To commemorate the 44th anniversary of the iconic 1977 Superman: The Movie on Twitter, James also had this to say to a fan inquiring about Superman’s future in cinema:

Yes, of course. Superman is a huge priority, possibly the biggest priority.

James Gunn and Peter Safran as DC Studio Chiefs: What Do We Know?

Henry Cavill, who made his debut as Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013) and who last donned the cape in 2016’s Justice League, made his return in a cameo in October’s Black Adam. In fact, Dwayne Johnson had been the reason Cavill returned to the role. As to whether Gunn will take advantage of this new heat, however, remains to be seen.

Currently, there is no deal between Cavill and Warner Discovery for him to return in a new film. Further, there’s no treatment or director attached. The same question could also be raised about the popularity of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a culmination of a fan-led movement to see Zack’s cut of the film that Joss Whedon drastically reshot. Gunn could very well pick up that baton and run with it, but so far there’s been no indication that he will.

In recent interviews, Gunn has revealed that he has a plan going forward with the DC universe, alongside co-chief Peter Safran. Rumor has it that they have also approached the crew of the recently-cancelled Batgirl film.

Albeit sketchily, he has assured fans that everything will be connected. However, one upheaval has been the rumored cancellation of Wonder Woman 3 after the underperforming WW84. Although Gal Gadot is still attached to the title role, director Patty Jenkins has abandoned the project over creative differences.

Before Gunn was appointed by CEO David Zaslav, numerous DC projects had been cancelled as the new head of the studio was trying to declutter his company of underperforming properties. Gunn takes the reins of the maligned DCEU after having completed Guardians of The Galaxy Holiday Special and the upcoming Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3 for Marvel Studios. Whatever plans he and Peter have for both Superman the rest of the DC library, the agenda is being held very close to their chests until further notice… if they have an agenda at all at this point in time, that is.

To date, the only incoming DC films slated for release are The Flash, SHAZAM!: Fury of The Gods, and Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, all three the only remaining films sharing the continuity Snyder had established in Man of Steel.

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Specifically, Warners’ Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca met with Miller and their agent, CAA’s Scott Metzger, this past Wednesday to figure out how to salvage the release and promotion of the film. Miller’s consistently-building legal troubles. These troubles have stemmed from disorderly conduct to alleged assault. This pattern had caused Warner Bros. Discovery to formulate three options. Option A was that Ezra seeks professional help and takes accountability for their behavior. In the event of rejecting that option, Option B would be to still proceed with promoting the film, but completely avoid Miller’s involvement, and later recast Barry Allen for future films. Option C, finally, would see the studio completely scrap the film and hope that the insurance can help Warners cover the lost investment of $200 million as the film’s budget. The extreme measure would be due to the fact that Miller plays multiple versions of Barry Allen in the film, and therefore a fortune would be incurred in reshoots.

Ezra Miller as “The Flash” – Where Do Things Stand?

The studio has made such changes to its DC property output as of late since the merger. In relation to The Flash, which debuts soap star Sasha Calle as Supergirl,  the spinoff TV series for HBO Max has been cancelled, as well as the unfinished Batgirl film starring Leslie Grace.  It has also delayed the releases of Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom and Shazam: Fury of the Gods to December 25, 2023 and March 23, 2023, respectively.

Greatly concerned over the last option, Miller had conceded and on August 15th released the following statement: “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior.”

The results of this meeting – on the day that Batgirl was screened without consent on the Burbank lot – have not been disclosed. It was also the first time the actor had met with Abdy and De Luca since the merger of Warners Media and Discovery. Still, sources claim Miller was apologetic and sincere in their commitment to see the film arrive in theaters.  Miller first cameoed as Barry Allen in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice before another appearance in Suicide Squad and his full involvement in the much-maligned Justice League. They have also appeared alongside Jason Mamoa‘s Aquaman in the last episode of Peacemaker.

