I know, I know, many of you are tired to death of the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut hashtag and all that it encompasses, but I also know that many are in support of it, myself included. It wasn't always that way. Certain events of late have altered my perception of the movement and, ultimately, the film itself and the man behind it, director Zack Snyder. To catch you all up to speed, there was a lot of behind-the-scenes drama while JUSTICE LEAGUE was in production, as well as some real-life tragedy, which ultimately led to Snyder "stepping away" from the film and director Joss Whedon stepping in for reshoots and to "retool" the film for release. What we got was fairly enjoyable romp that flopped at the box office and failed to meet the style, tone or delivery of Snyder's previous DC efforts, including MAN OF STEEL and BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, the former of which made solid box office, but divided critics, causing the shifting plates at WB to go into panic mode and reshape Snyder's vision with a new director, however "amicable" the press may have made it seem.
Today is the anniversary of JUSTICE LEAGUE's release and fans have taken to social media to express their unity for Snyder's vision, spreading the hashtag far and wide and making it trend #1 in the U.S. While fans kicking up a storm may not seem like much to move the needle, it soon led to some of the original stars of the film to express support for the movement, with Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, tweeting the hashtag, soon followed by the former Batman, Ben Affleck. Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg, has shown his support for a long time now and of course expressed his solidarity as well. Snyder himself retweeted his stars, showing support for his vision amongst the support being tossed his way. Even SUICIDE SQUAD director David Ayer showed his support. Ayer has proclaimed his own issues in getting the proper cut of his vision for SUICIDE SQUAD since it's release and reception (like BVS, it did well financially, but was critically panned). I suspect more will follow come Monday morning.
What does this all mean? Does it mean WB will take the movement seriously?
If you asked me a few months ago, I'd say "I doubt it" but the hateful, spiteful and bitter sect of the ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement has subsided to a large degree, uniting in a way that expresses passion and support, rather than blanket demands and hate-tagging everyone involved. After the success of AQUAMAN, WONDER WOMAN and now JOKER, I can't imagine WB wouldn't even consider what releaseing the Snyder Cut could mean. If the ties to every other film are no longer the key ingredient to making them work, then perhaps there's room for the Snyder Cut to exist without trampling on any kind of linear narrative between films, much like JOKER has done (and become the most successful R-Rated film of all time in the process…without China, I might add).
So, love it or hate it, the Snyder Cut movement is in full swing and picking up momentum. If it can stay alive with a sense of positivity and level-headed protest to see an artist's vision be shown as intended, I really can't find any reason to oppose it. And, again, given some recent conversations of which I can't divulge just yet, I can say that my support is absolutely there to see this wrong righted and a hole in a filmography filled. Time will tell.
Zack Snyder's next film, ARMY OF THE DEAD, will release in 2020 on Netflix.