Justice League: HBO Max Head Defends Snyder Cut Decision

HBO Max boss Tony Goncalves defends their decision to release Justice League Snyder Cut on the platform. After more than two years, the Release the Snyder Cut movement finally got what they were campaigning for - Zack Snyder's original version of the 2017 ensemble DC movie is confirmed to roll out next year via the latest streaming service. However, not everyone is thrilled about this development, with pushback coming from those who argue that this sets a bad precedent for fandoms when it comes to demanding something from studios.

For context, Snyder was tapped to direct Justice League in 2015, but the divisive response to Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice forced him to make some changes to his original darker narrative. He went on to shoot the movie, finishing its principal photography, but a personal tragedy forced him to step away from the project. This paved the way for Joss Whedon to step in, man extensive reshoots, and assemble the final cut which substantially changed Snyder's intended narrative. Fans didn't miss this resulting in the Release of the Snyder Cut movement. Warner Bros. was mum about the matter until Snyder himself announced that his cut is officially coming through HBO Max.

With HBO Max now out, The Verge talks to AT&T’s Otter Media division CEO Goncalves about the latest player in the streaming wars. Of course, the subject of the Snyder Cut is discussed, with the outlet raising concerns about how giving in to the Release the Snyder Cut movement sets a dangerous precedent when it comes to demanding things from studios, evidenced by the growing calls for David Ayer's cut of Suicide Squad to be released after Snyder's Justice League. Goncalves defends their decision by pointing out how it's important for them to listen to their consumers.

Look, definitely not a precedent.

And you’re right. There’s different types of fandoms. There’s the fandom you just described, and there’s other fandoms. My reference to the fandoms is the fact that we’re in a space where consumers are loud. Consumers guide, and we absolutely have to listen as industry. I had a boss that once said, “Industry and consumers aren’t always aligned, but consumers do tend to win.” It’s a fine balance. And I think when it comes to video, when it comes to entertainment, when it comes to content, consumers have never had more choice, and they’ve never had more of a voice. But that doesn’t mean that we will go and invest our dollars in every single fandom that exists.

But I think the reference to the Snyder Cut and the Friends fandom is the fact that consumers are speaking, and we have to listen. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to go redo every movie ever made. But I think that we definitely have to have our ear to the ground. And I think we do.

I just go back to look at the buzz that the Harry Potter library brought us yesterday. It was a wonderful surprise and delight. It’s because consumers are passionate about these franchises.

Zack Snyders Justice League Official HBO Max

From a business perspective, it does make sense for HBO Max to capitalize on the clamor for Snyder's Justice League, especially considering the current status of Hollywood. While the platform offers a wide range of movies/TV shows, it's lacking in original content, and at this point, they're unable to greenlight anything given the restrictions in production. Depending on how extensive additional work for the new Justice League will have, it can essentially be an entirely different thing from its theatrical counterpart. Much of the shots needed have been filmed and can be worked on by VFX studios. Any additional work can be incorporated later on, the important thing is that there's progress made even with shelter-in-place mandate.

At this point, it's difficult to gauge if HBO Max's decision to green-light Snyder's Justice League is ultimately a good or a bad thing. Admittedly, there's two sides of the campaign - one that used their organization for good and the other who harassed creators and industry people to get what they want. Both of their actions are well-documented over the course of the last couple of years. Whether or not Warner Bros. and HBO Max would've given in to the pressure from the Release the Snyder Cut movement had it not been for the streaming platform's lack of original content, coupled with how limiting the pandemic has been in terms of Hollywood productions is an entirely different can of worms.

More: Justice League's Snyder Cut Will Be Better (But Will It Be Good?)

Source: The Verge