Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the 2016 superhero film that received mixed reviews but has since been championed by fans as 'underrated', is set to air on ITV2 this evening. The movie, which brings together Batman and Superman for the first time on screen, will be broadcast at 6.10pm on Sunday 18 January.
The film follows Batman, played by Ben Affleck, who views Superman (Henry Cavill) as a dangerous, god-like threat in the wake of the devastation in Metropolis. The manipulative Lex Luthor, portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg, fuels their conflict and seeks Kryptonite, eventually forcing the heroes to unite with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to battle his monstrous creation, Doomsday. The ensemble cast also includes Amy Adams and Diane Lane.
Both Affleck and Gadot underwent significant physical transformations for their roles. Affleck gained 20 pounds of muscle and trained extensively, becoming, at 43, the oldest actor to play Batman in a film at the time of release. Gadot added 17 pounds of muscle to portray Wonder Woman.
Despite its ambitious scope, the film received a Tomatometer score of just 28% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, many viewers have come to its defence online. One fan wrote: "Amazing! Underrated!!! Too complex for average viewers! The directors cut is best!" Another praised the action and cast, noting: "The extended cut was definitely better as it clarified things a little better and made things make more sense."
While some critics pointed to a miscast Lex Luthor as a weakness, others lauded the film's depth and visuals. One five-star review declared: "I think this is the best Superman and best Batman character renditions," while another described it as having "a lot more depth than most superhero movies."
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice airs on ITV2 on Sunday 18 January at 6.10pm.
