Genre: Action/Superhero
Director: Michael Bay
Writers: APJ, D.R. Cobb & Chad Taylor
Based on DC Comics characters
Cast: Armie Hammer, Mahershala Ali, Glenn Howerton, Taylor Kitsch, Dan Stevens, Jessica Biel, Daniel Craig, John Boyega, Jesse Plemons, Boris Kodjoe, Dichen Lachman, Sean Bean
Plot: Hank Ryder (Boris Kodjoe) lives in a dystopian future Metropolis (not sure when in the timeline). The former superhero group, the Justice League, is now a tyrannical law enforcement group that doles out harsh punishments for even the most petty of crimes. Hank is leading a protest outside against the Justice League organization outside of its headquarters, the Hall of Justice. Soldiers emerge from the building and begin firing rifles at the protestors. Hank is chased away from the scene by the soldiers. He is shot in the shoulder, but manages to evade them by hiding out in the shut-down superhero-themed museum, Hero Hall. He wanders through the building until he finds a mural of the original Justice League team: Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Blue Beetle, Plastic Man and Booster Gold. He wonders aloud how a group of heroes could stray so far from their ideals and wind up creating such a corrupt group. Answering his question is a museum drone robot, HX-90, who quotes Lord Acton by saying that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Inspired by the robot's quotation, Hank steals some equipment that is on display in the museum - a power suit and some weaponry.
Using his stolen equipment, Hank observes a Time Master on duty before executing a sneak attack and stealing a Time Sphere. Hank asks HX-90 when the best time period to go back and destroy the Justice League would be. HX-90 informs Hank of a time period not long after the group's inception. Hank asks why he would go back to that time period rather than before the group was formed. HX-90 says that the time period he suggested is free of known superpowered Kryptonians and Hank would have a likely anti-superhero ally in the form of Lex Luthor.
At the Vanishing Point, Rip Hunter (Dan Stevens) is alerted to the death of one of his Time Master colleagues. He uses his own Time Sphere to travel to Metropolis to investigate. Realizing the murder is recent, he uses his own Time Sphere to follow the other Sphere's temporal signature through the timestream, ending up in Metropolis in the year 2021. Upon taking in his surroundings, he realizes that this is around the time that his father visited. However, he decides to not tell Booster as he doubts his father would want to return to this time so soon after the death of Ted Kord.
In 2021, Hank seeks out Lex Luthor (Daniel Craig). Hank introduces himself as 'Extant' and informs Luthor of his plan to rid the planet of the superheroes that comprise that time period's Justice League. Luthor loves the idea, even if it won't include the missing Superman, and offers Extant his assistance and resources. Using information from HX-90 and DEO servers Luthor has access to, they are able to pinpoint the exact locations of the Justice League members. Luthor asks how Extant plans to kill them all. Extant says he won't have to by himself - he will send each JL member through time to the moment of their own death. Luthor admits that he's no time travel expert but suggests that plan could create some sort of time paradox. Extant says they just have to wait and find out for themselves.
Carter Hall (Taylor Kitsch) and Shiera Sanders (Jessica Biel) are working at the Midway City Museum when they are surrounded by a blinding light. The light gets brighter and brighter, completely blinding the two of them. Carter and Shiera suddenly find themselves in the middle of a vast desert. Carter notices a pyramid off in the distance and comments that he hasn't seen it in over 4000 years, but that he'd never forget it. Shiera then realizes too that they are outside of Cairo. They begin walking toward the pyramid only to find it still under construction.
J’onn (Mahershala Ali) is back in Texas, keeping a low profile until the next time he is needed for the Justice League. He is surrounded by a similar bright light as he immediately transforms to his Martian Manhunter form. He opens his eyes and feels a chill down his spine as he realizes he is on Mars. But not the ghost town Mars that he is used to, instead a bustling civilization that he grew up with. He becomes misty-eyed as realizes that he has been sent to the past and his first move is to rush to his home - hoping for a reunion with his wife and daughter. When he arrives, he enters his home to find that it is now some sort of military barracks. The soldiers occupying it ask what he is doing there and he backs away in disbelief, saying it is a mix-up. They do not like that answer and try to apprehend him. He finds himself out-numbered in combat before a large projected green hammer swoops in to take out a swath of soldiers and we find that it is John Stewart (John Boyega).
The two of them together take out the Martian soldiers. The two of them introduce themselves, with Stewart making a joke about them having the same first name. J’onn is not as amused. Stewart says that he was on patrol in this sector and saw that J’onn needed help. In their conversation, J’onn realizes that this is not the past but, instead, the near future. He suddenly hears “welcome back, brother” as Malefic (Mahershala Ali) enters with more soldiers behind him, a devilish smile on his face.
