Zack Snyder reacts to the news that the Russo Brothers are back with Marvel on two new Avengers movies, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Robert Downey Jr. returns with them, but not as Iron Man, as none other than Doctor Doom.
Snyder appeared on the ReelBlend Podcast YouTube Channel and while talking about his director’s cut release of Rebel Moon on Netflix, was asked about his thoughts on the Russo Brothers returning to the MCU.
“I think that’s great for them. They’re amazing, and they’ve done really, I think they’ve done great work with those guys. I’m sure they’ll do something amazing,” said Snyder. “They’re talented guys, and I think they’ll do something cool. I think it’s time to shake it up a little bit.”
Zack Snyder and the Russo Brothers are friends
Joe and Anthony Russo actually had Zack Snyder on a two-part episode of their “Pizza Film School” last year where all three talked for nearly two hours.
“One of the hardest things to do on movies of scale is communicate vision… Zack, with your background as a painter, the way you use light and create these painterly visuals, it’s really something special,” said Joe Russo.
Anthony Russo also told Zack, “Your filmmaking is so elevated because of your process, and I’m so jealous because Joe and I are like, we can’t draw to save our lives. But you’ve taken that skill and turned it into something truly cinematic.”
Added Joe Russo in Part 2, “One of my favorite things as a director is seeing a piece of cinema and having two things happen: being blown away and having no idea how it was done. I had one of those moments with 300. The visual texture and energy of that film just blew me away.”
Highlights from their discussion include:
Justice League Origin:
Zack Snyder mentioned that the concept for “Justice League” was developed while writing “Batman v Superman.” They had an outline for “Justice League” early on, ensuring it aligned with the long-term vision for the characters and storylines.
The Darker Original Script:
The original script for “Justice League” was darker and weirder, focusing on complex themes like post-apocalyptic scenarios. However, after “Batman v Superman” was criticized for being too dark, the studio requested a lighter tone, leading to significant rewrites.
Batman and Lois Lane:
In the original script, there was a subplot where Batman and Lois Lane develop a romantic relationship while Superman is dead. This was eventually scrapped due to studio pushback, but Snyder found the concept intriguing and wished it could have been explored further.
Post-Apocalyptic Batman:
Snyder was particularly interested in exploring Batman’s role in a post-apocalyptic world after Darkseid destroys Earth, envisioning Batman as a “Road Warrior” type character in this setting.
Studio Interference:
The studio’s demand for a lighter tone in “Justice League” led to significant changes, including adding humor and toning down some of the darker elements that Snyder originally envisioned. Despite this, Snyder managed to preserve some of the more intense scenes in his final cut.
Justice League’s Release and Reception:
The movie went through a complex journey, with the final release differing significantly from Snyder’s original vision. Snyder discussed how the film’s reception influenced the eventual release of the “Snyder Cut,” which was closer to his intended version.
