The Kevin Costner Cameo You Likely Missed In Zack Snyder's Justice League
2013 saw the triumphant return of Superman to the cinema, accompanied by the debut of the DC Extended Universe. Titled "Man of Steel," director Zach Snyder's franchise-launching reboot boldly charted its own course, boasting a cast of newcomers to the DC universe. First and foremost stood Henry Cavill in the lead role, accompanied by Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod, and Russell Crowe as Jor-El. Additionally, Diane Lane and Kevin Costner featured as Martha and Jonathan Kent, who adopted and raised Kal-El at their home in Smallville, Kansas.
As the DCEU continued on, Martha Kent lived to see the events of "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Justice League." However, the same doesn't apply to Jon, who met his end in a "Man of Steel" flashback scene. In the midst of a drive, the Kents get caught up in a tornado, prompting Martha and Clark to get out of their car and seek shelter elsewhere. Jon, on the other hand, stayed behind to help others and rescue their dog, Hank. His desire to help out ultimately led to his death, which Clark could've prevented had his father not requested he keep his powers a secret.
Throughout the DCEU, Kevin Costner's Jonathan Kent has reemerged via flashbacks and visions that weren't hard to notice. Conversely, his incredibly minor cameo in Zack Snyder's cut of "Justice League" likely slipped right past you upon first viewing.
Costner's likeness and voice pop up in Justice League
For much of "Justice League," Superman is entirely absent. He sacrificed himself in "Batman v. Superman" to defeat a rampaging Doomsday, costing Earth its best defender against threats of all kinds. This becomes especially clear once Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) invades on behalf of Darkseid (Ray Porter), prompting the likes of Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to try and resurrect the Last Son of Krypton so he can help them. With the aid of a Motherbox, they're successful, though the Man of Steel is dazed and confused, leading him to rediscover who he is.
On his quest to regain control over his mind, Superman boards the crashed Kryptonian ship, where he hears both Jor-El and Jon Kent speaking to him. The latter's pep talk reminds the hero that he came to Earth for a reason, and it's time for him to decide what kind of legacy he wants to leave behind — one of secrecy and mystery or one of openness and heroism. Jon then urges him to show the world who he is and tells him that it's time to fly. These voice-over lines, accompanied by the photograph of Jon seen during Superman's revival, amount to Kevin Costner's entire "Justice League" presence.
He didn't have much to do in Zack Snyder's superhero epic, but Jonathan Kent's impact on the story is important nonetheless. He helped his son get his bearings, reminded him of his monumental power, and played a hand in giving the world Superman again.