As Zack Snyder’s Justice League is set to release in just a few weeks, director Zack Snyder spoke to Vanity Fair regarding the films upcoming release and its 2017 counterpart. In that interview, Snyder stated that he did not see the 2017 film stating,
“How am I supposed to introduce six characters and an alien with potential for world domination in two hours? I mean, I can do it, it can be done. Clearly it was done,” Snyder told the magazine. “But I didn’t see it.”
Snyder was clashing with the studio before he departed, but it was a family tragedy that ultimately persuaded him to pass the reins to Whedon after his 20-year daughter Autumn committed suicide.
“At the end of the movie, it says ‘For Autumn,’” Snyder said. “Without her, this absolutely would not have happened.”
Whedon reportedly reshot roughly 75% of the movie. His behavior on set has led to allegations of abuse from actors like Ray Fisher, who plays Cyborg. Whedon did not respond to Vanity Fair’s request for comment, but it doesn’t sound like Warner Bros. was much happier with his version.
“When we got to see what Joss actually did, it was stupefying,” an anonymous studio executive told the magazine. “The robber on the rooftop—so goofy and awful. The Russian family—so useless and pointless. Everyone knew it. It was so awkward because nobody wanted to admit what a piece of shit it was.”
Initially, Warner Bros. asked him to release his version without the expensive touch-ups and reshoots.
“I was like, ‘That’s a no, that’s a hard no…,” Snyder said. “Here’s why. Three reasons: One, you get the internet off your back, which is probably your main reason for wanting to do this. Two, you get to feel vindicated for making things right, I guess, on some level. And then three, you get a shitty version of the movie that you can point at and go, ‘See? It’s not that good anyway. So maybe I was right.’ I was like, ‘No chance. I would rather just have the Snyder cut be a mythical unicorn for all time.’”
WarnerMedia relented, but in order to get the kind of control of the project that he failed to have on the feature film, Snyder says he is forgoing his salary.
“I’m not getting paid,” Snyder told the magazine. “I didn’t want to be beholden to anyone, and it allowed me to keep my negotiating powers with these people pretty strong.”
