Zack Snyder is very interested in having his Justice League receive a theatrical run sometime in the future. After helming DCEU installments like Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Snyder was ready to direct the very first live-action Justice League movie. Fans were largely excited to see what Snyder had in store for the film, but he was forced to leave production midway through due to a family tragedy. Joss Whedon was then brought in to complete the film, and he ended up changing much of what Snyder had planned. Thus, the fan campaign for the Snyder Cut of Justice League was born.
After several years of hard work, fans' dreams came true earlier this year when Snyder confirmed his Justice League will be released on HBO Max next year. Over the past several months, Snyder has been hard at work completing his cut, which also involve new reshoots with various cast members. Due to the epic scope of this Justice League, it will be released as a four-part miniseries. As of right now, it's being kept to HBO Max, but if Snyder has his way, it'll reach new platforms in the future.
In a new interview with Ping Pong Flix, Snyder opened up about his dreams of having Justice League debut in theaters. "I love the movies, I love the theatrical experience, I'm a huge advocate. If it's possible I would love there to be a theatrical component to Justice League," Snyder said. He continued by saying that as much as he wants it to happen, he can't quite guarantee it because he has no say over distribution matters. Snyder explained:
It's a little above my pay grade as far as distribution. The reality is the way distribution works, Warner Bros. and HBO Max they have to make deals with all these different territories and there's this super complicated process of how they sell the movie. But barring that and with any kind of luck, in places where maybe HBO Max doesn't exist or something like that, there might be an opportunity to grab some IMAX screens.
However, he concluded the topic by reaffirming his hope that it will be possible one day, perhaps once movie theaters properly get back on their feet following the coronavirus pandemic. "I've said this, it is my ideal and deep dream and hope that we will be able to screen this movie for fans in IMAX... It would be after, we would release the movie on HBO Max and then we would take those dedicated few to the big, big, big screen and just go nuts," Snyder said. In recent months, several high-profile directors have shared their support for the theatrical experience, and Snyder is just the latest to do so. Movie theaters have certainly taken a hit this year, and a major film like the Justice League Snyder Cut would surely restore crowds to the multiplexes.
As Snyder said, though, the possibility remains firmly in Warner Bros.' hands. If the studio truly believes they'll be able to make a profit off of releasing Justice League in theaters, then perhaps they can fit it in for a limited run in 2022. The real question is: How would a four-part miniseries get released in theaters? The likely option is two two-hour movies, provided each part fits together well enough to make a proper film. It would be quite the theatrical experience, and one that Justice League and Snyder fans would surely be willing to commit to just to see it on the big screen. For now, the Snyder Cut still needs to come out on HBO Max, but perhaps a theatrical debut could come afterwards.
Source: Ping Pong Flix
