The Zack Snyder on DC Universe story has taken another surprising turn. The director has opened up about the collapse of his original DC universe and the Warner Bros. executive who later admitted that Snyder had been right.
In a new interview with Variety, Snyder described that period as a “low point.” He also discussed the studio’s attempts to take control of the franchise and the painful release of Justice League.
Zack Snyder on DC Universe and Warner Bros.
Snyder revealed that a former Warner Bros. executive privately acknowledged that the studio had fought against his creative plans. The executive told him:
“You know, Zack, I’ve got to tell you one thing: You were right about everything.”
The executive also admitted:
“We were fighting you, and in the end you were right.”
Snyder then explained how the studio viewed his position at the time:
“They did this attempt to control it — and I’m just talking about the regime that was there that’s no longer there.”
He added:
“They had this massive IP that’s worth a ton, and I can understand wanting to protect it as best they could since all their jobs depended on it working, and they’d put it in the hands of a madman — or so they thought — so the part of them thinking that, and this is going to sound horrible, ‘This thing that happened to Zack is a window for us to take the movie back now.’”
Snyder’s comments offer a look at the tension surrounding his original plans for the DC universe.
Snyder’s Darker Approach to DC Characters
Snyder’s DC films took a darker approach to several iconic characters. In Man of Steel, Superman kills General Zod during the film’s final battle. Meanwhile, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice depicts Batman killing criminals and branding others.
Snyder also had larger plans for the franchise. Those plans reportedly included Superman eventually becoming a violent ruler of Earth. However, Warner Bros. began pushing back against his direction after negative audience reactions to some of his films. That conflict eventually contributed to major changes surrounding Justice League.
Justice League Became a Painful Chapter
Snyder also revealed that he has never watched the theatrical cut of Justice League.
“I’ve never seen it,”
The director explained why he chose not to watch the version released in theaters.
“There was a point when the movie was released that was a low point for me because the pile-on effect was so insane. Not only did I lose my daughter, but also they’ve released this version of the movie that I had nothing to do with and my name is on a movie that I didn’t make.”
Joss Whedon took over the film’s post-production after Snyder’s departure. The theatrical version significantly changed the movie’s tone and story. The studio also pushed the film toward a runtime of under two hours. Major elements from Snyder’s plans, including Darkseid, were removed. Snyder’s wife, Deborah Snyder, reportedly watched the theatrical version before its release and warned him not to see it.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League Eventually Arrived
After years of fan campaigning, Snyder eventually completed his own version of the movie. Zack Snyder’s Justice League arrived with a four-hour runtime and restored many elements that had been removed from the theatrical release.
The release gave fans an opportunity to see Snyder’s intended version of the story. It also became a major part of the broader conversation surrounding his DC universe.
Zack Snyder on DC Universe After James Gunn’s Reboot
Following James Gunn’s DC universe reboot, Snyder said he has not watched Superman or Supergirl. He explained:
“I haven’t seen the movies,”
Snyder then addressed his relationship with the DC franchise:
“It’s a little bit too personal for me. Too soon, I guess you could say. I do like James [Gunn]. And I do have an appreciation for his [vision].”
His comments show that Snyder remains aware of the new direction while choosing not to revisit the franchise through its latest films. The DC universe has since moved into a new era under Gunn and Peter Safran.
The Last Photograph Marks Snyder’s Next Chapter
Zack Snyder on DC Universe comes as the director focuses on projects outside the superhero genre. Snyder has moved on from DC films and is preparing for the release of The Last Photograph. The movie received a 4/10 review from IGN at TIFF. The review described it as:
“A film that points at big ideas about image-making without ever moving towards them, Zack Snyder’s passion project The Last Photograph is a languid, plodding revenge saga,”
IGN continued:
“Despite trying to frame beauty and brutality side by side, it’s rife with the kind of ugliness it isn’t ready to confront, rooted in dimensionless characters who are too similarly stoic to make for a meaningful or engaging journey.”
For Snyder, the project represents a move beyond the superhero franchise that defined a major period of his career. At the same time, his latest comments provide another look at the creative disagreements, personal difficulties, and studio decisions that shaped the end of his original DC universe.
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Patrick Webb 
Ambily S