Zack Snyder’s Justice League will be released on HBO Max in 2021 as a four-part mini-series with each part being an hour long
Ever since Warner Bros and Zack Snyder confirmed their plans (in May 2020) of releasing Snyder’s cut of the 2017 superhero movie Justice League – renaming it Zack Snyder’s Justice League – fans have barely been able to control their excitement about the director returning to re-release what was originally his vision of the film. But while initially it was being assumed that the changes would mostly only be in the editing of the 2017 movie to then be released on HBO Max in 2021 as a four-part mini-series with each part being an hour long, it has now assumed massive proportions. Not only is the film being re-edited, but parts of it are being reshot, the shooting for which will commence in October.
While this undoubtedly shoots up the budgets manifold, what’s more interesting is the buzz it has been creating about how the director’s cut – that is expected to be darker and more intense than the Joss Whedon release – will lend itself for the sequel Justice League 2!
It may be recalled that Joss Whedon had taken over Justice League only in the post-production phase after Snyder stepped down in May 2017, following a personal tragedy. Under Whedon, the film underwent two months of reshoots. As a result, not only did the budget overshoot by $25 milion, several of the cast were unhappy with it too. Fans too were said to be disappointed with Whedon’s treatment of the film upon its release and were hoping the Studios would release Snyder’s original vision and shoot of the film too.
The fans reasoned that if Snyder had enough of his original material, then the studio bosses could release it as a completely new film. The fans then campaigned demanding a ‘Snyder Cut’. Much to the delight of the fans, Snyder confirmed in March 2019 that his original cut does exist, but it would depend on Warner Bros. to release it. Following much speculation, in May 2020 ‘Snyder’s Cut’ was finally announced to be made as a mini-series. At the time, it was understood that the director would use his own unused filmed material, with enhanced new special effects, as the director was keen on not using anything shot by Whedon!
Now, while a segment of fans believe that the makers pumping in huge amounts to reshoot parts of a three-year-old movie indicate a bigger plan, a segment also believes that with Snyder back in the director’s seat, they may be able to win back fans who were not as thrilled about Joss Whedon’s Justice League. But either ways, all theories are pointing to the fact that the makers already have a sequel in mind and Zack Snyder’s Justice League will lead on to a bigger role in the cinematic DC Extended Universe (DCEU) than Joss Whedon’s movie.
Check out teaser of Zack Snyder’s Justice League: https://youtu.be/z6512XKKNkU
Meanwhile, as the makers prep up to start filming the additional parts in October, the re-shoot will have some of the main stars Ben Affleck (Batman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Henry Cavill (Superman), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Jason Momoa (Aquaman) amongst others, don their superhero suits once again. The first look and the teaser of Zack Snyder’s Justice League were revealed in the mega virtual event DC Fandome in August. The looks differ though the differences aren’t over-pronounced, but they revealed a slightly different Darkseid and Steppenwolf too.