The Flash is a loose adaptation of Geoff Johns’ and Andy Kubert’s miniseries “Flashpoint,” in which The Flash travels back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. His inexperience with time travel causes a ripple effect that completely changes the present. The film is a cinematic entry point for audiences into the DC Multiverse, which means every TV series or movie is just another dimension and therefore canon. This approach allows for there to be both Ben Affleck’s Batman in the film, and Michael Keaton’s return to the cape and cowl after thirty-plus years as well. Calle’s debut as Supergirl also marks the first time a Latin-American has played the role in a live-action setting.  It also calls into question whether or not fans will see Henry Cavill’s Superman make an appearance before Barry travels into the past. The film is one of the few remaining DCEU properties that shares the continuity of the Snyderverse, which saw a resurgence after the completion and release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max. To date, there has been no official synopsis released for the film, and multiple rumors about what this movie could mean for the future of the DCEU. As the original comic story was the springboard for the company into “The New 52,” fans have speculated this could be a soft reboot for the Snyderverse to address the low points of the shared continuity.

The Flash is scheduled to run into theaters June 23, 2023.

Official Source – Ezra Miller Seeks to Save The Flash in Meeting with Warner Bros. – The Hollywood Reporter

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The following excerpts are from an interview with insiders Umberto Gonzales from The Wrap:

The Multiverse has to stay, if they want to keep [Supergirl actress] Sasha Calle and bring back a new Superman or bring back Cavill or something, that’s going to have to be the reality of [it. Further, Warner Bros. Discovery] like [Cavill] as [Superman. I] could be wrong, I just don’t think they’ve had a take yet for him to come back. But again, that’s all subject to whoever the new DC guy is overseeing the universe and this committee and the one answering to [Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO] David Zaslav. It’s been almost ten years since we’ve seen him in Man of Steel. But what I can say, I personally, I don’t think it’s over just yet.

Since the merger, Zaslav has made sweeping changes to DC’s future with the studio. After the failure of 2017’s Justice League, blamed on the direction taken by replacement Joss Whedon at the helm, the DCEU has limped on with few successes such as Aquaman and Shazam!. The studio has since decided to focus on standalone projects instead, such as the surprise 2019 blockbuster Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, who earned an Academy Award for his performance.

Then-Warner Media repeated this success with a similar approach in Matt Reeves’ The Batman this past year. At the time, the idea was to treat every property as a separate dimension of the overarching DC Multiverse. Further, Andy Muschietti’s upcoming film, The Flash, was considered the springboard into that concept given the plot revolving around time travel. As to whether that approach is still in play remains to be seen.

However, Warner Discovery’s goal is a 10-year plan for the DCEU reminiscent of how Marvel Studios has managed the MCU. Although DCEU properties such as Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Shazam will proceed, the future of The Flash is precarious, given that lead actor Ezra Miller has serious legal troubles.

Standalone properties will go forward, such as the recently announced 2024 Joker: Folle a Deux with Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. HBO Max’s Peacemaker will receive a second season, but the upcoming Batgirl film starring Leslie Grace and Michael Keaton has been indefinitely scrapped because the studio felt there was not much of a connection with test audiences. However, it has been reported that Grace may still be attached to the role as the studio has other plans for Barbara Gordon.

As to how this all pertains to Henry Cavill, since Justice League, he’d been rumored numerous times to make cameo appearances in previous DC films that proved to be false. Prior to the merger, Warner Media had allegedly considered a separate Superman franchise starring Michael B. Jordan, as there’s a version of the character who is both African-American and the President of the United States. However, at no point was this confirmation that Cavill was done as The Man of Steel, in keeping with the DC Multiverse concept.

Cavill debuted as Clark Kent/Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder, to mixed reviews. Although installments such as Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017) received mix responses – the latter especially thanks to replacement director Joss Whedon –  Cavill’s passion for the character and stoic performance have made him a fan favorite.

The recently released Zack Snyder’s Justice League – the culmination of a fan movement to see Zack return to finish what he had envisioned before departing the project in light of personal tragedy – provided Cavill with additional heat for his return. Cavill, himself, however, has gone on record that he’s not done with the role. He noted last December that he “is ready and waiting for the phone calls.”

So will we see Henry take to the skies again on the big screen? We can only hope.