In Calumet City, Plastic Man (Glenn Howerton) is busy stopping a small-time robbery when the bright light begins to shine near him. He uses his special abilities to stretch in between Extant's legs and behind him, thus out of reach. They begin to fight as Plastic Man is able to avoid Extant's shots and escapes through a sewer grate. Extant decides he will deal with him later and leaves. Patrick travels to Queen Industries through the sewer system where he meets with Oliver Queen (Armie Hammer) about what has just occurred. He says that he does not have a good feeling about what just happened and describes the attack by the super-suited time traveler. He suggests they should check up on the others in the League to see if they are OK. Before Oliver can do this, he receives a call from Rip Hunter who informs him about the Time Master murder and how there is a Time Sphere bandit on the loose, a threat that is extremely dangerous and in need of assistance from the Justice League.
At Arkham Asylum, Claude Collins (Jesse Plemons) is given his power dampening medication then taken from his cell as he joins a line of inmates who are being transferred to a new facility. As they are on the road, their transport is attacked by a group of mercenaries, who kill all of the guards. Clayface, confined to a metal suit due to his transformative abilities, is approached by Mercy Graves (Dichen Lachman). She says that she can help free him from his suit, if he helps complete a job for her: destroy the Justice League hideout underneath Queen Industries. He does not seem interested in such a proposal until Mercy reminds him of the League's association with Booster Gold. Just the mention of Booster's name sends him into a rage.
Carter and Shiera explore the pyramid until they find themselves in the doorway of the sleeping chambers of their Ancient Egyptian counterparts, Prince Khufu and his bride Chay-Ara. As they hear approaching footsteps, they hide behind a pillar. The Egyptian High Priest Hath-Set (Sean Bean) and his personal guards barge into the sleeping chamber. Hath-Set has his guards seize the sleeping Khufu and Chay-Ara. Carter and Shiera watch as Khufu tries to fight off Hath-Set and his guards with his Nth metal dagger but is overpowered. Carter, realizing he and Shiera's ancient selves are about to be executed, charges toward Hath-Set. He is too late however, and Khufu and Chay-Ara are killed. Once again, with his dying breath, Khufu vows to get revenge on Hath-Set - in this life or the next. Hath-Set has his guards stop Carter. Hath-Set says he is surprised to see Khufu reincarnated so soon, but he will simply kill him again. Shiera grabs a sword from a shelf and attacks Hath-Set's guards, catching them by surprise. More of Hath-Set's guards arrive and surround Carter and Shiera.
Rip Hunter and Green Arrow manage to catch up with the villain and learn what his plan is and his supposed motive. They try to engage Extant, but he escapes in his time sphere. They go back to the hideout beneath Queen Industries where they find Plastic Man waiting for them, who describes the encounter he just had. Rip Hunter says that he is going to keep following Extant's time signature to try to stop him and restore everything to how it should be and suggests that Queen and O'Brian stay behind to protect the portal he's going to open up. Queen insists on coming along with Rip, entrusting Plastic Man to protect a time portal Rip has left open.
Rip Hunter and Green Arrow travel to the origin time of the villain and discover a timeline that isn't controlled by the Justice League, but instead by a tyrant who goes by the name Monarch, who they quickly realize is the same as the Extant they're fighting in 2021. Queen asks Rip what kind of future they are in. Rip says he isn’t sure as it is a newly created one, but he assures Queen that this future is not set in stone - not yet at least. On a hunch, they enter what used to be Hero Hall, only to find a shrine dedicated to Extant. Rip Hunter comments that it isn’t a good sign for the timeline.
On Mars, John and J’onn make their way to Malefic’s castle as soldiers and peasants alike crowd the street behind them. J’onn explains to his new partner that Mars was completely barren last time he was there, wondering aloud how his brother was able to build it up to this. When they all arrive in Malefic’s throne room, his brother asks his visitors to bow to him. J’onn refuses, prompting a soldier to press their weapon against his skull. He does so and Stewart follows suit, not wanting to cause any immediate trouble. Malefic explains that, while imprisoned on Earth, he discovered that one of the guards was a White Martian roaming Earth. With her help, he escaped from his cell and they returned to start anew. “Isn’t it beautiful?” he playfully asks his brother.
Malefic explains that it is good timing as he needs his brother’s help: the Martian army is preparing an attack on Earth to gather resources to help complete their new society. And he needs his help. Since J’onn is a trusted figure back on Earth, he will be the Trojan horse needed to allow for the entry of the Martian army onto an Earth military base. Stewart looks to J’onn curiously as he contemplates before asking what will happen after. Malefic says that J’onn will be happily accepted as a part of the New Mars. J’onn talks to Stewart telepathically and says to follow his lead. J’onn accepts his brother’s offer (without actually planning to honor it). Malefic smiles before ordering his soldiers to kill Stewart on the spot. J’onn momentarily freezes as he has to call an audible. The pair of heroes quickly scan the room as they assess their foes.
