Ray Fisher says his top pick to helm a solo Cyborg movie is former The Flash director Rick Famuyiwa. Warner Bros. announced a film starring Cyborg in 2014 as part of the DC Extended Universe’s original slate, which was set to expand upon characters in 2017’s Justice League. Wonder Woman and Aquaman have both made it to the big screen (with a The Flash film on the way) but Joss Whedon’s critically panned film derailed plans for sequels/spinoffs, including Cyborg's solo outing.
Most of Victor Stone AKA Cyborg’s scenes were removed or reshot in the theatrical cut of Justice League; Fisher’s character is reduced to an afterthought. Following that film’s release, Zack Snyder claimed that Cyborg was the heart of his Justice League—one of the many catalysts for the #ReleasetheSynderCut campaign (of which Fisher was a huge proponent). Now that Snyder’s four-hour Justice League has finally been released on HBO Max, it’s become widely apparent that Cyborg is its breakout character, with his origin story and overall arc being drastically improved. The film ends with Cyborg fully realized and ready to go off in his solo film. In retrospect, Snyder said he regrets not getting a Cyborg movie off the ground outside of his narrative.
Speaking with ComicBook Debate, Fisher was asked if a Cyborg movie ever comes to fruition, who he’d choose (aside from Snyder) to direct the project. “It would have to be Rick Famuyiwa,” said Fisher. As one of a few indie filmmakers signed onto the DCEU before the underperformance of 2017’s Justice League, Famuyiwa was set to direct The Flash but parted ways with the studio over creative differences. Andy Muschietti (IT) has since stepped in as the third director attached to the film.
In addition to multiple Batmen, The Flash was supposed to feature a Cyborg cameo. However, WB eventually removed Fisher from the project following the internal investigation into the Justice League reshoots and alleged abusive/toxic behavior of Whedon, Geoff Johns, and John Berg (allegations that were more or less dismissed). While Fisher expresses interest in reprising his role, he has publicly stated he will not work on any film under DC Entertainment’s president, Walter Hamada. Given how the studio has largely abandoned the SnyderVerse and views Snyder’s Justice League as the non-canonical end of his story, a Cyborg solo film feels like a non-starter.
If Warner Bros. and DC Films stands by their current trajectory, a future Cyborg standalone movie would have to pick up from 2017’s Justice League, with Silas Stone still alive and potential unexplored. With seemingly no plans to recast the role, nothing can be ruled out. However, audiences would prefer Fisher to continue playing Cyborg in the Snyderverse. On top of being the Snyder Cut’s emotional core, Fisher’s now-fractured relationship with Warner Bros. reflects how studio interference impeded Snyder’s vision. Having Fisher return outside of Cyborg’s beloved arc would arguably undercut it. That said, many viewed the Snyder Cut as an impossibility, Famuyiwa’s stock has risen exponentially since working on The Mandalorian, and the fandom has proven undeniably (and justly) influential.
Source: ComicBook Debate