Official Source – Warner Bros. Leaning Toward Henry Cavill Superman Comeback (cbr.com)

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The studio has released this official statement, which also confirms the cancellation of other Warner Bros. projects:

The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO [Max. Leslie] Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance. We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future.

Warner Bros./Discovery Decision on “Batgirl” And Directors’ Response

The new leadership in question are the new owners of the studio, in particular the new CEO David Zaslav. This past week the studio also announced plans to approach the DC universe in a manner similar to what Marvel Studios has done with the MCU. They foresee a 10-year plan, and clearly Barbara Gordon’s first solo film does not fit in with their vision.

The film, which held a budget of $90 million dollars, was a year one approach to Batgirl which also starred Michael Keaton as The Dark Knight once more, and J.K. Simmons reprising his Justice League role as Commissioner Gordon, Barbara’s father. Brendan Fraser had been cast as Garfield Lyns, aka Firefly, the movie’s antagonist. The film was to have no connection to either the Tim Burton films in which Keaton originally starred, nor the Zack Snyder films. Co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah had hoped to deliver a gritty product that paid homage to the comics. At the time of this announcement, the cast and crew had spent several months in Glasgow, Scotland and was in post-production.

Arbi and Fallah released a joint statement in light of these developments:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Adil El Arbi (@adilelarbi)

As to what this 10-year plan is for the DCEU, Warner did not have further comment.

Official Sources – Warner Bros. Releases Official Batgirl Cancellation Explanation (cbr.com)

‘Batgirl’ Won’t Fly: Warner Bros. Discovery Has No Plans to Release Nearly Finished $90 Million Film (thewrap.com)

The post Warner Bros./Discovery Clips “Batgirl” Film’s Wings appeared first on DC Comics News.

Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have revealed, during a recent interview, that Barbara Gordon’s first solo film, starring Leslie Grace, may – or may not – tie in to the DC Multiverse.

Specifically, the tease came from El Arbi as he reflected on the mishmash of Bat-generations with their casting choices:

Well you know, we’d sort of give the same answer, because we would also ask, “Oh, you have J.K. Simmons from the Snyderverse and we got Michael Keaton from the Burton-verse. What’s the situation there?’” They would say, “Don’t worry about it. We got a plan.”

They never really explained that aspect to us, but I guess you’re gonna have to see the other movies to understand what happens, why the reason is that we ended up in sort of a spaghetti of Multiverses in that aspect. It’s gonna be a delicious spaghetti, I’m sure of that.

Batgirl and The Multiverse – How Is This Possible?

Unlike the MCU, Warner Bros.’s concept of the multiverse is more than just different dimensions. Introduced in 2018’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event amongst the Arrowverse shows, every dimension in this specific multiverse is every tv show and movie with a DC property. This means Christopher Reeve’s Superman, Michael Keaton’s Batman, Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, and even Adam West’s Caped Crusader and so forth are official canon.

Ezra Miller‘s Flash from the Zack Snyder DC films – aka “Snyderverse” – drove home this point in the penultimate chapter of Crisis when he met Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen in the Speed Force. Further, The Scarlet Speedster’s upcoming solo film, directed by Andy Muschietti, will precede Batgirl in reintroducing Keaton to the DC Universe.

It’s still unclear, however, if this will be the same Batman appearing in Batgirl. as J.K. Simmons, who was Ben Affleck’s Jim Gordon in Justice League, is reprising the role.  Tim Burton’s Batman films saw  Pat Hingle in the role of Gordon, who, along with Michael Gough as Alfred, remained the only tethers to that continuity through to the final Joel Schumacher film, Batman And Robin.

There is no confirmed release date at this time for Batgirl, but The Flash is set premiere in theaters June 23, 2023.

Official Source – Batgirl Director Teases DC Multiverse Connections (Exclusive) (thedirect.com)

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Ever since the actor’s arrest, his future as the cinematic Fastest Man Alive has been in doubt. Further, conflicting reports on the final verdict have fans confused.

For those who are unaware of the situation, Ezra Miller was recently arrested in late March for disorderly conduct and harassment at a bar in Hawaii. Details of the incident reveal Miller had allegedly disrupted a woman’s karaoke performance and lunged at a man playing darts.  A restraining order was also placed against Ezra after a couple claimed he made a death threat against them. This behavior follows an April 2020 incident prior to principal photography of The Flash. Miller reportedly had been witnessed grabbing a female fan by the throat in a bar in Iceland.

