A glimpse into the Knightmare future seen in Devoid of Justice League’s theatrical cut reshoots, the Snyder Cut presents the superhero team-up as Snyder had intended prior to the extensive reworking done after his departure due to a loss in his family. The Snyder Cut also restores DC’s villain titan Darkseid (Ray Porter) into the story after his complete removal from the theatrical cut. Additionally, Darkseid’s appearance includes visions of his conquest of Earth seen in the Knightmare of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
In the look into the Knightmare during the resurrection of Superman (Henry Cavill), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) sees the moment at which Darkseid places Superman under his control using the Anti-Life Equation. This comes after Darkseid has coldly murdered Lois Lane (Amy Adams) in the Batcave. One particular touch in this scene adds to Darkseid’s evil with the Apokoliptian conqueror putting his hand on Superman's shoulder, as if to offer his condolences.
As Superman weeps over the skeleton of Lois Lane, who was also pregnant, the change in the Man of Steel’s facial expression shows that this is how Darkseid mentally enslaves him with the Anti-Life Equation. With that much clear from the scene, Darkseid's hand on Superman's shoulder takes on a much darker context in this moment. Darkseid, in a manner of speaking, is twisting the knife on Superman while he’s at his lowest point with a gesture of mock empathy.
How Superman's Justice League Suit Reveals Darksied's Sadistic Nature
Superman is also shown in his black suit in this scene, with the Knightmare depicting him in his classic red and blue suit. This adds another layer of sadism to how Darkseid is going about conquering Earth. Far from being content with crowning himself ruler of Earth, Darkseid adds insult to injury at every turn, even turning a usual show of kindness into a sneer at Superman. With Snyder's story plans for Superman's two suits, Darkseid placing him in his classic, hope-embodying suit as he makes him a soldier for Apokolips is just another emblem of his sadistic nature.
The Knightmare was intended to factor greatly into Snyder’s unproduced Justice League sequels. Aided by the survivors of the Justice League and even villains like Deathstroke (Joe Manganiello) and the Joker (Jared Leto), Batman (Ben Affleck) was to send The Flash (Ezra Miller) back in time on the Cosmic Treill to stop Darkseid killing Lois. Superman would then lead the League and the whole world against Darkseid’s invasion, returning to his red and blue suit on his own fully heroic .
With the Snyder Cut’s release, Darkseid’s cinematic debut was one of the many elements that fans around the world were overjoyed to see at last. With Cyborg’s look into the Knightmare in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, it can be safely said that Porter’s Darkseid in pursuit of the Anti-Life Equation was nothing if not a punishingly sinister villain. Not only does Darkseid want to crush his enemies, he’ll also never up the opportunity to kick them when they’re down.
