Why Scoot McNairy Almost Certainly Won't Be In The DC Universe For Long

While time has led to the reveals of certain characters in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - such as Holly Hunter as Senator Finch – one mystery that has persisted is the part in the movie that will be played by actor Scoot McNairy. The Argo has been confirmed as part of the cast, and he was even spotted on set in costume, but his role has been kept confidential. Fans have wondered if this secrecy could mean that the actor is being set up for a bigger role in the growing DC Cinematic Universe – but going by what he recently told me in an interview, you may not want to bet on that.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Scoot McNairy earlier this month at a Los Angeles press event for the new film Our Brand Is Crisis, and it was after our conversation turned to his role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice that he began to drop hints that the film may just have him featured in a one-shot capacity. I asked if the identity of his character was being kept as a surprise for the film’s theatrical release, and while he couldn’t give too many details away, he did tell me that he has an important role to play within the context of the plot of Zack Snyder’s film. Said McNairy,

I don’t know if I’d call it necessarily a surprise. I would say it’s a character that lends itself to the story being told.

I followed up by asking if he signed a multi-picture deal for the role – to which he responded simply, "No" – but he then explained why he wanted to be involved with the project (and it’s not just because it was a chance to reunite with Ben Affleck and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Chris Terrio after the massive success of their last collaboration). McNairy explained,

The character was a huge thing. Chris Terrio was a huge thing. Ben was a huge thing. Zack Snyder, the whole thing. I got really lucky, really, really lucky to be a part of that project and the role itself was like, this is definitely something I’ve never played before, and a hurdle just trying to get through.

Of course, these quotes still leave us asking one very important question: who is Scoot McNairy playing in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. For now, hit the comments section with your own personal theories, but also stay tuned over the course of the week for both more speculation and more from my interview with the actor!

Eric Eisenberg
Assistant Managing Editor

NJ native who calls LA home and lives in a Dreamatorium. A decade-plus CinemaBlend veteran who is endlessly enthusiastic about the career he’s dreamt of since seventh grade.