It finally seems like enough time has passed since Justice League’s disastrous theatrical run that those involved with the movie can finally talk about its failures openly – and more importantly, add fuel to the #SnyderCut fire. While the WB film’s troubled production history has been known since before it was even released, it’s clear that the final product was a mangled mess of studio interference, rewrites, and heavy-handed editing. Allegedly though, there’s an entirely different film left on the cutting room floor, and those dissatisfied with Joss Whedon’s reshoots are clamoring for its release.
While the studio hasn’t confirmed that the Snyder cut exists at all, in the two years since its debut, everyone from its crew, to its cast members, to even director Zack Snyder himself have hinted that a lot more footage was shot that would’ve changed the entire scope of the movie. Scenes involving Darkseid, time travel, and character deaths were written, shot, composited and cut, leaving fans aching for what could have been.
Though he hasn’t seen it, director/podcaster Kevin Smith has heard from enough inside sources that a Snyder cut exists to confirm it in a new interview with CinemaBlend. While the revelation has to be taken with some grain salt, it’s not like he’s just parroting Internet scoops; he has a close working relationship with former-Batman Ben Affleck, so the man’s earned a bit of clout here.
In his usual verbose manner, Smith adds on that he believes the studio won’t release the Snyder Cut because they don’t believe the audience would understand it:
“I’ve not seen it firsthand… That being said, I’ve spoken now to enough people at various levels in that production. There IS a Snyder cut. For sure. That’s not a mythical beast. It exists. Now, it’s not a finished movie by any stretch of the imagination. There were things that went away from the story that they shot that didn’t wind up going into effects or anything like that. So I would assume, based on what I’ve been told, that large sections of that Snyder Cut are, you know, pre-viz, a lot of green screen. We’re not talking a finished movie… It was certainly not meant for mass consumption.
I feel confident that the audience could handle that cut of the movie… I think there’s a common thought process, probably within the studio – and again, no studio has said this to me, but I would assume that they’re like, ‘We can’t show people this. Yes, there is a Snyder Cut, but no audience would be able to look at this and see what the director’s intent was.’ I disagree… But I think the audience now, particularly the audience that would consume the Snyder Cut and discuss it at great length, can watch a work print. They can watch a work-in-progress and fill in the blanks in their heads.”
Smith, whose next feature Jay and Silent Bob Reboot looks to examine both superhero films and their effect on the modern day Hollywood studio system, has developed an entire podcasting network (and internet presence) based on interacting with fans. He’s right – fans aren’t stupid – and if WB ever decides to release a work print cut, at this point it can’t really hurt Justice League’s legacy any more.
That being said, most of the DC fans still demanding a Snyder Cut are approaching it in the most entitled and demeaning way possible, subjecting both themselves and their cause to ridicule in nearly every cinema circle. After all, those who want to see Zack Snyder’s original intended Justice League cut are still at the mercy of WB, so maybe it’s worth it to ease up on the hate mail demands for the time being.
