Sure, Justice League brings together the major players of the DC Extended Universe in an epic confrontation with Steppenwolf and his invading Parademons, but at its heart, star Ben Affleck says, the film is really about hope.

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“This is a step in evolution to bring together all of these characters who have had their origins,” the Batman actor told People, which debuted a new photo from the film (below). “It’s about multilateralism, and it’s about hope and about working together and the kind of conflicts of trying to work together with others. Part of the drama of the movie is the question of whether or not the team is going to come together. It’s very different from the tenor of the last movie and there’s also more room for humor.”

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Affleck also expressed a desire for fans to enjoy seeing the iconic heroes come together for the first time in live-action on the big screen. “Wonder Woman is very powerful, Aquaman is very badass — he’s got very strong and stubborn energy,” he said. “Flash is a lot of fun and full of life and Cyborg is just a very smart and independent person. And we have some new vehicles that are really awesome, like the Flying Fox, it’s so big that it can transport the whole League and can carry a Batmobile.”

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Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Opening Nov. 17, “Justice League” stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Raymond Fisher as Cyborg, Willem Dafoe as Vulko, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, Amber Heard as Mera and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon.