on the Flying Fox to depower the Atlantean army. As he activates it, he tells Flash to strip the Amazons from their weaponry using his super-speed. The fight continues anyway with hand-to-hand combat. Superman confronts Ares, before Ares opens portal that allow monsters to emerge. Hal arrives, subduing many militants. He is then attacked by monsters, causing the shield construct he confined the militants with to go down. The war continues as the power goes back up and with the Amazons using the monsters to fight. Mera arrives to help the soldiers. Wonder Woman attacks and almost kills her before being counterattacked by Aquaman, and the two **fight**. Batman figures that Ares is powered by war and chaos and devises a plan to stop the fighting altogether. Martian Manhunter is then ordered to control the Atlanteans to retreat, all but Ocean Master, owing to his mind control proof helmet. The Amazons then take to Ocean Master, causing him to **fend for** himself, before he **attacks** the Justice League, who successfully subdued him. The Justice League then has to **battle** against the barrage of monsters and creatures released by Ares. At the end of the battle, Ares stands alone on a hill before he's stabbed in the back by Aquaman. Just before Aquaman kills Ares, he possessed him.

* Epilogue

"*How about, "The Justice League"?*"
―Flash
After cleaning up the mess, Wonder Woman and Aquaman swears peace among their people, with Mera inviting everyone to Arthur's coronation. Batman, Superman, Flash, and Martian Manhunter returns to the US on the Flying Fox, with Flash suggesting the "Justice League" as their team name. The next day, Barry and Hal hangs out while Flash is creating a profile for the team, to Hal's indifference. At the Daily Planet, Bruce visits Clark, saying that he has warmed up to the idea and is willing to finance the "Justice League", Arthur's coronation take place, with Wonder Woman and the Amazons invited, as the camera zooms in on Aquaman with an ominous background music.

No mid or post-credits scenes.

## Cast

### Main characters

* Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman
* Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman
* Gemma Arterton as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman
* Lucas Till as Barry Allen/Flash
* Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman
* Jensen Ackles as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern
* Harry Lennix as General J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter
* Emilia Clarke as Mera
* Lynda Carter as Queen Hippolyta

### Antagonist(s)

* Gerard Butler as Ares
* Patrick Wilson as Orm Marius/Ocean Master

### Side characters

* Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth
* Nicole Kidman as Queen Atlanna
* Conor Leslie as Donna Troy
* Olivia DeJonge as Cassie Sandsmark/Wonder Girl
* Lucy Fry as Artemis of Bana-Mighdall
* Ryan Potter as Garth/Aqualad
* Leslie Grace as Tula
* TBA as Murk
* Alfred Molina as Nuidis Vulko
* Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Lois Lane
* Jack Quaid as Jimmy Olsen
* TBA as Bres
* TBA as Pomoxis
* Doutzen Kroes as Venelia
* Samantha Win as Euboea
* Madeleine Vall as Egeria
* Ann Wolfe as Dessa
* Brooke Ence as Penthesilea
* Florence Kasumba as Acantha
* Danielle Lewis as Timandra
* TBA as Solomon Grundy
* Ray Porter as Darkseid
* TBA as Steppenwolf
* TBA as Myrina
* TBA as Zeus
* TBA as Artemis
* TBA as Orin I
* TBA as Jong Li
* TBA as Yalan Gur
* Saïd Taghmaoui as Vandal Savage

## Appearances

### Characters

SupermanBatmanWonderFlashAquamanGreen LanternMartian ManhunterAresOcean MasterMeraBres.jpgBresPomoxis.jpgPomoxisQueen HippolytaAlfred PennyworthQueen AtlannaDonna TroyWonder GirlArtemis of Bana-MighdallAqualadTulaMurk.jpgMurkNuidis VulkoLois LaneJimmy Olsen
(cameo)AcanthaAntiopeDessaHippolytaEgeriaEuboeaMenalippePenthesileaVeneliaTimandraSolomongrundy.jpgSolomon GrundyDarkseid (Prime Earth)SteppenwolfMyrina (flashback/cameo)ZeusArtemisOrin1.jpgOrin IGreen LanternGreen LanternVandal Savage (flashback/cameo)
#### Mentioned

* Poseidon
* John Stewart

### Locations

* Multiverse
	+ Earth-1
		- Earth
			* Atlantean Empire
				+ Kingdom of Atlantis
				+ Kingdom of Xebel
				+ Kingdom of the Sea Lights
			* Canada
				+ Fortress of Solitude
			* Themyscira
				+ Plains of Destiny
				+ Themysciran Palace
					- Themysciran arsenal
			* United States of America
				+ Central City
				+ Gotham City
					- Batcave
				+ Metropolis
	+ Realm of the Old Gods (depiction)

### Events

* Darkseid's Quest
	+ Darkseid's First Invasion of Earth (flashback)
* Black Manta's Revenge
* Second Amazon-Atlantean War

### Items

* Batcomputer
* Batplane
* Anti-Life Equation
* Ares' battle axe
* Batsuit
	+ Batarangs
* Flash suit
	+ Flash rings
* Flying Fox
* Lantern power rings
* Kryptonian supersuit
* Mother Boxes
* Trident of Atlan
* Amazon armor
	+ Amazon sword
	+ Lasso of Hestia

### Species

* Cerberus
* Cyclopes
* Green Martians
* Harpy
* Humans
	+ Amazons
	+ Atlanteans
	+ Metahumans
* Kryptonians
* Mermaid
* Minotaur
* New Gods
* Old Gods

### Organizations

* *Daily Planet*
* Darkseid's Elite
* Justice League
* Gotham City Police Department
* Green Lantern Corps
* LexCorp
* S.T.A.R. Labs
* Wayne Enterprises

## Production

Although Christopher Nolan was rumored to be directing *Justice League*, Nolan himself ruled it out, but later was an executive producer on the film. In June 2012, Will Beall was hired to write the screenplay for a *Justice League* film, in which Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman would be the main characters. Warner Bros. announced plans for the *Justice League* film to have a summer 2015 release date to compete with *Avengers: Age of Ultron*, though they had yet to complete a script or officially hire a director.

## Trivia

* Another idea for the war theme was Ares starting World War III among the Earth nations.
* The filmmakers danced around the idea of the war stopping by a "lust" smoke that caused the Amazons and Atlanteans to start making out instead.

1. ↑ Green Lantern flies off in advance
2. ↑ They then talk about building a headquarter in Metropolis.