In building the critical of Snyder's DC films. Additionally, the Snyder Cut is seeing an increasing amount of media attention, with the cast and crew speaking much more openly about it in recent days.
Snyder himself has heavily teased his version of Justice League on social media with still images and storyboards demonstrating just how different it is from the theatrical cut, along with revealing many of the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it is evident that Snyder sprinkled in allusions to other heroes and villains in every DC movie he was involved with.
To be sure, some references, such as Alfred's "Phantasm" line in Batman v Superman, are likely meant to serve as a nod to elements of DC lore without necessarily laying the seeds for future character appearances (however much fans would love a live-action Mask of the Phantasm). By the same token, characters such as Tomar-Re and Kilowog have circled the wagon of characters speculated to appear in Snyder's cut of Justice League, but all signs say they were cut long before Snyder even left the project.
Nevertheless, we can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are numerous unseen DC characters confirmed to exist in Snyder's DCEU, either through some reference made to them by Man of Steel or Batman v Superman, or by their confirmed appearances in the Justice League Snyder Cut that were subsequently deleted from the theatrical version. Between the two, there are quite a few DC characters who have yet to make their debut in the franchise on-screen. Here are the DC characters confirmed, but not seen, in Zack Snyder's DCEU.
Darkseid
Lex Luthor ominously intoning “He’s hungry, he’s found us, and he’s coming!” at the end of Batman v Superman seemed to point directly to Darkseid (if the giant Omega symbol in the Knightmare wasn't on-the-nose enough) as the major impending threat in Justice League. While the theatrical version would only a make a vague reference to him, Darkseid was set to play a fairly significant role in Zack Snyder’s version of the film.
Though Steppenwolf was still the primary villain, Ray Porter in his cut of the film.
Desaad
The master of torture on Apokolips, not much has been revealed thus far about Desaad’s role in the Snyder Cut. However, the presence of Desaad in the original version of Justice League (revealed to be played by Steppenwolf to Desaad in his version of the movie.
Green Arrow
The other famed billionaire superhero in the DC Universe, Oliver Queen adopts his own skillset and arsenal of weaponry to protect Star City as Green Arrow. The character would gain popularity with his ing role on the long-running series interview with Lex Luthor for Wired, also confirm Green Arrow's existence in Zack Snyder's DCEU, with a graph showing Queen Industries alongside other major corporations, such as Wayne Enterprises and LexCorp.
Dick Grayson
The Dark Knight's most famed apprentice, Dick Grayson's role in Zack Snyder's DCEU is in somewhat of a grey area, as there's nothing to directly indicate that he was set to make a physical appearance in the franchise. However, Snyder's intent to weave Grayson into the story of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice can be found in set photos featuring a tombstone bearing the former Robin's name. Though this was ultimately not seen in the finished film, it signals that Snyder had originally intended for Dick, rather than Jason Todd, to be Batman's fallen Robin, a plan which Snyder himself would offer further indications of on social media.
Carrie Kelly
Well-known as the young female Robin in Frank Miller's graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns (which partially served as the basis for Batman v Superman), Carrie Kelly's presence in the DCEU sits in a similar grey area as that of Dick Grayson. Nevertheless, her place in the DCEU, whatever it was, ties directly into Snyder's prior plans for the first Robin. When asked on Vero if he planned for Dick Grayson to remain dead or be brought back at some point, Snyder matter-of-factly stated "stay dead...till Carrie", confirming that Carrie Kelly was at least on the cards in the early planning stages of the DCEU. Maybe Ben Affleck had plans to bring her into his Batman movie somehow.
Martian Manhunter
The presence of J'onn J'onzz aka Martian Manhunter in the DCEU is among the biggest bombs Zack Snyder has dropped, for the sheer fact that the character had been right under the noses of audiences in the form of General Swanwick. Played by Harry Lennix in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, Snyder revealed the General's true identity with a Swanwick's hidden Martian origins before his secret was to be revealed.
Star Sapphire
One of General Swanwick's military subordinates, Major Carrie Farris appears alongside him in Man of Steel, and again when the General has become Secretary of Defense in Batman v Superman, played by Christina Wren. The character is known in DC comics by the name of Carol Ferris and was referred to as such in her previous appearance in 2011's Green Lantern, where she was played by Blake Lively.
In the comics, Ferris eventually goes on to become a Star Sapphire, with the ability to wield the power of love and create similar energy constructs as the Green Lantern Corps. Ferris is also known as the girlfriend of the Green Lantern Hal Jordan, and her presence in Snyder's DCEU as Carrie Farris clearly alludes to her identity as Star Sapphire, along with planting the seeds for Jordan to the Justice League at some point.
Iris West
The well-known love interest of Barry Allen, Iris West is completely absent from the theatrical cut of Justice League, and little is currently known about the full extent of her original role in the Snyder Cut, in which she was played by Kiersey Clemons. However, one aspect of her appearance in Zack Snyder’s version of the film that is currently known involved a scene of Barry rescuing her from major car crash.
This scene was partially featured in the Comic-Con trailer, with Barry putting his index finger through a window in slow motion, while an unfinished version of the Justice League scene itself later leaked online.
Elinore Stone
Of the core heroes making up the Justice League, Cyborg’s story was by far the most impacted by the reshoots. Snyder had previously described Victor Stone as the “heart” of the film, and it is now known that he played an instrumental role in the League’s battle against the forces of Apokolips. Among the elements of Cyborg’s story removed from the theatrical version of Justice League was his mother Elinore Stone, played by Karen Bryson.
While the full scope of her role in the Snyder Cut can’t be determined just yet, it is known that she would have been seen cheering for son from the bleachers during Victor’s days as a football player. Additionally, the climax of Justice League would have seen the Mother Box tempting Victor with a mirage of her, Silas Stone (who had died earlier in Snyder’s version), and Victor’s restored body when Cyborg enters the Mother Boxes to prevent the Unity.
Blue Beetle
The marketing for Batman v Superman would open up Snyder's DCEU to take a deep dive into the wider DC canon in a significant way. The aforementioned chart of major corporations in the DCEU seen in Lex Luthor's mock interview with Wired wouldn't just serve to set up Green Arrow’s presence through a graphic of Queen Industries, but a number of other DC characters as well. Specifically, it would also confirm the existence of Ted Kord in the DCEU with Kord Industries being included on the chart. This would prove to be another Easter egg for a DC hero, with Kord being known in DC Comics for adopting the mantle of the tech-enhanced superhero known as the Blue Beetle.
