Say what you like about director Zack Snyder, but he’s still one hell of a visual artist whose more dynamic approach to crafting a movie has yet to beaten in the industry. This is one of the more heart-wrenching tales regarding his work on Justice League to add to a very bleak Tuesday, however. Snyder has exited directing the remainder of Justice League so that he can focus on spending time with his family after the tragically untimely death of his 20-year-old daughter Autumn, leaving Avengers director Joss Whedon to finish the massive DC Comics project.
Having kept the news of Autumn Snyder’s March death secret, the upcoming reshoots for Justice League prompted Snyder to make the news public lest the big budget film was delayed from its anticipated November release date. “I’ve decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me,” Snyder said to The Hollywood Reporter.
I never planned to make this public. I thought it would just be in the family, a private matter, our private sorrow that we would deal with. When it became obvious that I need to take break, I knew there would be narratives created on the internet. They’ll do what they do. The truth is…I’m past caring about that kind of thing now.
So how much of the Justice League film will still be a product of Snyder’s unique style and aesthetics when Whedon steps in? Still plenty of it apparently, as Warner Bros. Pictures president Toby Emmerich said that Justice League would still be Snyder’s movie even with the added reshoots and Whedon taking over. “The directing is minimal and it has to adhere to the style and tone and the template that Zack set,” Emmerich said.
We’re not introducing any new characters. It’s the same characters in some new scenes. He’s handing a baton to Joss but the course has really been set by Zack. I still believe that despite this tragedy, we’ll still end up with a great movie.
In another universe, news of Whedon taking over Justice League would most likely be celebrated, but not like this, man. Not like this. This is just heart-breaking stuff, and the kind of tragedy that nobody should ever have to deal with. Warner Bros. and DC Comics have at least hired possibly the best man to step in at the eleventh hour, as Whedon is no stranger at all to deadlines, massive casts, special effects and the pressure of this superhero movies to deliver after his work on the first two Avengers films for Marvel.
Justice League is still on schedule for a November 17 release date, and I still believe in Snyder’s overall vision for this universe.
Last Updated: May 23, 2017
Original Heretic
May 23, 2017 at 08:50
Damn, that’s a harsh one.
Viktor Navarro
May 23, 2017 at 12:03
“In another universe, news of Whedon taking over Justice League would most likely be celebrated”
Why would people celebrate a hack with no idea how to make an interesting visual style taking over from a master of cinematography? Because Whedon made Buffy and Avengers? FFS, people…
Grimsupanoob
May 23, 2017 at 12:12
he also did this little known series called Firefly…..
Come On Man, have to agree here with Darryn (never thought I would utter that sentence ever)
Viktor Navarro
May 23, 2017 at 13:02
Firefly does NOT make Whedon less of a hack in the visual department. Avengers looked like an over-produced TV pilot despite the good cast and snarky dialogue.
Kenn Gibson
May 23, 2017 at 19:11
Whedon is great at story and especially great at Dialogue, there are those better than him at cinematography. He’s no Nolan. Inspite of that our hearts go out to Zach Snyder and family. That is terrible thing to go through
Grimsupanoob
May 23, 2017 at 22:08
So genius, who would you recommend then ?
Viktor Navarro
May 24, 2017 at 13:42
Oh, I duuno… ANYONE but Whedon? Chad Stahelski, Tim Miller, Len Wiseman, Alex Proyas, David Twohy, Martin Campbell… any of the guys who know how to make an interesting picture to go along with the smartass dialogue that Whedon is the best at.
Everyone is excided about Whedon simple because he made some popular things. But a fact is a fact – he can’t work with visuals. He’s a writer first.
Grimsupanoob
May 24, 2017 at 21:52
Seriously…. Stahelski has John wick 1 and 2 to his name and that is it…. Tim miller… Deadpool and no-name other 2 movies, wiseman did the shitty total recall reboot…and underworld… Yeah next.. Proyas.. Yeah better but still tons of crap and iRobot…twohy was the riddick guy right…mmmh Campbell…. Well Zoro and Green Lantern…. So all of them pretty weak TBH..
Now getting back to the original point. Whedon is finishing up what snyder started, essentially babysitting.
But as it is undoubtedly going to be a movie you will find appalling, we can always suggest that they get you a Lens-flare Abrahams or Bayplosion directed copy rather.
Viktor Navarro
May 25, 2017 at 13:30
Stahelski and Miller arguments are stupid because it’s not about “how many movies have they done” but “how good are they with visuals”. And they are both way better than Whedon while having smaller budgets. The same goes for Wiseman, Proyas and Campbell – the stories in most of their movies are crap, but I don’t want them to write Justice League, I want them to film it.
But anyway, I HOPE that they don’t let Whedon do anything his way if it concerns visuals. I’m more troubled by the fact that his fanboys are going to cry that JL is awesome now because he “reshot” it, not because Snyder actually made an awesome movie.