Director Zack Snyder has revealed his “Snyder cut” of 2017 superhero movie Justice League will be released following a fan campaign.
The filmmaker had been overseeing the DC Comics project – which features Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg and Superman – but departed during post-production following the death of his daughter.
Josh Whedon, who wrote and directed two Avengers films, was tasked by studio Warner Bros with finishing Justice League.
This is real. #releasethesnydercut@HBOMax pic.twitter.com/Cnvupwg48W
— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) May 20, 2020
The movie was a critical and commercial flop and almost immediately following its release fans – who believed Snyder originally had a much darker vision for the film – mounted a campaign for his version.
Their prayers were answered on Wednesday, when Snyder confirmed his Justice League will arrive on the HBO Max streaming service in 2021.
He announced the news during a Q&A following a virtual screening of his Superman film Man Of Steel, starring British actor Henry Cavill.
Snyder and his wife and producing partner Deborah are now at work on the new film.
It will involve some of the original cast members – include Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Jason Momoa as Aquaman – returning to record new dialogue.
It is unknown what form the finished product will take, with speculation Snyder may let the film run as long as four hours and release it on HBO Max in instalments, like a TV series.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Snyder revealed he has not seen Whedon’s cut of Justice League, adding of his own version: “It will be an entirely new thing, and, especially talking to those who have seen the released movie, a new experience apart from that movie.”