By Javier E. Trujillo
To say 2020 has been a strange year would be an understatement.
With COVID-19 sweeping the globe, most of the world has been self-isolating in quarantine. The lock-down, amongst other things, has called for the cessation of production on film and tv projects. This has led to shows like The Flash, Batwoman, and Supergirl having unfinished seasons and movies like The Batman halting production.
Many different parties have done streaming watch-alongs as a way to engage with fans and lift people’s spirits and Zack Snyder is no different. Having already done a live commentary on Vero for Batman v Superman, he returned to the social media platform to share his insights on the making of Man of Steel.
Fans watching got a big surprise when a blue tank top wearing (and mustachioed) Henry Cavill joined the live stream during the film’s final scene. Cavill has long been silent on the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement, unlike his co-stars who have tweeted and even done quick videos supporting its release.
As credits rolled, other fans were invited to participate in a Q&A with the director and star. Inevitably, the question was asked if we would ever see his original vision.
“I’m not really in control of it, necessarily,” Snyder hemmed and hawed. He went back and forth a bit with his wife, producer Debra Snyder, and Henry Cavill, who added “I’d love to see a version of Justice League without the mustache,” referring to his infamous facial hair that had to be CGIed out of the movie.
Finally, Snyder stopped playing around. “Like I tell you, I have it,” he added. “We just have to find a way to show it someday.” He further explained, “I can’t show the movie right now, you know, because there’s still a little bit to do…but there is this.”
Snyder then turned his camera around to his home theater screen, revealing a graphic showcasing the Justice League and the headline “Zack Snyder’s Justice League – 2021 – Only on HBOMax”.
“So that’s coming. It’s a little thing,” Snyder jested as the fans on the stream glowed in delight.
There was speculation that his cut would find release in some form on the new streaming platform, making its debut May 27th. It seems fans will have to wait just a little bit longer to see their dream become a reality as we still have half of 2020 to get through.
Currently, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and the recently debuted Stargirl have their current seasons hitting the airwaves. Wonder Woman 1984 is still slated to hit cinemas August 14th, 2020, but that feels fluid given the percentages of theaters that are open right now and a population being wary of gathering in large crowds.
The Arrowverse has been announced as returning to The CW in January 2021, so it’s surprising that Warner Bros. is releasing the Snyder Cut in a vague time frame during that year. They have already committed to airing the canceled DC Universe show Swamp Thing in the fall on The CW so fans who aren’t subscribers can get their superhero fix. The delay in release seems to hint that work on effects will be going on, but it’s hard to imagine there will be reshoots (especially involving the cast coming back) given that no one is filming anything right now.
Time will tell what form the Snyder Cut will take, but it seems fans’ dogged perseverance (to put it mildly) and COVID-19 have led to a perfect storm where a different version of Justice League will see the light of day.
Don’t forget, though…The Batman is coming! – Javier E. Trujillo
