Michael Shannon reveals Zods role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

With General Zod rather definitively dispatched at the end of Man Of Steel, eyebrows were raised at the prospect of Michael Shannon making a return for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. However, the star has been explaining to Cinema Blend what his return really means, revealing that he will be back as a “ghost” of sorts.

"Yeah, I say some stuff,” says Shannon, confirming that he will be more than just an inanimate corpse. “But not a whole lot! I mean, I am dead. I’m just like a ghost. It’s kind of like Russell Crowe in the first one. Jor-El. For some reason, these Kryptonian spirits, they linger. Even once you crack my neck, you can’t shut me up.”

Presumably Shannon will only be back for a single scene given the sheer number of characters expected to be crammed into the film (Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash...). Still, it’s nice to see the connection with Man Of Steel is alive and well, with that final, Metropolis-wrecking battle set to cast a very long shadow indeed. Directed by Zack Snyder, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will open in the UK and US on March 25 2016.