Two Martian soldiers stand behind John Stewart, ready to execute him. J’onn stands up and yells “wait!” before beaming light from his eyes so as to start a fire in the corner of the room. This causes the soldiers to act in a frenzy, angering Malefic who does not have this weakness. This distraction has allowed J’onn enough time to disguise himself as one of the Martian soldiers. They all stand around nervously trying to figure which of them is an imposter before J’onn tells John telepathically “now”. John uses his ring to fight off the surrounding soldiers and fly to the top of the room. J’onn, still in disguise, then begins to battle from within. An angered Malefic charges at the Green Lantern as they spill out of the castle and into the Mars sky. J’onn, meanwhile, soon finds himself vastly outnumbered as more soldiers pour in. They are able to hold him down but are unsure if Malefic wants him dead or alive. Malefic gains the upper-hand on Stewart and gives his instruction to the soldiers on the ground: dead. However, with this slight distraction, J’onn is able to shift into growing additional limbs which he uses to even the odds and take out his enemies. He flies out to help John.
Malefic sees his brother encroaching and they begin to fly at each other at full speed. Neither change their form at that moment, seemingly deciding they will decide this based on a pure test of strength and wills. Malefic wins this battle, causing J’onn to crash to the ground hurt. Malefic scans for the Green Lantern but doesn’t see him so he goes down to finish off his brother once and for all. As he approaches, he tells J’onn he gave him a chance and asks how he would like to die before realizing he can’t answer him. “Hmmm....how about fire?” he says. He prepares to shoot heat rays from his eyes but this is blocked by a green shield formed by John’s ring. He then yanks the shield back towards Malefic, knocking him off of his feet. This gives J’onn time to regain his senses and help his partner out. John uses the ring to tie Malefic to the ground, who is resistant. J’onn kneels by his brother’s side and thinks intensely. We travel through his mind and into his brother’s as J’onn tries to break through, the both of them letting out a primal scream in the process. He finally gains access and is able to successfully reset his brother’s mind. When Malefic awakens, he can barely form words and does not know where or who he is. John Stewart falls to the ground in exhaustion as J’onn thanks him for a job well done.
Facing execution by the guards, Carter challenges Hath-Set to a duel. Shiera is not a fan of the idea, but Carter simply tells her to trust him. Hath-Set agrees to the idea and asks Carter what his weapon of choice is. Carter says he would like to use the dagger. Hath-Set laughs and allows it. Hath-Set is handed a large sword by one of his guards as Carter is handed the dagger by another. Dagger in hand, Carter jumps up and finds the Nth metal in the dagger is allowing him to fly. Carter swoops down, knocking out the guards restraining Shiera. Hath-Set quickly grabs Shiera and holds his sword to her neck. He tells Carter to stand down and drop the sorcery-possessed dagger or he will kill his lover this very second. Carter lands on the ground and drops the dagger. Hath-Set calls Carter foolish and stabs Shiera with his sword. Carter, enraged, throws the dagger across the room straight into Hath-Set's heart. Carter rushes over to Shiera's side. Sensing she is dying, she tells him that she will find him in another life.
Plastic Man has his feet up reading the newspaper in the Queen Industries hideout when the room begins to shake. He is suddenly alert as brown clay begins pouring in from every crack. All of the clay forms in the middle of the room as Claude Collins. Plastic Man looks really hard at him for a moment, before commenting that he recognizes him from somewhere - a movie perhaps. The mention of his former movie career angers Collins, who turns into a giant clay beast. Plastic Man asks if he can finish the newspaper before they fight, but Clayface punches Plastic Man across the room. Plastic Man bounces off the wall and back at Clayface. Plastic Man quickly realizes that punches and grabs have no effect on Clayface. With neither fighter able to injure the other, Plastic Man completely surrounds Clayface and bounces him out of the building. Plastic Man, as a large ball containing Clayface, rolls and bounces down the streets of Star City toward the Pacific Ocean. Clayface punches, kicks and screams, trying to get out of the ball Plastic Man has made around him. Plastic Man floats out into the open sea, finally letting Clayface go - who then starts dissolving into the water.
From his Time Sphere, Extant communicates with Luthor and lets him know that their mission was mostly a success. Most of the Justice League have been sent to their deaths but there are a few stragglers still out there that he plans to take care of. He thanks Lex for his assistance as he literally saved the world. Lex pats himself on the back. After the call, Lex calls Mercy into his office and reveals that, now that the Justice League are out of the way, his true intention of taking out Extant to take his equipment.
