Ever since the Justice League was released in 2017, fans have been clamoring for WB to release Zack Snyder's cut of the film. Now, four years later and their wish is coming true. But a question remains: What will be different from the two cuts?
Truth is, there's the chance that the quality won't change. That even though the visuals look nicer and the story is longer (and some content has been changed), it could have the same quality. Yet, there are some obvious changes that will populate the Snyder Cut for better or for worse. Who knows, maybe there will be a few surprises in store for viewers.
Runtime
In the film industry, directors always want to be sure that they are telling the story in the right amount of time. They don't want to go over and they don't want to go under. For Whedon, his Justice League was 120 minutes (2 hours long).
However, Zack Snyder's cut will be 242 minutes long (almost double the original one). Now, this could allow for Snyder to tell the story he wants to in a four-hour film. Of course, doing it as a miniseries maybe would have been better as 242 minutes is a lot for a movie.
Rating
Ratings can sometimes be the make or break for a film. Sometimes, they can lift the movie with the bloody action and the gritty appeal that R-ratings offer. Other times, the R-rating can be unnecessary for a movie, with gratuitous amounts of blood, profanity, and nudity adding nothing to the story or emotional impact that is trying to be made.
The 2017 Justice League was a PG-13 go-lucky joy ride. It didn't make any big risks and didn't warrant the R-rating that its successor sports. However, an R-rating could be good for Snyder's cut, showcasing the grit and viscera that he's known for. It could also backfire.
Visual Style
If there's anything critics can agree on, it's that Zack Snyder has an eye for visuals. His visual style in movies is nearly immaculate. From the CGI to its cinematography, it all has a distinct style that can't be found in another director.
While the first cut of Justice League lacked in a lot of departments, such as the CGI, it looks as if these problems have been resolved. Especially since Steppenwolf looks like he has had a bigger upgrade.
Darkseid
"For Darkseid." This was the brief little line Steppenwolf muttered about the name of the New God and one of the biggest adversaries the Justice League would face. When the fans heard the brief mention of one of DC's worst villains, they were led to believe he could possibly make an appearance in the sequel.
However, Snyder's cut will do more than just offer fans a brief line about Darkseid. Darkseid will be a big factor in the movie, and will be seen and heard, thanks to the vocals of actor Ray Porter. If anything, Darkseid is going to be the biggest aspect of Snyder's Cut and do justice to his animated counterparts.
Steppenwolf Upgrade
Thanks to the magic of CGI, audiences got to see Steppenwolf serve as Justice League's big bad. Yet, the CGI for him really didn't look that good. The shoddy armor, the mush-like face, everything just felt off.
Due to some much-needed upgrades, Steppenwolf will look a little better in the new cut. Aided by an R-rated sequence and given a more brutal tone, not to mention an upgraded costume, it's possible the warrior of Apokolips could get his redemption and become a better villain.
Superman Lives
When Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice came to an end with Superman's death, not a single audience member believed he was really gone. That was confirmed when he appeared in the final act of Justice League's first cut.
Of course, the return in the first cut was somewhat forced and all too quickly. With its immense runtime, Superman will no doubt get a proper return alongside the classic black suit. With luck, it will be a little better than what occurred in the original.
More Characters
Anyone recall the whole "unite the seven" promotional that Justice League and Batman v Superman were supporting for the longest time? For one reason or another, the seven were never united in the original cut but they may be forming in the newest one, alongside some other characters.
Martian Manhunter, Iris West, the Joker, Joe Manganiello's Deathstroke, Granny Goodness, DeSaad, and Ryan Choi are just a few of many characters that will pop up as new additions to the cut. From major to minor Justice League characters, the possibilities are endless.
Focus On Cyborg
Introducing as many characters as Justice League intended to do for the first time means each character needs an equal amount of focus. In the first cut, Cyborg was given very little attention, to the point where his entire origin was glossed over.
Previews for the Snyder Cut have made it appear that there will be a lot of change for Cyborg. From his possible origins to an emotional scene between him and his father, Cyborg could be the biggest winning character of the Snyder Cut.
Flash Facts
Alongside Cyborg, another character will be getting some more attention in more ways than one: Barry Allen, The Flash. Used as a more Spider-Man style character with quips and jokes, it appears as if Barry's importance will be changed and expanded upon in the newest cut.
Whether it is a brief analysis of his origins, an explanation of him talking to Bruce during BVS or the creation of some kind of time paradox, Barry Allen's focus will be larger in this cut. There's even word of a scene between him and Iris West.
Knightmare Returns
Everyone recalls the odd Knightmare sequence from Batman v Superman, where Bruce hallucinated the end of the world. Well, while that was never brought up again in the 2017 version, the 2021 edition will, bringing things full circle with the return of the Knightmare.
Featuring a post-apocalyptic Cyborg, Flash, and Batman teaming up with Joker and Deathstroke to possibly steal a mother box, the return of the Knightmare world is sure to make fans of the upcoming and long-awaited cut overfilled with joy.