“The Flash” – Where Do Things Stand For The Film’s Release and Miller’s Future as Barry Allen?

A report from Rolling Stone suggested that the studio was “hitting pause” on future projects involving Miller and any future appearances of his Flash in other DC projects. This claim has also led to speculation of recasting Miller and reshooting the film. Further, it has started a movement to have Miller replaced with fan-favorite Grant Gustin from the hit CW TV series.

Prior to his arrest, Ezra made a cameo alongside Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman in the season finale of HBO’s Peacemaker. 

However, new reports claim that the report is an exaggeration and that the meeting never took place. Based upon that claim, it would seem that Miller’s future is still up in the air.

The Flash is a loose adaptation of the Geoff-Johns-Andy Kubert miniseries “Flashpoint,” where Barry Allen makes the choice to go back in time to prevent his mother’s murder and inadvertently changes the timeline. Directed by Andy Muchschietti, Miller reprised the title role of Barry Allen from his 2016 Justice League debut. Joining him is fellow JL alum Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Sasha Calle as Supergirl, and the infamous Michael Keaton as the Tim Burton version of Batman post-time travel. There have even been rumors of reshoots featuring Henry Cavill returning as Superman prior to Barry altering the timeline.

Pending any confirmed change, the film is still scheduled to hit theaters on June 23, 2023.

Official Source – Warner Bros. and DC Pausing Future Ezra Miller Projects After Arrest (comingsoon.net)

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The Walking Dead actor, who had a cameo as Dr. Thomas Wayne in the opening of Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, believed it would be a no-brainer he would be back as Batman for Andres Muschietti’s The Flash. Given the plot is inspired by Geoff Johns Flashpoint miniseries, fans were eager to see Morgan as the alternate, more lethal Dark Knight.

In the original story, Barry Allen decides to go back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. By doing so, however, he inadvertedly alters the timeline due to his inexperience at altering history. The result is a modern day where his mother is alive, as he intended. But Barry is no longer The Flash and no longer married to Iris, and that’s just the start. Nations are at the mercy of a war between Amazons and Atlanteans, Superman never landed in Kansas and is a US government experiment instead, and villains are suddenly heroes. Abin Sur is even still The Green Lantern of Sector 2814 instead of his successor, Hal Jordan.

Click below to watch the teaser trailer.

In the case of Batman, Bruce Wayne dies in Crime Alley instead of his parents. Thomas Wayne abandons his practice and becomes a brutal version of his son’s alter-ego, while his wife Martha tragically descends into madness as The Joker. Referred to as “Flashpoint Batman,” Wayne was integral in helping Allen realize his mistake and reset the timeline. Writer Tom King later took hold of that character as his surprise antagonist in his two-year long run on Batman. 

When word got out that The Scarlet Speedster’s first solo movie would be inspired by Flashpoint, Morgan’s involvement seemed a no-brainer.  However, given that Warner Media is so intent on sweeping the Snyder-verse under the rug, they gambled on nostalgia and brought Michael Keaton’s 1989 Batman back instead. “Michael Keaton swooped in and stole my gig, ” Morgan jokingly said in a recent interview. “[Nah], I think it’s super cool. [Ever] since Zack Snyder walked away, my whole kind of bit in that world has walked away with him. However, there’s always a chat going on. So we’ll see!”

What Morgan is referring to is the recent fan interest in Zack Snyder’s vision of the DCEU seen in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Besides The Flash, the remaining film franchises that share continuity are Shazam!, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman.

Directed by Muschietti, The Flash brings back Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, Kiesha Clemons as Iris West, and Ben Affleck as Batman, the latter in the opening scenes, and Sasha Calle debuts as Supergirl.

Click below to watch the teaser trailer.

“Official Source – Jeffrey Dean Morgan Says Michael Keaton ‘Took’ His Batman Gig (thewrap.com)

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Actress Leslie Grace strikes a pose in the titular character’s official costume for her upcoming film. The design is based on the latest revision in the comics. Rather than a form-fitting spandex suit or rubber-molded bodysuit, this uniform is patterned purple leather.

