DC fans that were expecting a superhero ensemble vehicle on par with any of the Avengers films were disappointed in Justice League when it was released in 2017. Due to personal reasons on the part of director Zack Snyder, Avengers director Joss Whedon was brought in to make sure production was completed, but the process resulted in major alterations to Snyder’s script, as well as hours of deleted footage and extensive reshoots.
Snyder’s definitive vision for the film will be released on HBO Max outside of 20201 after extensive campaigning by fans, in what they hope will be a more cohesive story, with better visuals, better character development, and emotional resonance. At three and a half hours long, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, or The Snyder Cut as its affectionately known, should deliver.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FOR CYBORG
To some DC fans, Cyborg is the coolest member of the Justice League, and they were excited to see him in his onscreen debut when Justice League was initially released. Unfortunately, whatever further character development in his story was cut from the theatrical release.
The Snyder Cut allows for a deeper dive into Cyborg’s backstory with key deleted scenes, as well as hopefully more situations with him actively participating in the plot, instead of being relegated to the background in support of other prominent members like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
THE SEVENTH MEMBER
Originally, marketing material for Justice League included the phrase, “Unite the Seven”, but only six members were ever seen on screen when the film debuted; Wonder Woman, Batman, Super Man, The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.
Fans speculate that the seventh member could make their appearance in The Snyder Cut, possibly turning out to be Martian Manhunter, Shazam, Atom, or Green Lantern. Snyder’s original script had over 10 additional superhero characters in the film, so it could be a variety of people.
MORE CONTEXT FOR THOSE TIME TRAVEL SCENES FROM BVS
Fans who went into Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice expecting a succinct two-hour beat down between superhero titans were sadly mistaken, and found the narrative salad that turned out to be the plot disappointing.
One of the most bizarre scenes involved Batman having a nightmare concerning Barry Allen and an apocalyptic setting, where Superman took over the world (possibly influenced by Darkseid) as part of the Injustice: Gods Among Us comic storyline. Justice League was supposed to provide even greater context for what The Flash had traveled back in time to warn Bruce, something The Snyder Cut can remedy.
MORE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BRUCE AND CLARK
Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent, like their cape and cowl clad alter egos, have always had a relationship strained by the demands of their superhero vocations.
Whatever their differences, Batman and Superman have had one of the most enduring and sacrosanct friendships and partnerships in all of comics, and fans deserve to see more positive interactions with them in The Snyder Cut.
HIGHER STAKES
Watching Superman’s burial, both nationally and privately was a heartbreaking moment in BvS. Knowing he would return in Justice League was exciting because it meant that the need to save the world from whatever was coming was great enough for him to be resurrected.
Fans felt cheated because the stakes in Justice League seemed too low, and the climactic battle at the end of the film took place in a deserted Russian town, as compared to the densely populated cities in the Avengers films. The Snyder Cut should reveal the significance of the League’s efforts to save the world and make them feel much more visceral.
BETTER VISUALS
Most of what hurt Justice League was Joss Whedon taking over from Zack Snyder and the film getting a hasty overhaul. The cast was called in for reshoots, which resulted in bizarre occurrences like Henry Cavill having his real mustache digitally removed to accurately portray Superman.
To say nothing of the fact that the villain Steppenwolf and some of the action sequences were subpar for a movie with the sort of budget that Justice League had.
A TONALLY MORE CONSISTENT BATMAN
To many fans of Ben Affleck’s Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Affleck behaved like a completely different person in Justice League. Gone was the brooding, cynical fighter, replaced by a sarcastic heavy whose dialogue was reduced to nothing but punchlines and quips.
In an effort to give Justice League the “Marvel” treatment, it received an injection of humor that was at odds with the way its characters had been established in prior films like BvS , Man of Steel, and Wonder Woman. Trying to replicate Marvel’s jocularity proved a disservice to the more serious-minded stories originated by DC Comics, and to Affleck in his final run in the cape and cowl.
THE LEAGUE FIGHTING AS A TEAM
Fans expecting to see the members of the Justice League fight together were sorely disappointed in Justice League, where so often members were separated into groups of one or two to take on foes, rather than combine the might of their powers into one unstoppable force.
The Snyder Cut promises to include more dramatic fighting sequences where, much like in the Avengers films, the characters work as a true team to save the world. Increasing the stakes in the film should also merit the combined abilities of the world’s most elite superhero fighting force.
MORE DEATHSTROKE
Fans who were looking forward to seeing more of Deathstroke beyond the trifling post-credits scene in Justice League may be in for a treat after Joe Manganiello announced that fans would be seeing more of him in the role as the dangerous mercenary in the Snyder Cut.
His appearance in the post-credits scene was intended to ignite interest for a sequel, but the poor box office performance of Justice League ensured fans would never see him take on any superheroes, much less see him break Lex Luthor out of Arkham Asylum.
A CLEAN ENDING
Zack Snyder had carefully constructed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League to pursue a plot interconnected over several films. Justice League was always intended to have a sequel or second part, but its abysmal performance truncated that option.
With the Snyder Cut, it’s entirely possible for a clean ending to be given to the superhero opus, either in the form of the film itself or because it’s success propels plans for the sequel forward, in which fans will get to see Justice League fight (and even defeat) famous villains like Darkseid, Deathstroke, and Lex Luthor.
