By Jake Coyle

For several years, the slogan “Release the Snyder cut” has reverberated online as a rallying cry both genuine and ironic — a “Vive la revolution” for comic book movie fans. On Wednesday, they finally got their wish.

Warner Bros. Pictures announced that a director's cut of Zack Snyder's 2017's DC Comics film Justice League will next year debut on the streaming service HBO Max. Snyder first announced the news himself in a live video conference commentary for his Superman film “Man of Steel.”

The so-called #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement began around the release of  Justice League, a movie that Snyder directed but was replaced in post-production by Joss Whedon. The Avengers director, who was credited as co-writer, oversaw extensive reshoots, editing, and visual effects.

By then, Snyder's stewardship of the DC Comics films had drawn much criticism; his previous film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice rated 28% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. But some fans remained loyal, even as Warner Bros. reshuffled their approach to DC films.

At the time of his departure, Warner Bros. said Snyder was stepping away to be with his family following the death of his 20-year-old daughter.

Snyder remained the sole credited director of Justice League and it was likewise panned by critics (40% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and considered a disappointment by most fans. But some have maintained that Snyder's vision of the film would have been better. In November, even the film's stars Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot added to the chorus on Twitter.

“Since I got here 14 months ago, the chant to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut has been a daily drumbeat in our offices and inboxes. Well, the fans have asked, and we are thrilled to finally deliver," said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of Warner Media Entertainment, in a statement.

It's unclear if another “Snyder cut” ever existed before the director's departure. Speaking to fans during the Man of Steel watch party, Snyder said he still had work to do on it.

“I want to thank HBO Max and Warner Brothers for this brave gesture of supporting artists and allowing their true visions to be realized," Snyder said in a statement. “Also a special thank you to all of those involved in the SnyderCut movement for making this a reality."

Share:
More In Culture
How This Customized Pillow Can Improve Your Sleep
Connie Babikian, President of The Pillow Bar, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how everyone can benefit from a pillow customized to their unique way of sleeping, what research goes into making a pillow, and how sleep can impact our mental and physical health.
Dictador Rum Jump into the Metaverse
Ken Grier, associate creative director at Dictador, joins Cheddar News to talk about the company launching NFT enabled luxury spirits and its art-oriented treasury club, ArtHouse Spirits DAO.
Biden Admin Latest Federal Student Loan Extension Adds to Borrower Uncertainty
The Biden administration is once again extending the pause on federal student loans payments — this time, through the end of August. In a statement, President Biden cited a recent analysis from the Fed that if the payments were to resume, millions of student loan borrowers would face significant "economic hardship, delinquencies, and defaults that could threaten America's financial stability." Sarah Foster, an analyst at Bankrate, breaks down the impact of the extension on borrowers, the economy, and the future of student loan forgiveness. "I think this is just an instance of the federal student loan forbearance program kind of creating additional uncertainty for borrowers, especially in the sense that these past four extensions from the Biden administration have kind of come at the 11th hour here," she said.
How America Got Hooked On Artificial Sweeteners
Walk into any coffee shop or diner and you’ll spot packets of Sweet ‘n’ Low, Equal, or Splenda sweet right away. And, if you’re someone who uses these sweeteners, you’re not alone. In 2020 alone, 141 million Americans used sugar substitutes. They’re attractively marketed with little to no calories, claims of no weight gain and are supposedly safe for diabetics. But with all the hype comes a history of negative PR and health concerns, including possible cancer links. And yet talk of bans by the US Government have proven ineffective, even inciting chaos. So how did these small packets become so mighty?
U.S. Stocks Close Higher, Tech Stocks Lead Advance
U.S. markets closed higher to end Monday's session, with tech stocks leading the advance. Gene Goldman, Chief Investment Officer at Cetera Financial Group, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the potential future of the major U.S. indexes, and how factors like policy moves from the federal reserve and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war could impact volatility.
Load More