How The Justice League Snyder Cut Fits Into the DCEU Movie Plan

Zack Snyder opened up about how his cut of Justice League fits into the DC Extended Universe. The so-called Snyder Cut of the movie, which fans have been campaigning for since the theatrical version was released back in 2017, will finally see the light of day in early 2021 on Warner Bros. streaming service HBO Max.

Snyder, who left the movie when it was in post-production due to a tragedy in his family, had his vision altered by studio executives and his successor Joss Whedon. This lead to a version of the movie being released that had removed a great deal of footage shot by Snyder, and altered what it did keep to lighten the tone of the film. As a result, many found the movie confusing and unsatisfying, leading to the campaign to see the Snyder Cut. Synder himself posted several teasers from his version on social media, and finally got a deal to release his cut of the movie next year. But many have wondered how this new version will fit into the DCEU, given the movies released in the intervening time.

Now, in a wide-ranging video interview with YouTube channel Beyond The Trailer, Snyder revealed that his cut of Justice League should be considered separate to the rest of the DCEU. Snyder says the three movies that he's directed, namely Man Of Steel, Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Justice League, can be considered part of one continuity, representing their "own path." He adds they should be regarded as separate from other upcoming DCEU releases like The Batman, The Suicide Squad, and others.

"For me, where the movie falls, it really starts to represent its own path. It’s kind of separate now from what I would say the DC cinematic universe [is] in continuity. I think it’s divergent, in that way. And I think that’s a good thing. The power of DC, and one of its cool strengths, is the sort of multiverse concept … They also put filmmaker’s first and they say, ‘We want to hear your individual voices. Take these characters and do a run. Show us what you would do.’ In the great tradition of comic book writing, and runs that have been done with all of these amazing characters. … And so, for me, I think Justice League, I’ve heard someone say, 'Oh, you’re entering the Snyderverse now.' And frankly, this notion that, what you will see in Justice League, Batman v Superman and in Man of Steel, there’s continuity across those three movies. They are really, because I made them, that’s my main focus is to satisfy that narrative structure [and] continue that story."

Justice League Zack Snyder Cut Batman Poster Cropped

It's interesting that Snyder, who says he didn't have to compromise his vision for Justice League this time around, mentions that DC is starting to look at its films like it looks at its comic book runs. This explains why there is currently a Batman movie starring Robert Pattinson in production, while Michael Keaton is in talks to return as The Caped Crusader in The Flash. It opens up the DCEU to have different versions of popular characters and allows filmmakers to tell their own stories without having to adhere to an overall storyline, the way MCU directors do.

For fans, the news is both good and bad. It means that they will see a conclusion to Snyder's narrative that began with Man Of Steel, but they will also be disappointed that the overarching story Snyder initially set up for the DCEU has been abandoned. However, the move is a smart one.

Part of the failure of the early DCEU movies, like Justice League and Suicide Squad, was because DC and Warner Bros. were attempting to recreate the success of Marvel's MCU. But now, with the acknowledgment of a multiverse, DC can tell any story it wants to, without having first to set up an overarching continuity. It means the DCEU can rival the MCU by becoming the opposite of that franchise and offering fans different visions and perspectives on their most popular characters.

More: Shared Universes Are Dead, Long Live The NEW Shared Universe

Source: Beyond The Trailer