The planned appearance of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. While Harry Lennix portrayed the role of General Swanwick in both films, Snyder has unveiled via social media that Swanwick had actually been Martian Manhunter in disguise, a revelation intended for his original version of Justice League. While Swanwick's portrayal in the two films would noticeably evolve in a number of ways, the news that he was the Martian hero J'onn J'onzz the whole time now puts his role in the DCEU in a totally new light.
Snyder stepped down from Justice League in the aftermath of a family tragedy, Jason Momoa being especially vocal.
Most of Snyder's social media teases of his original cut of Justice League have dealt only with the film itself, but his reveal of Swanwick as Martian Manhunter carries with it a much more retroactive impact on the DCEU. While the storyboard posted by Snyder does indicate there were likely further plans for the character, it also suggests Martian Manhunter was present in the DCEU well before Justice League. However, looking back on Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, there are a number of elements that very well could have been clues laid about by Snyder pointing to Swanwick's true identity as J'onn J'onzz.
Swanwick's Appearance
The very appearance of General Swanwick provides some hints to his Martian identity, with his attire especially being a visible tip of the hat on Snyder's part. Swanwick is frequently seen in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman in military clothing, and upon closer inspection, his Class A uniform carries several notable similarities with the alien garb that Martian Manhunter is known for. The uniform itself is dark green, reflecting the character's natural green form of his origins on Mars, while he also carries gold loops on his shoulders similar to the rings that hold the cape of J'onn J'onzz in place. Additionally, there are several red pins on Swanwick's uniform just below the shoulders, a small parallel to the large red "X" emblazoned on the character's chest when seen in his natural form, which taken together may have been intended to lay some subtle groundwork for the character's look in future DCEU appearances.
Furthermore, another clue can be found in Swanwick's identity as a black man. While not necessarily an Easter Egg to Swanwick's alien origins in and of itself, it does carry over a bit of a tradition the character has seen in his live-action DC adaptations. and even that only scratches the surface of Martian Manhunter.
The Superman Interrogation
The scene in which Superman surrenders to the U.S. military in Man of Steel also offers some retroactive indications of Swanwick's true nature. The General views Kal-El with clear hostility, and while this was clearly meant to advance the film's thesis of the discovery of an indestructible alien secretly living on Earth, Snyder's reveal may also give cause to view Swanwick's perspective through a new lens. Swanwick is clearly going to great lengths to keep his identity a secret, and with the arrival of General Zod and Superman being unveiled to the world concretely proving the existence of aliens, Swanwick's attitude towards Kal-El could now also be viewed as J'onn J'onzz being concerned that his own secret may be uncovered.
Furthermore, Superman's interrogation now also brings with it a new interpretation when Kal-El casually breaks the handcuffs binding him and approaches the two-way mirror of the interrogation room. With the sole exception of Swanwick, every person on the other side of the mirror retreats in visible fear of the superhuman alien. The General standing his ground can effectively now be seen as indicative of his own alien nature (a fear further fueled by the mass destruction of the film's third act, and the General's true nature as an alien refugee himself can now be pointed to as the reason why.
Swanwick's Attitude With Lois In Batman V Superman
Following the events of Man of Steel, General Swanwick is promoted to Secretary of Defense, and his interactions with Lois Lane provides further hints towards the revelation Snyder intended for Justice League. As Lois investigates the incident in North Africa in the beginning of the film, Swanwick is noticeably reticent towards her efforts to uncover the truth. Although the General does eventually provide a degree of assistance to Lois in uncovering the truth of the incident, he continuously keeps her at an arm's length. Lois is ultimately able to put together the pieces of Lex Luthor's plot herself, with Swanwick having more pointed her in the right direction rather than actively aiding her.
As we see later in the film, Lex Luthor has been keeping close taps on metahumans, with Bruce sending Diana encrypted files from from the battle against Doomsday.
Swanwick Doesn't Want Superman To Die
Superman's presence was something that Swanwick was clearly perturbed by in Man of Steel, further seen in the end of the film when Kal-El destroys a military drone, leading Swanwick to angrily ask "Are you effin' stupid?!" The scene itself also notably sees Swanwick alongside Major Carrie Ferris, who would go on to portray Orm in Aquaman) ultimately ordering the nuclear strike. Though both Superman and Doomsday survive, Swanwick is visibly distraught when it momentarily appears that the Man of Tomorrow perished in the blast.
Additionally, following Superman's death in the battle with Doomsday, Kal-El is given a soldier's funeral in Washington D.C., with Swanwick in attendance, and the General again appearing far more affected by the death of an alien refugee than his attitude in Man of Steel would have suggested. To be sure, Swanwick never called for Superman's outright execution or banishment from Earth when the two first met. Nevertheless, the General clearly displays a far greater level of concern for Kal-El in Batman v Superman than was the case in Man of Steel, indicating that he has come to trust Superman over the course of the two films, and being an alien in hiding himself, has perhaps even come to see a kindred spirit within him.
Martian Manhunter's presence in Zack Snyder's version of Justice League is undoubtedly one of the more surprising revelations about the Snyder Cut (Zack Snyder has 214 minutes worth of material to expound upon until and unless Warner Bros. gives the Snyder Cut of Justice League the green light.
