With the brand-new DC Universe launching soon, it is evident that Zack Snyder’s DCEU is coming to an end. The major revamp will consist of rebooting the entire DC franchise and replacing actors, although some well-loved stars are expected to return.
Michael Shannon, who played General Zod in 2013’s Man of Steel, is reprising his role in the upcoming The Flash movie. Although his character is part of the Snyderverse, the actor will be making his biggest comeback in the world of superhero movies.
Michael Shannon Reveals Asking For Zack Snyder’s Blessing Before Joining The Flash
In an interview with The Playlist, Michael Shannon confessed he was hesitant to join the new DC Universe because of Zack Snyder:
“I was hesitant [to come back] because I wasn’t really happy about what happened to Zack Snyder in that whole deal… And I really love Zack. The fact that Zack asked me to play that part to begin with – that’s probably the biggest surprise of my career. It almost felt like a practical joke. I was like, ‘You’re kidding me, right?’”
The 48-year-old actor shared he was asked to join The Flash by director Andy Muschietti, but only after he spoke with Snyder and received his blessing did he agree to star in the film:
“I talked to Andy [Muschietti] about it, and I liked Andy, and I said, ‘Andy, look – I just want to get Zack’s blessing on this because it just doesn’t feel right without that.’ And Zack, to his credit, was very understanding. He gave me his blessing, and I went to do it.”
Shannon discussed a bit about his character and noted that it would not be as significant as it was in Man of Steel:
“It’s just really different – these kind of multiverse situations… The story is a lot more all over the place, you know? And I feel like I mainly exist in ‘The Flash’ as, like, an obstacle or a problem. Whereas, in ‘Man of Steel,’ it was more of a story. Like, ‘The Flash’ is definitely about The Flash – as it should be. So, it’s not as in-depth.”
Working with Muschietti was a lot of fun for the actor and he even praised the director for his creativity.
Will General Zod Have A Major Role In The Flash?
There was a mystery surrounding General Zod’s return in The Flash given that he perished in the old DCEU. Shannon once expressed confusion about how his character would be resurrected back to life, until DC revealed that the plot would feature the multiverse.
With the power of alternate realities, fans will find a slight difference in the character. Shannon revealed before that it felt different and, at the same time, familiar getting back into Zod’s skin. Since The Flash isn’t necessarily his narrative, portraying an old character set in a multiverse without digging deep into its psyche is something that the actor found challenging.
Meanwhile, fans have witnessed the first look at Michael Shannon’s comeback as General Zod in the official trailer for The Flash, which also featured Sasha Calle as Supergirl and Michael Keaton as Batman.
The Flash will arrive in theaters on June 16, 2023.
Source: The Playlist
