<P> The Olympian Old Gods Zeus, Ares and Artemis are portrayed by fitness model Sergi Constance, stuntman Nick McKinless, and MMA fighter Aurore Lauzeral, respectively . All three were required to reach a specific degree of physicality, with Snyder instructing McKinless to sport "veins like worms and paper thin skin". In the finished film, McKinless' face was replaced with David Thewlis's face, and Thewlis received credit as Ares . Robin Wright reprises her role as Antiope during a flashback sequence . Julian Lewis Jones appears as King Atlan, the ancient king of Atlantis, while Amber Heard portrays the Atlantean Mera . Joe Morton reprises his role as Silas Stone, Victor Stone's father and a scientist at S.T.A.R. Labs, while Billy Crudup appears as Henry Allen, Barry Allen's father . Joe Manganiello and Jesse Eisenberg appear uncredited in a post-credits scene as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke and Lex Luthor, respectively . Michael McElhatton appears as a bank robber who clashes with Wonder Woman early in the film, while Holt McCallany makes an uncredited appearance as a burglar . Marc McClure, who portrayed Jimmy Olsen in the Christopher Reeve Superman film series, has a cameo as a police officer . Two unidentified Green Lanterns appear at the beginning of the film, created by use of CGI and embodied by uncredited actors . Willem Dafoe and Kiersey Clemons filmed scenes as Nuidis Vulko and Iris West, respectively, although their roles were cut from the final film . Both actors are signed for multiple films and will appear in future installments of the franchise, Aquaman and Flashpoint, respectively . Early in production, a scene depicting Green Lanterns Kilowog and Tomar - Re visiting Batman was filmed as another post-credits scene, further teasing Green Lantern Corps . The scene was later scrapped . </P> <P> In February 2007, it was announced that Warner Bros. had hired husband and wife duo Michele and Kieran Mulroney to write a script for a Justice League film . The news came around the same time that Joss Whedon's long - developed Wonder Woman film was cancelled, as well as The Flash, written and directed by David S. Goyer . Reportedly titled Justice League: Mortal, Michele and Kiernan Mulroney submitted their script to Warner Bros. in June 2007, receiving positive feedback, which prompted the studio to immediately fast track production in the hope of beginning filming before the 2007--08 Writers Guild of America strike . Warner Bros. was less willing to proceed with development of a sequel to Superman Returns, having been disappointed with its box office . Brandon Routh was not approached to reprise the role of Superman in Justice League: Mortal, nor was Christian Bale from Batman Begins . Warner Bros. intended for Justice League: Mortal to be the start of a new film franchise, and to branch out into separate sequels and spin - offs . Shortly after filming The Dark Knight, Bale stated in an interview that "It'd be better if it doesn't tread on the toes of what our Batman series is doing," and felt it would make more sense for Warner Bros. to release the film after The Dark Knight Rises . Jason Reitman was the original choice to direct Justice League, but he turned it down, as he considers himself an independent filmmaker and prefers to stay out of big budget superhero films . George Miller signed to direct in September 2007, with Barrie Osbourne producing on a projected $220 million budget . </P> <P> The following month, roughly 40 actors and actresses auditioned for the ensemble superhero roles, among them Joseph Cross, Michael Angarano, Max Thieriot, Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki and Scott Porter . Miller had intended to cast younger actors, as he wanted them to "grow" into their roles over the course of several films . D.J. Cotrona was cast as Superman, along with Armie Hammer as Batman . Jessica Biel reportedly declined to play Wonder Woman role after negotiations . The character was also linked to actresses Teresa Palmer and Shannyn Sossamon, along with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who confirmed that she had auditioned . Ultimately, Megan Gale was cast as Wonder Woman, while Palmer was cast as Talia al Ghul, whom Miller had in mind to act with a Russian accent . The script for Justice League: Mortal would have featured John Stewart as Green Lantern, a role originally offered to Columbus Short . Hip hop recording artist and rapper Common was cast, with Adam Brody as Barry Allen / Flash, and Jay Baruchel as the lead villain, Maxwell Lord . Longtime Miller collaborator Hugh Keays - Byrne had been cast in an unnamed role, rumored to be Martian Manhunter . Aquaman had yet to be cast . Marit Allen was hired as the original costume designer before her untimely death in November 2007, and the responsibilities were assumed by Weta Workshop . </P> <P> However, the writers strike began that same month and placed the film on hold . Warner Bros. had to let the options lapse for the cast, but development was fast tracked once more in February 2008 when the strike ended . Warner Bros. and Miller wanted to start filming immediately, but production was pushed back three months . Originally, the majority of Justice League: Mortal was to be shot at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney, with other locations scouted nearby at local colleges, and Sydney Heads doubling for Happy Harbor . The Australian Film Commission had a say with casting choices, giving way for George Miller to cast Gale, Palmer and Keays - Bryne, all Australian natives . The production crew was composed entirely of Australians, but the Australian government denied Warner Bros. a 40 percent tax rebate as they felt they had not hired enough Australian actors . Miller was frustrated, stating that "A once - in - a-lifetime opportunity for the Australian film industry is being frittered away because of very lazy thinking . They're throwing away hundreds of millions of dollars of investment that the rest of the world is competing for and, much more significantly, highly skilled creative jobs ." Production offices were then moved to Vancouver Film Studios in Canada . Filming was pushed back to July 2008, while Warner Bros was still confident they could produce the film for a summer 2009 release . </P>

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