Saudis Want to Rival Marvel With a SnyderVerse-Level Event, Say Insiders (Exclusive)

Following our report from yesterday about the return of the SnyderVerse, our insiders have filled us in on the larger plan behind the Saudi bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, and it explains why Zack Snyder has been posting nonstop and why Christopher Nolan continues publicly praising Snyder’s influence on blockbuster filmmaking.

According to what we’re told, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund isn’t just buying WB for content.

They want to rival Marvel and build an event franchise on the scale of Avengers: Doomsday, something James Gunn’s DCU cannot deliver while the studio waits to be sold.

Why James Gunn’s DCU Is Stuck

This lines up with what we’ve been reporting.

Gunn’s future at DC Studios becomes uncertain the moment WBD is sold, and he can’t greenlight a massive crossover event because leadership knows ownership is about to change. That’s why his slate is small and insulated around his “Superman Family Saga” (Gunn just announced the Jimmy Olsen series, and Andy Muschietti said he isn’t allowed to talk about the DCU Batman).

Gunn has openly stated that he doesn’t want to touch Darkseid, which our insiders say is a key indicator: the Saudis view Snyder as the filmmaker meant to complete the DC epic he started, which, of course, features Darkseid as the villain.

Nolan’s Position Signals the Shift

Christopher Nolan’s movements are another major sign. He moved to Universal, and he’s currently filming The Odyssey in Morocco, where our insiders made a point of telling us it’s close to the Saudi film expansion.

Saudi Arabia’s PIF reportedly recently met with Comcast-Universal about the Warner Bros. acquisition. Combine that with their $55 billion EA Games purchase, and it’s clear they’re constructing a multimedia empire that ties together film, games, sports, and theme parks.

Snyder Is Already Connected With Saudi Arabia

We’re told Nolan and Snyder are the “bellwether,” meaning their moves signal where the future of blockbuster filmmaking is heading.

Nolan has been openly pointing to Snyder’s influence on global blockbuster filmmaking, citing examples like RRR (a massive Indian action-epic film released in 2022), while major filmmakers such as the Russo Brothers (recall their interview with Snyder) and James Cameron have echoed similar points.

Snyder’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is already established through his UFC partnership on Brawler, which is backed by the country’s General Entertainment Authority.

We are specifically told that the Saudis and UFC favor Snyder’s “muscular” filmmaking style.

A Massive DC Event Is the Goal

According to our insiders, the Saudis want an event-level DC universe that matches or surpasses Marvel at its peak, and they don’t think James Gunn’s DCU is the answer.

That type of crossover can only come from the SnyderVerse, which again explains why Snyder has been actively posting images of Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jared Leto, and Jason Momoa while the WBD sale accelerates.

Their goal is modern mythmaking, and they see Snyder and Nolan as the only filmmakers capable of delivering a cultural event on that level.

Snyder has shifted into high gear

Our insiders say this is why Zack Snyder has suddenly shifted into high gear on social media.

As our insiders put it, “The thing is, the Saudis want their investment in WB to rival Marvel, and they want an event as big as Avengers Doomsday. James Gunn knows his time is uncertain and can’t greenlight anything that big.”

With Saudi Arabia emerging as the frontrunner to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, Snyder’s DC universe — and even Nolan’s return as a guiding force — is firmly back in play.

Update: Variety now reports Paramount is teaming with the Saudis to buy WBD.