Zack Snyder’s tenure in the DCEU was tumultuous, marked by numerous creative differences and behind-the-scenes issues with the studio. Snyder’s initial vision for the cinematic universe was darker and more serious in tone than what the studio had in mind, leading to clashes over creative control.
These disputes resulted in significant changes to Snyder’s original plans, including altering Justice League‘s tone and storyline, which was partially reshot and re-edited by Joss Whedon. Ultimately, Snyder departed from the DCEU, citing personal reasons, but his legacy and impact on the franchise continue to be felt. Zack Snyder has now taken a subtle dig at Justice League producer Geoff Johns regarding the handling of Warner Bros.’ DC Extended Universe.
What Did Zack Snyder Say About DCEU
At a Q&A session during a charity event, Zack Snyder discussed his previous roles as the creative driving force behind the DCEU and the 2009 adaptation of Watchmen. When asked whether he would have considered adapting Geoff Johns’ Doomsday Clock crossover event as a film, Snyder responded without hesitation, stating that he would “probably not” pursue such a project.
Penned by Geoff Johns, with artwork by Gary Frank and Brad Anderson, Doomsday Clock is a limited series that DC Comics published between 2017 and 2019. As a direct follow-up to Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins’ Watchmen miniseries, Doomsday Clock served as a bridge between the characters of Watchmen and the DC Universe while also providing a resolution to the narrative established by The New 52 and DC Rebirth.
After the mixed reception to Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016, Warner Bros. appointed Geoff Johns and former DC Entertainment executive Jon Berg to oversee the studio’s DC film division. Johns was responsible for rewriting Snyder’s Justice League script, resulting in a lighter tone for the film than its predecessor. This creative direction caused disagreements between Johns, Snyder, co-writer Chris Terrio, and the studio.
Did Zack Snyder Threaten DCEU Producer’s Career
Despite Justice League’s critical and commercial disappointment, Warner Bros. announced the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League for HBO Max in 2020. Snyder requested that both Johns and Berg’s names be removed from his version of the film, but he denied reports suggesting that he threatened their careers if their names were not removed.
According to Snyder, he has never made any negative comments about the producers on social media or in interviews. He further explained that he wanted to remove their names from his version of Justice League because it did not align with the movie they supported, developed, or helped make.
The director has moved on from all that now. According to co-writer Shay Hatten, Zack Snyder’s latest work for Netflix, a space epic called Rebel Moon, has been completed.
“I think with Rebel Moon, people will just see that it’s him really getting to unleash his visual imagination to the fullest extent. And I think people will really dig it,” Hatten said.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is available for streaming on HBO Max.
Source: CBR
