Explaining All the New DCU Characters Introduced at Comic-Con

DC had a pretty banner Comic-Con this year, as the company’s film department released the trailers for two of its most high-profile films: Wonder Woman and Justice League. Both trailers were received very well by fans and the internet, and DC comic readers seem fairly hopeful after the bloated disappointment that was this year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

While the big named heroes have already been cast for DC’s Cinematic Universe, the Comic-Con trailers introduce new characters in the respective films, and a whole new context for others. For instance, the trailers give a good look at how some members of the Justice League will be portrayed, and what direction the company has for some of their minor characters. Let’s run through them, shall we?

In all the footage released, Wonder Woman definitely showed off more content. The upcoming film from director Patty Jenkins included scenes featuring previously announced cast members in their actual film roles. The trailer includes appearances by Connie Nielson, Robin Wright, Lucy Davis, and Danny Huston. Who do they play in the film, though?

Queen Hippolyta

Diana’s mother and queen of Themyscira, Queen Hippolyta is played by Connie Nielson (Gladiator). In the comics, she’s had a couple different origin stories, though the one that’s most striking which I hope the film adapts is where she leads the warriors of Themyscira to liberation against men. It appears from the trailer however that the film will be forgoing Diana’s origins as being made by Hippolyta from sand, to have her being made by Zeus instead. Hopefully the origin scene will be shown in the film.

Steve Trevor

Diana’s default love interest through the ages, Steve Trevor is played by Star Trek’s Chris Pine. His character is usually always introduced the same way: as an air force officer, Trevor’s plane crashes on Themyscira where he is rescued by Diana. Usually he ends up charming her and she follows him to the world of man. He originally arrived on the island in World War II in the comics, but as the film takes place during the first World War, Trevor’s timeline shifted back a little bit.

The Villains

While not revealing their roles, the trailer has two clearly ominous characters: the mysterious lady in the facial prosthetic, and Danny Huston’s military officer. While both characters names and roles are unknown at this time, there have been theories that Huston is the God of War Ares in disguise. This makes sense given that Ares is sometimes known to take human form and incite real world conflicts. If this is true, it could be safe to assume all the major threats in this film are at the hands of villainous Greek gods and goddesses.

General Antiope

One of the coolest shots in the trailer is a slow-motion sequence of Robin Wright’s General Antiope shooting two arrows at the enemy. In the comics, she is the sister to Hippolyta and Diana’s aunt. She’s clearly fighting military soldiers from the war, meaning that perhaps Themyscira will get drawn into the broader conflict of World War I at some point in the film. Either way, she’s leading the charge on the Amazonian side.

Etta Candy

Etta Candy is a character whose origins is literally that of a sickly woman who became healthy by eating sweets and candy. In the movie however, she appears to be Trevor’s British secretary, a role Wonder Woman compares to slavery. Either way, Candy has always been Diana’s woman friend outside of Themyscira, and it looks as if the two will be hitting it off as chums in the film as well.

Meanwhile, DC’s other big footage release was for none other than the upcoming Justice League film. While every cast member of the Justice League was known before hand, the teaser footage gives a good look at how their story plays out in the film.

Aquaman

Referred to by Bruce Wayne in the trailer as Arthur Curry, this is the best look fans have gotten at Jason Momoa’s role as the King of Atlantis. Apparently, he’s something of a Robin Hood character, bringing a beleaguered fishing village food and supplies during storms. He appears to be accepted by the village as evidenced by their nonchalance around him, and he seems to like booze. Either way, while Momoa didn’t speak during the trailer, he clearly has the glower of a “cool” Aquaman down.

The Flash

Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen looks to be a really different take on the character than in the comics and The CW’s The Flash television series. The trailer sees Miller coming back to his lair of sorts, only to find Bruce Wayne sitting in his second favorite chair. It’s unclear if Miller is still affiliated with the Central City Police Department, because from the looks of all the monitors in his den he looks like a hacker out of Mr. Robot. Additionally, he lacks the charisma of Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen from the TV show, opting for a more awkward sort of appeal.

Cyborg

The trailer gives us a look at Ray Fisher’s Victor Stone, both before he becomes part machine, and after. Audiences get a brief look at Stone while he’s still fully human, wearing what appears to be a DC University Letterman jacket. We know from the brief cameo he made in Batman v. Superman that at some point he will be fused with the biomechanical nanomachines designed by his father in order to keep alive from a lab accident at S.T.A.R. Labs. It’s unclear if his whole origin story will factor into the plot of the Justice League movie, or if his appearance as a wholly human football player is just from a flashback.