Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is just the second movie in a newly formed DC Movie Universe. Nonetheless, we already have a pretty good idea as to what DC and Warner Bros are cooking. It isn't hard to understand that these two entities will always aim higher than just solo and ensemble movies.

A couple of months ago, director Zack Snyder said that the idea of Batman v Superman came while brainstorming for Man of Steel. However, this doesn't mean at all that a plan wasn't already in place, a plan which leads to the Justice League movies.

And that is why the director (because, until now, DCMU has just one) had to be careful as to how the movies will be tied to the upcoming Justice League films.

Batman v Superman connected to the Man of Steel

Most obviously, the trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice showed us how attentive Zack Snyder was when shooting next year's superhero flick. But, besides Bruce Wayne witnessing the destruction of Metropolis by the World Engine, there is the general tone of the trailer: the battle between Superman and Zod influenced the people in ways no fan previously saw in other movies.

Is Superman a hero? Or is he a villain? Is Batman coming out of retirement because the world needs him? Or is it just a personal vendetta? What role does Wonder Woman have and why didn't she come to the aid of Metropolis and its citizens?

These are all questions which can be subtracted from the trailer alone - and, hopefully, questions which will find an answer when Batman v Superman will finally be released.

On the next page, check out what Henry Cavill said about the DCMU!

Henry Cavill and the bigger picture

While promoting The Man from U.N.C.L.E., the Batman v Superman actor reiterated what we already knew, putting a twist of his own. Thus, Henry Cavill said that DC and Warner Bros aren't building towards a Justice League film. Instead, they are building away from it - the story of the Justice League is already in place.

However, it is comprised from smaller stories, smaller stories of each of the superhero. And this tells us that the big villain for the first Justice League film is already found - we just don't know who that is.

However, keeping in mind that each story builds towards this ultimate (for now) villain, we can make some assumptions"¦

On the next page, Wonder Woman fights this villain in the Batman v Superman trailer!

A hidden villain in Batman v Superman

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is about one year away from release (well, less than that - but it still feels one year away). So we can understand why some elements of the film have remained hidden. But it is all connected, as said.

In the trailer, we see Wonder Woman fighting an unknown character, in city which was already obliterated. From the start, we can say that this isn't just a flashback, like the one of Bruce Wayne running towards the crumbling building.

And we also see her using her awesome bracelets to create a huge ball of fire/electricity/whatever that was. From this alone we can say that she isn't fighting Superman - just like Batman isn't fighting the Man of Steel when that awesome The Dark Knight Returns cover is adapted in the trailer (why would Superman use his lethal eye beams on a mere mortal?)

On the next page, the identity of the villain revealed!

Kneel before Zod Doomsday!

And the trailer clears this issue right away, when we see the corpse of Zod in Lex Luthor's possession. It seems that the rumor which said that Zod will become Doomsday is real - here is another connection to the Man of Steel.

But this isn't all - you already knew that, right?

What can be added is that creating Doomsday gives Lex Luthor the means to both attract Superman in another catastrophic battle, as well as the means to kill the Man of Steel. At the same time, this also creates the situation in which the strength of Superman, the brains of Batman, and the warrior skills of Wonder Woman are needed.

To be noted, the rumor is that Wonder Woman will eventually chop one of Doomsday’s hands – and the villain will regenerate it, in the form of a blade.

So where does that leave the Justice League film? What connections can be made between Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and the future ensemble movies?

Check out the next page for the real reason why the Justice League is united!

Brainiac or just Lex Luthor?

One older rumor said that the newly formed Justice League will have to face a galactic villain. In the form of Brainiac.

In Man of Steel, Zod and the Kryptonians were attracted to Earth by the beacon activated by mistake by Superman. Apparently, the same beacon is heard by Brainiac too. The villain, attracted by the prospect of finding Kryptonian technology, will arrive on Earth.

Another possibility is to actually have Lex Luthor as the baddie who unites the Justice League. He has the money to build whatever he wants, including his awesome mech suit, as well as for attracting other villains in an Injustice League.

There is, however, another possibility - check the next page!

Flashpoint

If the TV show does it, why wouldn't this be the case for the cinematic universe? Of course, some changes will be made - but it can all work out!

Plus, it would be an welcomed change to not have Batman as the center character…