In a recent interview with Vanity Fair Director Zack Snyder talked about his experiences with “Justice League” and the circumstances which led to his departure from the project, and how the Snyder Cut helped in the battle to bring his vision for the Justice League to fruition.
Snyder also revealed that he will not be paid for his version of the 2017 blockbuster.
“I’m not getting paid,” he said to Vanity Fair. “I didn’t want to be beholden to anyone, and it allowed me to keep my negotiating powers with these people pretty strong.”
From this statement we understand the in order to have the negotiating power and creative freedom director Zack Snyder, as he later reveals that the studio wanted to release the movie in its raw format on HBO max most likely as an extra for the 2017 version.
Snyder also revealed that Warner wanted to release the director’s cut of the 2017 film in it’s raw, unedited format to HBO Max, but Zack wouldn’t allow it.
“I was like, ‘That’s a no, that’s a hard no. And they’re like, ‘But why? You can just put up the rough cut. I go, ‘Here’s why. Three reasons: One, you get the internet off your back, which is probably your main reason for wanting to do this. Two, you get to feel vindicated for making things right, I guess, on some level. And then three, you get a shitty version of the movie that you can point at and go, ‘See? It’s not that good anyway. So maybe I was right.’ I was like, No chance. I would rather just have the Snyder Cut be a mythical unicorn for all time.”
Zack Snyder
Snyder also debunked rumors’ of him appointing Marvel Director Alum Joss Whedon, who took over post-production duties, as his replacement. According to Snyder, it was former DC Comics’ Chief Creator Geoff Johns who appointed Whedon.
Both Zack, and his production partner and wife Deborah, stepped down from post production duties due to an unexpected family tragedy.
Johns initially hired Whedon for script rewrites, to which Snyder obliged.
“I thought maybe he could write some cool scenes,” Snyder said. “I thought that would be fun.”
After Zack stepped away, most of his original concept was rewritten and almost 80-90 percent of the film was changed. Zack has yet to see the theatrical film and most likely never will.
Later, Whedon’s reinterpretation screened on the Warner Bros. lot where executive producer Christopher Nolan (Director of the “Dark Knight” trilogy) and Deborah Snyder had a crucial message for Zack.
“They came and they just said, ‘You can never see that movie,’” Snyder told Vanity Fair.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League comes to HBO Max on March 18, 2021.
