It has become incredibly common for directors to place themselves in their own films over the years. Some, like Alfred Hitchcock, subtly insert themselves into the background of shots, while other directors like M. Night Shyamalan actually give themselves legitimate speaking roles. Zack Snyder is one director who has actively embraced this tradition, and it turns out that he had a very minor spot in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice as a double for Ben Affleck's hands. Cinematographer Larry Fong explained on Twitter:
Unless you somehow happen to have an intimate knowledge of Zack Snyder's hands, you probably never would've picked up on the cameo mentioned in Larry Fong's tweet. Rather than give himself an actual legitimate role in Batman V Superman, Snyder simply stepped in and used his hands for the close-up shot of Bruce Wayne's phone when The Dark Knight clones KGBeast's phone during his investigation of Lex Luthor. It's not an obvious cameo, but it's probably awesome for a self-proclaimed comic book geek like Snyder.
Just in case you need a refresher on that particular scene, check out a quick shot of Zack Snyder's rugged paws below to see for yourself:
This isn't the first time that Zack Snyder has injected himself into one of his own films. Over the course of his career he has regularly carved out minor roles in his projects in order to properly get in on the action. In 2009's Watchmen he played the role of a soldier working alongside The Comedian and Dr. Manhattan in Vietnam, and in 2004's Dawn of the Dead he played an ill-fated Special Forces soldier overrun by zombies in front of the White House. Snyder has a very specific filmmaking style, and he has become well-known personality within the blockbuster landscape over the years, so it's not surprising to learn that he regularly finds ways to bring himself into his distinct worlds.
Considering the fact that Zack Snyder has a long-running history of placing himself into his own films, we're left wondering what the future holds for his involvement in the DCEU. With Justice League slated to hit theaters later this year on November 17, it seems entirely likely that he will similarly find a minor cameo role for himself. It's already beginning to look like an incredibly crowded film, but we have a feeling that Snyder will find a place for himself no matter what.
Check out the San Diego Comic-Con trailer for Justice League on the next page for an even better look at Zack Snyder's upcoming DCEU superhero team-up!
