Superman is dead.
As those who saw Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice know, Superman was killed in battle. Wonder Woman and Batman attended his funeral and watched as dirt was shoveled onto his coffin.
In Justice League, both heroes have come to know Superman and the city he swore to protect, and they’re trying to figure out how to cope without him. This is a dark time, as Wonder Woman and Batman point out in the trailer, and it’s evident they’re missing an integral member of the team.
According to an off-handed quote from Gal Gadot, the actress who plays Wonder Woman, it won’t be a dark time for too long. Asked by a fan if Superman was really dead, Gadot discreetly said he would have something to look forward to in Justice League.
“If you're a big fan of Superman, I'm sure you’ll be happy to watch Justice League,” Gadot said.
The trailer for Justice League ends with Batman’s erstwhile butler, Alfred, talking to an unseen figure. In the scene, Alfred speaks of rumors of that they would return to help the Justice League fight, and adds that he hopes it isn’t too late. The consensus seems to be that the figure off camera is Superman, but it’s hard to tell for sure.
There are also rumors, based on a new poster Warner Bros. released, that Green Lantern would make an appearance in Justice League. The way Alfred says, “they said you’d come,” seems to suggest it could be someone we haven’t seen in the new DCU yet — someone like Green Lantern.
Still, we are fairly certain that Superman will return. Actor Henry Cavill has teased a black Superman costume, which we can only assume will be used in Justice League. Considering how much attention the trailer pays to the seemingly dead character, it’s unlikely that Superman won’t be incorporated in some fashion.
Justice League will be released on Nov. 17.