Superman: Dawn of Justice (film)

Superman: Dawn of Justice, or alternatively, Superman and Wonder Woman: Dawn of Justice, is an imaginary idea sequel to both The Man of Steel and Wonder Woman and is set in the fictional DC Cinematic Universe. It also sets up the events of The Justice League. The film also serves as the introduction for famous DC characters such as Lex Luthor and Steppenwolf. Additionally, it features the return of Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne.

Plot

 * Metropolis is still reeling from the events of The Man of Steel. A man named John Corben, who was a disgruntled employee at LexCorp, lost everything from the destruction.
 * Clark Kent is finally able to get a job as a reporter with the Daily Planet.
 * The people of Metropolis are divided on whether Superman is a protector or threat to the city. Eve Teschmacher, a high-ranking exec at LexCorp, sees him as a threat to the great economy of Metropolis and the LexCorp business that her superior, Lex Luthor, built up. LexCorp relies on worldwide turmoil to thrive, and Superman's promise of world peace could mean the demise of the corporation. Additionally, Superman's battle in Metropolis destroyed several LexCorp buildings.
 * It is revealed that a LexCorp satellite has been in communication with the conquering species from Apokolips for a few years.
 * Flashback to a scene from Wonder Woman's childhood of Queen Hippolyta telling her the prophecy of Superman.
 * Kalibak and Gilotina arrive from Apokolips to give Eve kryptonite in exchange for the coordinates of 2 of the 3 motherboxes on Earth.
 * Lex Luthor then appears for the first time in the DCCU and tells the two from Apokolips that they are in Atlantis and Themyscira, places that only he and few humans know even exist. Diana spies on the meeting.
 * Mercy Graves takes the Kryptonite and uses it to proceed with the Metallo Project. John Corben is used as the subject. He turns into Metallo after experiments are performed by LexCorp.
 * Dr. John Henry Irons, a brilliant engineer at LexCorp, learns of the Metallo project, and goes rogue by telling Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane about it.
 * Diana fights Gilotina while Kalibak attempts to retrieve the motherboxes. Gilotina is then imprisoned, but uses the Boom Tube to return to Apokolips.
 * Kalibak then tortures Eve to determine the location of the third motherbox, and learns that it is at a STAR Labs in Gotham City.
 * Kalibak arrives in Gotham City. He begins causing destruction and destroys homes. He is then attacked by Nightwing, the guardian of Gotham City after the supposed death of Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises. After saving a large group of people, Nightwing is killed by Kalibak.
 * General Swanwick notifies Superman of Kalibak's fight. Superman kills Kalibak before he is able to retrieve the third Motherbox at STAR Labs.
 * Eve Teschmacher becomes conscious about what she has done, after learning of collateral damage in Gotham City, and tries to turn off Metallo, but is then killed by Mercy Graves, who has always questioned Eve's allegiance to LexCorp. She texts Lex that the deed is done.
 * After the fight with Kalibak, Metallo attacks and severely weakens Superman. Wonder Woman saves him, and the two heroes join forces to defeat Metallo.
 * After the fight, Superman and Wonder Woman get acquainted. Batman shows up after the fight, uniting the DC Trinity, saying that a threat is coming...referring to the incoming Steppenwolf invasion. He is vengeful after the death of Nightwing.
 * In the credits scene, Gilotina tells Steppenwolf of the locations of the motherboxes.

Cast

 * Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman
 * Gal Gadot as Diana/Wonder Woman
 * Amy Adams as Lois Lane
 * Scott McNairy as John Corben/Metallo
 * Marisa Tomei as Eve Teschmacher
 * Lee Pace as Kalibak
 * Lance Reddick as General Calvin Swanwick
 * Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robin John Blake/Nightwing
 * Tao Okamoto as Mercy Graves
 * Holly Valenca as Gilotina
 * Will Poulter as Jimmy Olsen
 * Diane Lane as Martha Kent
 * Ray J as Dr. John Henry Irons
 * Laurence Fishborne as Perry White
 * Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta

Lisa Kongsli reprises her role as Menalippe from Wonder Woman. Kathy Ireland and Josh Stamberg play high-ranking LexCorp employees Kitty Kowalski and Sebastian Mallory, respectively. Domnhall Gleeson and Imogen Poots portray Daily Planet employees Steve Lombard and Cat Grant, respectively. Steve Schirripa plays GCPD officer Vincent Del Arrazio. Mayling Ng and Eleanor Matsuura return in cameos as the Amazons Orana and Epione, respectively.

Bryan Cranston has a small role as Lex Luthor, and will reprise his role in future DCCU films. Christian Bale cameos as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Ciaran Hinds plays Steppenwolf in the credits scene. Chris Pine appears as Steve Trevor in flashbacks.

Future
This movie sets up the events of The Justice League, which features Steppenwolf's invasion on Earth.

Superman's next solo movie is The Man of Tomorrow and features Lex Luthor as the main villain. Wonder Woman's next solo movie in Wonder Woman: Gods and Mortals.