Zack Snyder laid the cornerstone of the DC universe by directing Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. However, owing to a tragic family loss, he had to leave the production process part way, leading to The Avengers director Joss Whedon finishing the movie for him. Justice League (2017) was a disappointment at the box office and audiences were left frustrated. The #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign has gained steady momentum with several leading cast members (Ben Affleck, Gal Gaddot, Jason Momoa and many others) coming out in support of the original director’s cut. Zack Snyder, the director himself, has also come out in support of the release.
Movie buffs from Pune share their take on the campaign.
Anuj Gaikwad, 20-year-old says, “Many people did not like the official release of Justice League, so Zack Snyder should be given a chance to show the movie he intended it to be. DC films tend to follow a darker and tense tone (like The Dark Knight) unlike the Marvel movies which follow a lighter approach to the narrative. Since Snyder’s original cut was meant to be dark and serious, it will be good to see his approach to the film as well.”
The director is known for his intense approach in films like Man of Steel, 300, Watchmen.
Russel D’mello, a 19-year-old DC fan, says, “Well, I am really hyped for it, especially after finding out about the plans made by Zack Snyder that can totally change the dynamics of the film. Superman’s black suit and the deleted fight scenes by WB are just one of the many things I am excited for.”
Synder recently shared an image suggesting a dialogue between Gal Gadot (who plays Wonder Woman) and Darksied, a villain who was completely erased from the released version of the film. Noel Soans, a 29-year-old pop-culture enthusiast, said, “Snyder’s cut will finally allow DC fans to see a proper version of the film. People appreciated the director’s cut of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, which included an extra 30 minutes of footage. With several leaked images of the Snyder cut being released on the internet, fans’ craving for the cut only keeps increasing.”
Snyder’s cut is believed to be almost an hour longer than the movie’s actual run time. Angad Chhatwal, a 22-year-old comic fan, says, “This will allow the movie to follow a smoother narrative as the theatrical release seemed rushed and incomplete. Justice League was also supposed to feature Darkseid, a major villain, which was also deleted by the new director. Kiersey Clemons’s Iris West character was also skipped in the released film.”
Akhil Singhal, 23-year-old entrepreneur, believes that the release of the director’s cut belongs to the people. He says, “The production house should listen to what the people have been trying to say, for nearly two years now. The makers of Sonic the Hedgehog delayed its release to perfect the animation after fans were left aggravated with the quality. Fans can provide valuable feedback.”
Ritesh Gupta, 20-year-old amateur cinematographer, points out another major character that was cut out from the released film — Martian Manhunter who is one of the fan favourites. “Snyder’s cut is believed to give additional screen time to several new characters. Many fight scenes were re-shot and the tone of the film was made much lighter. Considering all these significant changes, it would be great if all fans could see the film in its original form.”
Though there are reports that Zack Snyder’s version of Justice League will be released on WarnerMedia’s new HBO Max streaming service, to be launched in May 2020, there has been no official announcement made about it.