“Batgirl” – The Costume, The Cast, and The Platform

The shade is an homage to the late Yvonne Craig’s costume from the 1966 Batman television series. The costume made its debut in the second New 52 series and was designed by Brenden Fletcher.

Leslie Grace on Twitter: ““I use their expectations against them. That will be their weakness. Not mine. Let them all underestimate me… And when their guard is down, and their pride is rising, let me kick their butts.” – Batgirl, Year One https://t.co/gbIA5EbcUK” / Twitter

“I use their expectations against them. That will be their weakness. Not mine. Let them all underestimate me…

And when their guard is down, and their pride is rising, let me kick their butts.”
– Batgirl, Year One
pic.twitter.com/gbIA5EbcUK

— Leslie Grace (@lesliegrace) January 15, 2022

Grace added in her tweet a line from the Batgirl: Year One miniseries: “I use their expectations against them. That will be their weakness. Not mine. Let them all underestimates [me. And] when their guard is down, and their pride is rising, let me kick their butts.”

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Batgirl will also feature Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman after his return to that role in The Flash, and J.K. Simmons as her father, Police Commissioner James Gordon. Simmons last appeared as Gordon in both the Joss Whedon and Zack Snyder cuts of Justice League and recently was seen as J. Jonah Jameson in the blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home. Brendan Fraser (Doom Patrol) is set to appear as Garfield Lynz/Firefly, and Jacob Sipicio, whose role has yet to be revealed. The screenplay was written by Birds of Prey‘s Christina Hodson, who likens her take on Barbara Gordon as a journey of self-discovery. “[In this story,] she’s discovering Batgirl for the first [time. It’s a] side of herself that’s more daring and slightly less normal that we just get to let out and have fun with.”

The film is set to debut on HBO Max some time this year.

Original Source – Batgirl: Leslie Grace Shares First Image of Her Suit From the Upcoming DC Film – IGN

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Ava DuVernay Candid About Her Cancelled “New Gods” Project

Announced in 2018, Ava was to helm the big-screen adaptation of The King’s majestic masterpiece for DC Comics. She even co-penned the script alongside Eisner Award-winning writer Tom King of Batman fame. Although unfinished, allegedly it was to have both the Female Furies and the granddaddy of baddies, Darkseid, in the main plot.

As to what happened, Ava explains, “The studio decided they did not want to pursue a certain part of that comic world based on some things that were going on with another film in that world. So before [Tom and I were able to complete our script] they axed it.”

While she has rebounded with her upcoming Naomi series for the CW, and HBO Max’s DMZ, DuVernay’s comments inspire fan speculation. That other film could have been Zack Snyder‘s cut of Justice League that was taken over by Joss Whedon following Snyder’s personal tragedy. Regardless, in spite of the Synder Cut’s domestic success, Warners has stated there is no intention to go forward with sequels to what Zack had started, rendering it a standalone film. The only franchises that share the foundation 2013’s Man Of Steel started are Aquaman, Shazam, Wonder Woman, and The Flash.

Naomi is scheduled to debut in 2022.

Official Source – Ava DuVernay Reveals Why Her New Gods Film Was Axed By Warner Bros. (gamerant.com)

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Written by: Chris Terrio

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher

Reviewed by: Eric Joseph

Thanks goes to WB for the free review copy.

SUMMARY

Determined to ensure Superman’s (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf, DeSaad and Darkseid and their dreadful intentions.

POSITIVES

Before I dive into this review, I would like to take a moment to inform how the film is presented. Note that I was sent the Blu-ray edition, which is split into two discs. Disc 1 contains the first four parts of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, along with a featurette titled “Road to Justice League.” Disc 2, meanwhile, is home to Parts 5, 6, and the Epilogue. And yes, the 4:3 aspect ratio is preserved. Those hoping for an inclusion of Justice is Gray won’t get it here, as an insert inside the packaging bills it as an HBO Max exclusive. But who knows, maybe one day it’ll be released through Warner Archive or something.

