Warner Bros. released the following information about the “supporting players” in the Justice League movie, which includes Jeremy Irons’ Alfred, J.K. Simmons’ Commissioner Gordon, Joe Morton’s Silas Stone, Connie Nielsen’s Hippolyta and Amber Heard’s Mera.
Info on Diane Keaton’s Ma Kent and Amy Adams’ Lois Lane is found with the Justice League Superman description.
SUPPORTING PLAYERS
Along with Lane and Adams, Jeremy Irons returns as the indispensable Alfred Pennyworth, without whom it would be hard enough to be Bruce Wayne—and near impossible to be Batman. “Wouldn’t we all want an Alfred?” Irons posits. “He’s uncomplaining, keeps the vehicles running, does a bit of cooking, is a good advisor, and a calming influence. I mean, he’s not a Super Hero, but in some small, retiring way, I think he could be regarded as a hero—with a small ‘h’ perhaps.”
Of course, one of Alfred’s primary functions has always been to look after “Master Wayne,” including questioning his actions or motivations, when necessary. Having served the rather unsociable figure for so many years, Alfred is understandably skeptical when he brings some “friends” home. “Alfred’s not sure how much of a team builder Batman is,” Irons notes. “He’s not even sure how much of a team player he is. But hopefully he’s learned from past mistakes. And Alfred is loyal to him, regardless.”
Batman’s other longtime partner in crime fighting is Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon. J.K. Simmons plays the role, and readily admits, “Being part of this world, joining the DC universe, is a real treat for an actor. And to play Jim Gordon is an honor.”
If openly working with a known vigilante is breaking the rules, Gordon has long been the kind of man who knows when the rules aren’t working so well. Simmons offers, “Vigilantism is a two-sided coin, and obviously it’s an essential element of the DC Universe. Gordon is the Police Commissioner, so supporting and even working alongside Batman—and now others—has never been exactly a politically correct move for him. But, with Gotham City falling apart at the seams, and with the new threat from Who-Knows-Where, he really needs his old ally. Gordon knows how to handle himself; he’s a pretty tough guy compared to most, but Batman (and friends) make him pretty puny by comparison. The alliance just makes sense.”
For these heroes to corral the extraordinary forces against them will be no easy task; they’ll have to draw on their individual powers—and work together to combine their many and diverse strengths—as they confront an escalating enemy to the far corners of the globe, and beyond.
It is a herculean effort for the characters, and no less so for the massive cast and crew considering the scale of the production. However, according to Affleck, the upbeat tone and cheerful camaraderie that permeated the shoot lay at the feet of Zack Snyder. “Zack has a lot of energy, enthusiasm and passion. He was 100 percent dedicated to the work every day, and he has this boyish energy where he’s just psyched to be at work, which naturally makes it feel a lot less like work.”
A number of noted actors joined the ensemble, including Joe Morton as Silas Stone, Victor’s father and the head of STAR Labs, whose groundbreaking work on alien technology may be invaluable, but is most certainly dangerous. Connie Nielsen returns as Diana’s mother, Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons and the first to warn her daughter of the gravity of the looming threat. And Amber Heard is Mera, an Atlantean who attempts to protect her world from an attack by Steppenwolf, played by Ciarán Hinds.
Zack Snyder attests, “It’s really great to have such incredible actors in every role. Because each performance is so good, it elevates each scene and makes these characters we know from the pages of comic books feel very real.”
“Justice League” has a November 17, 2017 release directed by Zack Snyder, with the story by Chris Terrio and Zack Snyder, the screenplay by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, and stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon and Willem Dafoe an Atlantean, Nuidis Vulko.
Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.
