Image: Clay ENos / Warner Bros.
Because 2020 is the year of headlines we never thought we’d see, HBO Max and Warner Bros. confirmed today that not only is the “Snyder Cut” of Justice League real, you’ll be able to see it in the not-too-distant future.
Director Zack Snyder announced the news Wednesday morning during a live commentary watch party of Man of Steel.
“I want to thank HBO Max and Warner Brothers for this brave gesture of supporting artists and allowing their true visions to be realized. Also a special thank you to all of those involved in the SnyderCut movement for making this a reality,” he said in a statement.
Added Robert Greenblatt, chairman of Warner Media Entertainment: “Since I got here 14 months ago, the chant to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut has been a daily drumbeat in our offices and inboxes. Well, the fans have asked, and we are thrilled to finally deliver.”
“At the end of the day, it really is all about them and we are beyond excited to be able to release Zack’s ultimate vision for this film in 2021.”
What exact form that vision will take remains to be seen. Snyder’s version of the film was never finalized, and the original postproduction team is being reassembled to complete work on it. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the final product could take the form of a nearly four-hour movie, or be split into six installments for HBO Max.
“It will be an entirely new thing, and, especially talking to those who have seen the released movie, a new experience apart from that movie,” Snyder told the publication.
The social media campaign #ReleaseTheSnyderCut has been going on since 2017. After directing Man of Steel, released in 2013, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, released in 2016, Snyder had been hired to direct Justice League. Midway through production on Justice League, however, Snyder suffered a family tragedy and stepped down from the director’s chair, to be replaced by The Avengers director Joss Whedon.
The theatrical cut, released in November 2017, reflects both their efforts. But that version of Justice League proved unpopular with moviegoers and critics, as reflected in its disappointing box office numbers and negative reviews.
Since then, a faction of DC fans have been rallying for the studio to release Snyder’s cut of the film, with Snyder himself and his cast members joining the call at times. There have been conflicting reports over the years on how close to finished the Snyder Cut was, what remained to be done, and whether it was likely to ever be shown to the public. Still, as recently as November 2019, outlets like The Hollywood Reporter were reporting that there were no plans for a release of the fabled Snyder Cut.
But hey, at this point, lots of things that seemed totally outlandish, if not downright impossible, in November 2019, have since come to pass. All sports being canceled, for example. And all theatrical movies. Murder hornets.
Why not add the Snyder Cut of Justice League to that list?