Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 would have revealed how Joker killed Robin. When Ben Affleck's Batman was introduced in Batman v Superman, it was clear he had been through a lot. Affleck's take on Bruce Wayne saw a jaded and battered Batman staring down his last years as Gotham's Dark Knight while reflecting on the tumultuous years behind him. Of course, we know now Batman was once again swept up into a global conflict that saw him bring together a team of metahumans to stop Steppenwolf's takeover of the world.
When audiences first met Affleck's Bruce Wayne, he is no longer living in Wayne Manor and we get a brief glimpsed of the burned-out shell of his former home. It's revealed that Bruce keeps Robin's old suit on display in his high-tech Batcave. Painted on the costume, in yellow, are the words, "Ha ha ha, Joke's on you Batman," a clear nod to Joker's involvement in whatever happened to Robin.
Snyder revealed to Vanity Fair that he had plans to flesh out this history between Joker and Batman. His Justice League 2 would have explored the death of Robin and the long-standing relationship between Joker and Batman. Snyder cites Robin's death as the single most traumatic event to happen to Bruce, besides his parents' death, and the director was interested in exploring this complicated dynamic in the sequel. Snyder says he also would have revealed how Joker burned down Wayne Manor in flashbacks.
I'd always wanted to explore the death of Robin. And if there ever was going to be a next movie, which, of course, there probably won't be, I wanted to do a thing where in flashbacks we learn how Robin died, how Joker killed him and burned down Wayne Manor, and that whole thing that happened between he and Bruce. [My plan was to show] how they became like this ... how he hurt him in a way that no one has, really. Other than losing his parents, it was probably the most significant personal injury to his life.
It's been clear from the beginning that Snyder had a grand vision for the DCEU. Unfortunately, DC Film executives had different plans, and those came to fruition after Snyder departed from Justice League in 2017. One of the most appealing things about Snyder's vision, besides his evident admiration of the source material, is the rich details he's included in his films that allude to a larger story being told. Some of those stories will be revealed when his cut of Justice League is released on HBO Max in March, but many will be left on the cutting room floor.
With Affleck no longer playing Batman and Robert Pattinson set to take on the role in an unconnected film, audiences may never get the answers they were hoping for. #RestoreTheSnyderVerse became a movement in and of itself. Still, with Snyder himself having no plans to continue in the DCEU, much of what he had in store for the franchise can be disregarded at the whim of executives who are not nearly as invested as fans or even Snyder himself. While we might get a Justice League 2 someday, it's clear that, like the 2017 version of Justice League, it will leave a lot to be desired.
Source: Vanity Fair
