I guess Arrowverse's CRISIS on INFINITE EARTHS not only fixed the universe of DC's Live Action TV series but also brought the return of Zack Snyder's Justice League. In a surprising twist, Snyder (during his Man of Steel watch party with fans) announced to the world that his original version of the Justice League movie is coming to the online streaming app HBO MAX in 2021. It has been close to three years when a movement spearheaded by the fans of Snyder's vision for the DCEU finally broke through those deaf ears in Warner Bros. It took a lot of reorganization in the corporate offices of Warner for this project to finally come to fruition. Warner Bros. is pumping in a very cool $20-$30 million to finish Snyder's version of the movie. It can be recalled that Snyder left (to his haters it was fired) the Justice League movie midway into production to deal with the tragic loss of his daughter. Joss Whedon (famed director of Marvel's Avengers and Avengers 2) was brought in to replace and rework Snyder's movie to fit the tastes of Warner executives clamoring for a more "Marvel" like movie in tone and in appearance. Whedon's version bombed at the Box Office angering fans and DC Comics purists of Snyder's vision for DCEU. In fairness to Whedon, the movie did get good reviews from general audiences spoiled by Marvel's cinematic universes but for the majority of fans who followed Snyder's Man of Steel and Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice religiously, Whedon's Justice League felt like a gut punch and left a very bad and disgusting taste in their mouths. But now with the announcement, the Justice League Snyder Cut is finally on its way. And what to expect from it? For the past year or so I have cultivated these information in various entertainment websites and youtube videos such as Bleeding Cool, Comic Book Resources, Screen Rant, Collider and I will present to you as much as I can an extensive list of what to expect from the Snyder Cut.
*READ ON IF YOU WANT TO BE SPOILED*
First, the Notable changes from Snyder's original version.
1.) Junkie XL the original composer (in collaboration with Hans Zimmer) of Snyder's DCEU who
was set to take full control of the soundtrack for Justice League was replaced by Danny Elfman, a
veteran in Tim Burton's Batman movies.
2.) Steppenwolf's design was changed from a more horrific appearance as seen in the deleted scene of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice to a more general audience friendly one.
3.) There was a scene of Lois visiting Superman's memorial but was omitted in the theatrical cut.
4.) The opening credits were reworked mostly by Whedon. Specially that ugly CGI mustache of
Superman.
5.) Batman did not know about the details of the Mother Boxes and Parademons from that rooftop
scene battling a Parademon. He learned it from Lex Luthor himself or from one of his journals.
6.) Most of the Superman scenes were re-shot as evidenced by those ugly upper lip.
7.) We were supposed to get a cameo of Darkseid. And he had an important role in the movie
although brief.
8.) There was more Cyborg in Justice League, especially his back story. His narrative was actually
supposed to be prominent in the movie, notably his connections to the mother boxes.
9.) There was also more Flash in the movie, and a cameo of Iris West.
10.) Aquaman's backstory is also explored and the ending of Aquaman's story in Justice League
leads up to his solo movie.
Those are 10 of the most important details. The succeeding write up below will dwell on the whole narrative of what Snyder's Justice League Cut will tell or what it would lead to.
The Snyder Cut Justice League Narrative
- Justice League was originally planned as a trilogy with the first Justice League movie setting the tone for the future movies where they intend to tie up the loose ends that was first presented in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice specifically the Knightmare scene.
- The first movie would not differ much from what Joss Whedon was able to come up with, but it would expand on the arrival of Darkseid which would set the Justice League to battle Darkseid in Justice League Part 2.
- Due to Warner Bros. meddling, the trilogy would be watered down into a duology, with Justice League Part 2 tying up the Knightmare scene when the Justice League lost to Darkseid, eventually realizing the foreboding Knightmare that Batman dreamed of way back in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.
- Steppenwolf would still be the same villain and utilized as is, he was the advance scout for Darkseid which would pave the way for the Justice League to seek out Darkseid (with the possible help of the Green Lantern Corps.) but would be unsuccessful in their battle. Devastating the Earth when Darkseid arrives with his Anti-Life Equation.
- General Swanwick would be revealed as the Martian Manhunter. And the Martha that Lois spoke with while she was having a coffee break was actually the Martian Manhunter. Though if he had a bigger role in the movie remains a mystery. Ryan Choi a.k.a The Atom also has an appearance.
- Superman's role in Justice League is expanded compared to what Whedon did. Superman upon his resurrection, succumbed to the Anti-Life Equation when Lois died. This would brought to light an unhinged Black Suited Superman siding with Steppenwolf as he fought against the Justice League. Now whether Snyder would push through with Lois' death, the Knightmare scene will still eventually play out. But Flash telling Batman that Lois is the key in BVS:DoJ certainly has an effect on Superman's role in the fight against Darkseid and the evil forces of Apokolips.
- There will be time travel elements (similar to Avengers: Endgame but remember these plans came out first before Avengers: Endgame even hit the screens) where Batman (as suggested by Flash that Lois is the key) sends Flash back in time to save Lois, freeing Superman from the influences of the Anti-Life equation. Superman upon waking up from the Anti-Life Equation would have a more expanded battle against Steppenwolf than what was seen in Whedon's version.
- Batman would eventually die (possibly in Justice League 2) as he goes on a suicide mission, sacrificing himself in order for the league to beat Darkseid. Batman was also intended to have a more expanded search for the Justice League members as compared to the condensed one that Whedon gave us. So Batman's role as a Dark Avenging crusader in BVS to the most human of all the Justice League would come into full circle, defining his humanity and the redemptive qualities that a former violent killing machine deserves. And yes, there was supposed to be a Bad-Ass Batman scene where he took hold of a giant Parademon gun.
- As an icing to the cake, Lois (who has been pregnant in the JL2) conceives a baby boy and names him Bruce, in honor of Batman who sacrificed himself saving Lois from Darkseid.
Ever since the failure of Whedon's Justice League, the DCEU has been experiencing a mix bag of success and failure in their DC Universe movies. For the most part, movies that featured casts from the Justice League movie and Snyder's DCEU as a whole (Aquaman and to some degree Shazam and Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey) tried to deviate and distance themselves from Snyder's DCEU, but it cannot be denied that some story threads were still quite attached to the old DCEU. And with WB stating that they are ready to do stand alone stories not connected to a larger narrative, like Joker and Robert Pattinson's Batman, I think furthering Snyder's DCEU won't be hard to do if the Snyder Cut proves to be a runaway success for critics and fans alike. But again first things first. We will have to see if Snyder's version proves to be the superior one compared to what was released on theaters. And I have no doubt that it would be. The world will be waiting for HBO Max come 2021.
Sources:
https://screenrant.com/dceu-movie-timeline/
