
Jesse Eisenberg will star as Lex Luthor in the upcoming "Man of Steel" sequel. (Jim Lee / DC Entertainment; Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Jeremy Irons will play Alfred Pennyworth in the upcoming "Man of Steel" sequel. (Brian Bolland / DC Entertainment; Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
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Ben Affleck has been cast as Batman opposite Henry Cavill's Superman in the upcoming "Man of Steel" sequel. (Ethan Van Sciver / DC Entertainment; Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress and model Gal Gadot, best known for her work in the "Fast & Furious" film franchise, has been cast as Wonder Woman in Zack Snyder's upcoming "Man of Steel" sequel. (Alex Ross / DC Entertainment; Handout)
LinkHenry Cavill strikes a pose in a new still from “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
Released Thursday, the image sees the actor in dramatic form, staring down the camera in a rain-soaked environment that resurrects the ominous gray palette of 2013’s “Man of Steel.”
Set for release on May 6, 2016, the new film will, like its predecessor, be directed by Zack Snyder, with Cavill reprising his “Man of Steel” role as Superman. Ben Affleck takes over as Batman and Israeli actress Gal Gadot portrays Wonder Woman.
Jesse Eisenberg has been cast as Lex Luthor in the film, which will lead in to a planned “Justice League” movie that Snyder also will direct. Warner Bros. has not yet confirmed which characters will appear in the “Justice League” film.
Holly Hunter will feature in a role newly created for “Batman v. Superman.” Other notables include Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane, all reprising their roles from “Man of Steel.” (Click through the gallery above for a look at the cast of the film.)
In May, Snyder released the first image of Affleck in his Batsuit on Twitter, which featured the actor standing beside the newly redesigned Batmobile. The design of the suit seems influenced by Frank Miller’s take on the Dark Knight from the legendary graphic novels “The Dark Knight Returns” and “The Dark Knight Strikes Again” — which is fitting, as Snyder has said that Miller’s take on Batman will inform the film.

Ben Affleck as Batman poses beside the new model Batmobile that will be featured in the sequel to “Man of Steel.” (Warner Bros.)
In an interview with Hero Complex earlier this year, Snyder spoke about his excitement for the new Batsuit and the project in general.
“You know, Superman and Batman in the movies have never existed in the same frame together. So it’s an interesting historical thing,” he said. “We were just testing the suits, right? The new Batsuit and the Superman suit. It wasn’t even with the actors, right? It was just to see ‘em. I was standing there, they were standing next to each other. And I was like, ‘Guys, someone take a picture! This has never happened before.’ We slightly dork out. Like, ‘Are you kidding me?!’”
More shots might be forthcoming: Production for “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” has just kicked off in Michigan. In addition to the Detroit area, the film will also shoot in Illinois, Africa and the South Pacific.
— Gina McIntyre
Follow us on Twitter: @LATHeroComplex
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Do you know why they'll be shooting in Africa? Will they be taking the BatMobile, or the BatCopter? Supposedly, the specs for the new BatFleckMobile, include doubling as a boat, but I don't believe it. nrdfeed.com has a big huge list of all the possibilities.