Green Arrow and Rip Hunter follow Extant’s time signature to LexCorp Tower in Metropolis. They infiltrate the building until they bust into Lex’s office where they find him and Mercy Graves in a passionate embrace. Green Arrow demands to know what Lex is up to. Lex boasts that it is too late and the Justice League will be no more. Lex’s braggadocio continues, outlining how each Justice League member was sent to their deaths against their greatest foes. Green Arrow tells Rip Hunter that he’s pretty sure where they can find their friends.
Green Arrow and Rip Hunter then travel to ancient Egypt to collect Carter Hall, who is angered and dismayed at the loss of the love his lives. They all then go to Mars to bring Martian Manhunter back with them. John Stewart asks to tag along as he hasn’t been to Earth in what feels like ages. Green Arrow looks at Stewart’s green attire and jokes that their crime-fighting costumes match a bit too well. They all then return to the Queen Industries base where they find the place trashed from Plastic Man’s fight with Clayface. Plastic Man then comes out of the bathroom with toilet paper stuck to his foot, surprised to see the rest of the gang.
Rip Hunter announces that he has a plan - they all need to travel to his future and defeat Extant or Monarch or whatever he’s calling himself these dates in order to save the future from his tyrannical rule. Plastic Man tries to argue that what happens in the future doesn’t really concern them in the present, but everyone else overrules him. Plastic Man shrugs as he joins the others in the Time Sphere.
The Justice League and company arrive in the Monarch-ruled future. Rip Hunter leads them through the future Metropolis toward Hero Hall. As they walk, Plastic Man notices a Sports Almanac in a store front. He stretches through a doorway to steal the book and tucks it into his body, commenting that if it worked for Biff it should work for him. When they arrive at Hero Hall, Rip Hunter explains to the others that the museum used to be a shrine for the Justice League, but Extant has corrupted the timeline and it has thus become a shrine for himself - complete with a mural of Extant standing over the defeated bodies of the Justice League.
Extant has been warned of the team’s arrival by Lex and is waiting for them inside Hero Hall along with dozens of armed soldiers. He immediately orders his men to open fire on the intruders. Plastic Man stretches himself out to block the bullets, sending them firing back toward the firing squad, taking several out. Hawkman takes flight, knocking out several soldiers with his mace. Rip Hunter notices that the mural on the wall is starting to fade away.
Suddenly, John Stewart and Rip are surprised when HX-90 grows retractable robotic arms to attack them. John creates a green fist with his ring that punches it in the direction of Rip, who tries to punch it with his human fist but hurts himself more than the robot. John repeatedly smashes the robot against the ground as Rip provides commentary from the side, saying HX-90 is no Skeets. Meanwhile, Green Arrow, Plastic Man and Hawkman have managed to defeat all of Extant’s soldiers.
With his robot and all of his soldiers incapacitates, Extant charges at the Justice League. Plastic Man wraps his body around Extant to restrain him. Rip Hunter calmly walks over to him and punches him in the face, knocking Extant out cold. He comments that humans are much easier to punch than robots. Rip Hunter then looks over at the wall mural, finding that the Justice League mural is back - with one addition. He notices the image of himself and John Stewart alongside Green Arrow, Hawkman, Plastic Man, Hawkgirl, Blue Beetle, Martian Manhunter and his father Booster Gold. They walk outside and Rip confirms that the future appears to be back to normal.
Rip Hunter then creates a portal back to the present for his fellow heroes. Oliver Queen is the last to leave, and Rip asks him to tell his father Booster Gold his regards. Queen shakes Rip’s hand and nods before leaving through the portal. Rip begins walking away toward his Time Sphere when he notices a blimp flying through the sky with Plastic Man’s face on it. Rip rolls his eyes as he walks into heart of a futuristic Metropolis.
John Stewart leaves Earth, flying back into space toward the Green Lantern Corps base on the planet Oa. Patrick O'Brian flips through his sports almanac and places a bet with a bookie at a seedy Calumet City bar. Rip Hunter then arrives and swipes the book out of Plastic Man's hands before hopping back into his Time Sphere. Oliver Queen cleans up the mess in his hideout, mopping up bits of clay. Carter Hall walks down the street in Midway City where his eyes catch the eyes of a reincarnated Shiera. Their eyes meet, although she does not seem to recognize him. She keeps walking down the street. Carter hesitates before deciding to follow her.
After-Credits: A meteor burns through the sky as it hurls towards Earth. Upon impact, the camera moves closer to reveal the meteor as some sort of remnant of a destroyed planet. In the far distance, a lone neanderthal looks down upon the rubble as '50,000 YEARS AGO' appears on the screen.
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