Michael Shannon, who played General Zod in Man of Steel, expressed his lack of satisfaction with reprising the role in The Flash. When initially offered the opportunity to return as General Zod, Shannon admitted to being “a little confused.” This confusion stems from the fact that General Zod’s character met his demise when Superman snapped his neck towards the end of Man of Steel. However, in the context of multiverse movies, the return of any iteration of any character becomes plausible.
The Flash draws inspiration from the comic book story Flashpoint. In the story, Barry Allen utilizes his super speed to travel to the past and save his mother, resulting in an altered timeline. The trailers showcase a second version of Barry Allen portrayed by Ezra Miller. It also features the return of Ben Affleck as Batman, and the presence of Michael Keaton as an alternate-timeline Batman. Sasha Calle assumes the role of Supergirl, and General Zod exists without a snapped neck.
During an interview with Collider, Shannon shared his experience of reprising the role of General Zod after a decade. He candidly stated, “Yeah, I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t quite satisfying for me, as an actor.” Shannon likened multiverse movies to playing with action figures, emphasizing the spectacle of different characters battling each other. He expressed a preference for the depth of character that Zack Snyder brought to the role in Man of Steel. Shannon also expressed discontent with how the studio treated Snyder and his DC films. Before accepting the role, Shannon sought Snyder’s blessing, and despite feeling comfortable with the decision, he ultimately found the experience unsatisfying.
The Flash: General Zod’s Return Follows a Pattern
With the rise of multiverse blockbuster films such as the Spider-Verse movies, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and now The Flash, the trend of reintroducing beloved characters or featuring notable actor cameos has gained popularity. While it can be exciting for audiences to witness these returns, sometimes the depth and substance of the characters may be lacking.
Despite his personal dissatisfaction, Michael Shannon expressed enthusiasm at seeing Ezra Miller’s performance in The Flash. He acknowledged the audacious nature of Miller’s role in the film, hinting at the complexity involved. Notably, Miller’s portrayal encompasses two distinct characters, with speculation among fans suggesting that one of them may turn out to be the Dark Flash. The anticipation for The Flash’s release continues to build, offering fans the opportunity to witness the unfolding of these multiverse narratives.
The Flash will be in theaters on June 16th.