As for the movie itself, I have to say that it may be Zack Snyder’s best DC effort to date. I really dig Man of Steel and Watchmen, so it may take time and perspective for me to one day say that Zack Snyder’s Justice League (ZSJL) dethroned either in my mind. Having said that, it’s better than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the theatrical cut of Justice League released in 2017. Truth be told, I like both versions of Justice League, but I happen to like Snyder’s a lot more.

If you’ve yet to see ZSJL for yourself, know that you’re in for a four-hour experience. Well, you don’t have to watch it all in one sitting, but you should probably do something close to that. Stretch your legs, go to the bathroom, grab a snack, and then pop in the second disc. It takes a long, long time getting in, but stick with it. The third act is where this baby shines, though there’s more to love.

Aside from that impressive running time, general moviegoers’ jadedness when it comes to Snyder-directed flicks could play a factor in their choosing whether to view this. If you find yourself in that category, don’t worry, because although ZSJL is a serious affair, it’s not as dark as BvS. Actually, you may find yourself surprised at how many jokes that made it into the theatrical cut were Snyder’s – and there are a few ones exclusive to his cut as well. In other words, there’s levity but the stakes are higher this time around.

On that note, be assured that Cyborg and Steppenwolf are more fleshed out, Batman doesn’t deliver any cringeworthy Whedon-isms, Ezra Miller is actually tolerable as the Flash, and Amber Heard’s Mera has a British accent for some reason. And love him or hate him, Jared Leto returns as the Joker during the Knightmare portion of the Epilogue.

The biggest addition to this cut that put a smile on my face is that of Darkseid’s inclusion. He was absent from the theatrical cut and has never appeared in a live action feature film. Hey, he may not get much screentime, but I sure did enjoy myself whenever he showed up. Hopefully some other filmmaker will one day include him in a Justice League or Superman movie of their own.

I’d really be remiss if I didn’t mention Tom Holkenborg’s score. As much as I love Danny Elfman, Holkenborg bested him in this instance. Heck, if you don’t believe how greatly music can change the tone of a scene, then I’ll refer you to the bank heist thwarted by Wonder Woman. There’s a world of difference. Plus, it’s just more in line with the Snyderverse, anyway.

Before I move on to the next section, I’d just like to circle back by complimenting the third act. It’s a climactic battle truly worthy of DC’s premier superhero team – and boy does the Flash ever play a memorable, pivotal role. I often tout this aspect for those on the fence.

NEGATIVES

As I alluded earlier, it does take quite a while to get to the meat of the narrative. I’m not sure if I’ve seen so much setup in my life. There’s a fine line between a slow burn and spending what felt like a half hour showing Steppenwolf retrieving a Mother Box from Themyscira. Some scenes really, really drag, and others are sometimes bordering on pretentious.

Still, it’s important to point out how this is an extended director’s cut in the purest sense. I’m assuming Snyder included nearly everything he shot. Had he not been replaced by Joss Whedon, my gut says his theatrical cut would’ve clocked in at two-and-a-half or three hours, with an extended home video release planned for down the line. However, if he thought a four-hour tentpole would actually fly, then he would be the only one wondering why the studio execs showed consternation.

But if anything grinds my gears, it’s the inclusion of Martian Manhunter. Don’t get me wrong, I love J’onn J’onzz, but are you meaning to tell me that he sat idly by while three events threatening the planet occurred, yet he’ll get off his ass because Lois Lane hasn’t shown up at her workplace? That’s Paul W.S. Anderson-level stupid, and I wish someone vetoed the idea.

VERDICT

So, should you double dip by purchasing Zack Snyder’s Justice League? Well, I’d say it’s best that you like at least one of his previous DC-related efforts, but you probably should partake. Whether you liked or disliked the theatrical cut, it’s worth at least a rental if you’re a fan of movie trivia. It’s not often we get these “what might have been” releases, so savor it. Although ZSJL hits the same major story beats as its 2017 counterpart, the journey it takes getting there is often different. Those familiar with the two separate versions of Superman II will find themselves in similar territory, and I couldn’t draw a better parallel.

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