Did he, or didn't he? Is there one, or isn't there one? There has been so much conversation -- both around watercoolers and in online forums -- about the infamous Zack Snyder cut of Justice League that it leaves us wondering if such a thing even exists... and if fans will ever get an opportunity to see it. We discussed the cut at length a while back, with this writer coming to the conclusion that if there is a Snyder cut of Justice League, fans deserve to see it. Now, there's talk out there that it exists.
Specifically, this is a post on the usually trustworthy DC Cinematic Reddit forum, where the moderators are sharing what they have heard about a Zack Snyder cut from a trusted source. The mods say that they aren't in the business of scoops, and have no interest in "breaking" any news. They want fans to know what they know, and they are saying:
After some digging, I have come across convincing proof that the Snyder cut of Justice League exists in an unfinished but relevant form. This was not simply an assembly cut derived from principal photography, but a rough version that had a lot of finished FX and music. Details concerning the sourcing of this information will be held in total confidence.
By now, the behind-the-scenes story of Justice League is common. After toiling away on it for some time, original director Zack Snyder had to leave the project due to a family tragedy. Joss Whedon was brought in to stick the landing, though many translate that to mean "bring more humor" and "lighten the tone." The result -- as characterized in a Wrap editorial -- was a Frankenstein monster torn between the directions of the two filmmakers, and some think this is what led to the movie's underwhelming performance to date.
Almost immediately, a call for a Zack Snyder cut of the film went out. A petition was started online, and DC fans flocked. There's a precedent for this, as Snyder himself released an Ultimate Edition of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice -- a movie he retained final cut on its theatrical release! Why wouldn't he have a similar approach to Justice League.
Only, we were told this Holy Grail cut of Justice League probably doesn't exist.
The truth, as is usually the case, probably falls right in the middle. While there likely isn't a traditional "Zack Snyder Cut" of Justice League, the way that there was an Ultimate Edition of Batman v Superman, there probably is a version that plays out differently in key sequences. The resurrection of Superman, I'm willing to bet, played out differently in Snyder's head than it does in Joss Whedon's delivered print, and I say that because of the CGI jaw that Henry Cavill wears in his interactions with the League in that fight. We know that his mustache had to be doctored in post for the reshoots, and this scene looks like it was tinkered with the most... meaning that Snyder probably had a different version, and the studio paid to change it.
For now, and possibly forever, the version we have of Justice League is the version that's in theaters. Conflicting reports will continue to circulate. But until Snyder speaks out, we'll continue to wonder what might have been.
