The internet has virtually exploded since Vanity Fair shared their intimate and in depth interview with Justice League’s original director, Zack Snyder. For those who have not been following, Snyder, who is acclaimed for making films such as Dawn of the Dead and 300, had to tragically step down as director of Zack Snyder’s Justice League when his 20 year old daughter, Autumn died by suicide in March of 2017.
Instead of allowing the family to grieve and have Snyder come back to finish the project at a later date, Warner Bros. brought in Joss Whedon to finish the film.
2017’s Justice League is arguably the worst DC film to date. After scrapping an estimated 90% of Snyder’s work, the deficiencies of the film can easily be attributed to Whedon. We now know that there was a great deal of drama and abuse on set and looking back, maybe the studio didn’t make the best choice.
The “Release the Snyder Cut” movement has successfully managed to bring Zack Snyder’s vision into completion and we all anxiously await the release of the 4 hour film on HBO Max on March 18, 2021.
As mentioned, the Vanity Fair interview is incredibly intimate and Zach Snyder shares his account of what happened during this time in his life. Here are some key highlights:
Autumn’s death
Snyder speaks openly and candidly about the tragic death of his daughter, the life-changing event which caused him to leave Justice League in the first place. He details how she joined their family as an infant, her love of sci-fi, and her struggles with mental illness.
Hallelujah
Snyder has been mocked for overusing the song Hallelujah in his movies and recently, the Justice League trailer, but it was his daughter’s favorite song, so he’s doing it as a tribute for her. Justice League Snyder Cut will feature a dedication to her including a rendition of the song sung by family friend Allison Crowe, the same woman who sung it at her funeral.
ALSO READ: Final ‘Justice League’ trailer reveals…
Four Hours
When Snyder left Warner Bros., he took his laptop, which was emblazoned with a Justice League sticker. On the hard drive was his original, nearly four-hour version. It was devoid of visual effects, music, and all the fine-tuning that make a movie a movie. It was also in black and white. To him, it was a memento.
Zack Snyder is a Nice Guy
In an age of hostile and abusive creatives, everyone speaks highly of Snyder, even executives that have clashed with him, as an incredibly nice guy who cares deeply about his cast and crew and tries to create great working environments for them.
It’s why he was able to rally the entire cast of the film for the Snyder cut, and why even actors like Ray Fisher, who alleges abuse by everyone involved in Justice League from DC executives to Joss Whedon, calls Snyder a true friend.
Zack Snyder Has Not Seen the 2017 Justice League
When Deborah Snyder and Christopher Nolan saw Justice League in theaters, they informed Snyder that he should never see it, as it was clear they had butchered his original idea after Whedon had been brought in. Snyder has reportedly still never seen the full theatrical cut.
Zack Snyder Disavows the Toxic Side of his Fanbase
In this interview he says he tries to focus on the fans that are doing good, such as ones who have raised tons of money for suicide prevention charities.
The interview was both heartbreaking and eye-opening. The Snyder Cut can’t possibly be any worse than the Whedon version, and if you weren’t already psyched to see this film, maybe taking a look at the man behind the movie might change your mind.
Nominate Someone You know For The Reel Black List OR Reel Women
Read the entire interview here. Zack Snyder’s Justice League premieres next month on March 18.
Joia DaVida reports on the entertainment industry in both Chicago and Los Angeles.
