DC Comics fans will be waiting with bated breath for Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a four-hour epic adventure debuting on HBO Max in 2021, though the director just teased it may be R-rated and may hit theaters.
Snyder was originally set to direct Justice League, though he exited in the midst of production after a family tragedy, with Joss Whedon coming aboard to take his place.
While there is no word yet on an exact release date on HBO Max, Snyder revealed in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly that Ben Affleck‘s Batman even drops an F-bomb in this new cut of the movie.
R-rated: DC Comics fans will be waiting with bated breath for Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a four-hour epic adventure debuting on HBO Max in 2021, though the director just teased it may be R-rated and may hit theaters
First director: Snyder was originally set to direct Justice League, though he exited in the midst of production after a family tragedy, with Joss Whedon coming aboard to take his place
‘Here’s one piece of information nobody knows: The movie is insane and so epic and is probably rated R — that’s one thing I think will happen, that it will be an R-rated version, for sure,’ the director said.
‘We haven’t heard from the MPAA, but that’s my gut,’ he added, and when pressed for details, he spoke about the Batman F-bomb.
‘There’s one scene where Batman drops an F-bomb. Cyborg is not too happy with what’s going on with his life before he meets the Justice League, and he tends to speak his mind,’ Snyder added.
Insane: ‘Here’s one piece of information nobody knows: The movie is insane and so epic and is probably rated R — that’s one thing I think will happen, that it will be an R-rated version, for sure,’ the director said
F-bomb: ‘There’s one scene where Batman drops an F-bomb. Cyborg is not too happy with what’s going on with his life before he meets the Justice League, and he tends to speak his mind,’ Snyder added
The director also revealed that the villain Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), ‘is pretty much just hacking people in half,’ adding the R rating would likely be attributed to, ‘violence and profanity, probably both.’
When Justice League was released in theaters back in 2017, it was the lowest-grossing DC Extended Universe (DCEU) movie ($657.9 million worldwide) that was bashed by critics (40% on Rotten Tomatoes) and fans alike.
WarnerMedia announced in February that the Snyder Cut will be released on HBO Max, with Snyder bringing the cast back together for reshoots.
Villain: The director also revealed that the villain Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), ‘is pretty much just hacking people in half,’ adding the R rating would likely be attributed to, ‘violence and profanity, probably both’
Additional filming took place in October, with Affleck returning as Batman, along with Henry Cavill (Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg) among others.
WarnerMedia reportedly spent upwards of $70 million on the reshoots and other aspects of production, with Snyder also pushing for his Snyder Cut to also get a theatrical release in 2021.
‘I’m a huge fan and a big supporter of the cinematic experience, and we’re already talking about Justice League playing theatrically at the same time it’s coming to HBO Max. So weirdly, it’s the reverse [of the trend],’ he said.
Additional filming: Additional filming took place in October, with Affleck returning as Batman, along with Henry Cavill (Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg) among others
Reshoots: WarnerMedia reportedly spent upwards of $70 million on the reshoots and other aspects of production, with Snyder also pushing for his Snyder Cut to also get a theatrical release in 2021
WarnerMedia wouldn’t comment on plans to bring Zack Snyder’s Justice League to theaters, but they recently announced the same strategy for another superhero movie.
WarnerMedia announced earlier this month that the highly-anticipated Wonder Woman 1984 will be released both in theaters and simultaneously on HBO Max on Christmas Day.
The studio then announced just a few days later that their entire 2021 theatrical film slate will also be released in theaters and on HBO Max at the same time, which has sent shockwaves throughout the industry.
Theaters: WarnerMedia wouldn’t comment on plans to bring Zack Snyder’s Justice League to theaters, but they recently announced the same strategy for another superhero movie
Film slate: The studio then announced just a few days later that their entire 2021 theatrical film slate will also be released in theaters and on HBO Max at the same time, which has sent shockwaves throughout the industry
The move was criticized by filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan (Tenet) and Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island), and when asked to weigh in, Snyder said he hoped it wasn’t meant to undermine the theatrical experience long-term.
‘It felt like a pretty bold move and that maybe the implication wasn’t 100 percent thought out,’ the director began.
‘I feel like there’s a lot of people panicking during COVID. I hope that, in the end, that’s what this was — some sort of knee-jerk to COVID and not some sort of greater move to disrupt the theatrical experience,’ he added.
‘I thought we were kind of already getting very close to the ideal theatrical window where you still had marketing material out there and you hadn’t forgotten about the film by the time it came out on DVD or streaming. I thought we were starting to hone in on that sweet spot, but this kind of throws a monkey wrench in the works,’ the director said.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League will reportedly debut in mid-2021 on HBO Max, though it remains to be seen if a theatrical release will happen as well.
Criticized: The move was criticized by filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan (Tenet) and Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island), and when asked to weigh in, Snyder said he hoped it wasn’t meant to undermine the theatrical experience long-term
Theatrical: Zack Snyder’s Justice League will reportedly debut in mid-2021 on HBO Max, though it remains to be seen if a theatrical release will happen as well