JUSTICE LEAGUE: Warner Bros. Initially Suggested Releasing The "Snyder Cut" In An Unfinished State

When Zack Snyder's Justice League arrives on HBO Max next month, it will be as a fully completed, four-hour feature. However, Warner Bros. initially hoped to put the movie out there unfinished...

By JoshWilding - Feb 16, 2021 02:02 AM EST

Filed Under: Justice League

Zack Snyder's Justice League isn't a movie we ever thought would become a reality, and it doesn't sound like Warner Bros. ever wanted to release it. Ultimately, it seems parent company WarnerMedia decided it would be a good idea to launch this director's cut on HBO Max (in a bid to drive up subscriber numbers), and it's now heading our way on March 18th.

While Snyder was able to bring back certain cast members - and new ones like Jared Leto as The Joker - for reshoots last year, the "Snyder Cut" was far from finished. Visual effects were missing, the score was incomplete, and the whole thing obviously needed to be edited together.

However, studio executives originally considered releasing this version of Justice League in that unfinished state according to producer Deborah Snyder. We've seen that happen with previous director's cuts, of course, but it wouldn't have been overly satisfying to watch the movie like that.

"When they approached us we had to come up with an idea of what it was because originally [the studio was] like, 'You can just put the cut [out] just the way it is.' Zack's like, 'No.' It's like a mish-mosh. The music we can't use. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it the right way, or it's not going to be the right way,'" she explains in an interview with LightCast.

As for the difficulties of actually finishing Justice League, Snyder added: "[Just] to figure out the costs of the visual effects, and we were doing this kind of on our own, so we could put together a presentation that we could go to the studio with and a big part of the presentation was the fans and what that represented to them."

It certainly would have been quite something to watch Zack Snyder's Justice League like this, but no one can blame the filmmaker for not wanting to share that version with the world. We heard a lot of conflicting information about just how complete (or incomplete) the movie was during the height of the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign, but it's clear now that it wasn't as simple as just releasing it on Blu-ray!

Click on the "Next" button below for a breakdown
of Will Beall's Justice League screenplay!

10. Batman And Superman Are Allies

Superman is dead when the Snyder Cut begins, but in Beall's version, the Man of Steel is good friends with Batman. They know each other's secret identities, and meet in a Metropolis diner for a catch-up.

Before heading to Central City to recruit the Flash, there's a battle in Lexcorp Tower against KGBeast and Killer Croc to deal with. Lex Luthor is in the midst of attempting to buy Kryptonite from the former, but they're all interrupted by the arrival of Desaad, one of Darkseid's most loyal followers.

He kills Croc, and makes off with the Kryptonite.

This action-packed, character-heavy opening doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what's to come, however...

9. Darkseid Is The Film's Big Bad

Steppenwolf doesn't get as much to do in this Justice League, and Darkseid is the lead baddie from the start. The film wastes no time in introducing the ruler of Apokolips, with the opening scene taking place on the villain's home planet.

Snyder and Terrio clearly had a different idea for how Darkseid's big screen introduction would work, as he's only expected to make a cameo appearance in the Snyder Cut. The reason for that is because he was supposed to take center stage in the Justice League: Part 2 film Warner Bros. initially greenlit.

Had Beall's script been used, Darkseid might have beaten Thanos to theaters.

While this film may have had Darkseid in spades, there's one member of the League who was set to be M.I.A.

8. There's No Aquaman

Jason Momoa's Aquaman has become a firm fan-favorite, and his solo film grossed over $1 billion globally in 2018.

Beall, however, had no intention of using the King of Atlantis. While there are a lot of other heroes in this Justice League, it seems the writer couldn't quite figure out how to bring this divisive superhero to the screen. Remember, when Beall was penning this screenplay, it was before DC Comics reinvented Arthur Curry with the New 52 reboot.

As you'll soon come to see, it would have been tricky to squeeze Aquaman into this story, because Beall instead focused on characters who Snyder overlooked in his film.

Chief among them is Green Lantern...

7. Green Lantern/Hawkman Team-Up

There was a huge cosmic element to Beall's Justice League screenplay, with Green Lantern John Stewart and Hawkman teaming up in an outer space nightclub to stop Kanjar Ro from helping Dessad weaponize the Kryptonite he stole from Lex Luthor and KGBeast.

We don't get a Hal Jordan mention, and this film was presumably set in a separate world to 2011's Green Lantern starring Ryan Reynolds.

While all this is happening, there's a subplot about Amanda Waller and the Department of Metahuman. Interestingly, she has her own team made up of Tattooed Man, Copperhead, Cheetah, and Solomon Grundy (we'll come back to them).

Also on Earth, Superman is kidnapped by Steppenwolf and his Parademons, and taken back to Apokolips.

6. Massacre On Oa

Batman heads to Themyscira to seek Wonder Woman's help, and we learn they have a romantic history.

John Stewart, meanwhile, returns to Earth, and and meets with Bruce, Diana, and the Flash in the Batcave (which is packed full of Easter Eggs, including The Penguin's Umbrella and multiple Batmobiles and Batsuits).

As the team formulates a plan to rescue Superman, John heads back to Oa, only to find the planet decimated by Darkseid. Katma Tui, Kilowag, Guy Gardner, Salakk, and Tomar-Re are all dead, a sign Beall wasn't exactly thinking ahead to their potential future in the DC Universe...for now, anyway.

With no Green Lantern Corps standing in his way, Darkseid heads to Earth.

5. Batman v Superman

Superman has fallen under Darkseid's control, and a fight with Batman ensues.

Like in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, the Caped Crusader dons a special armored Batsuit to take on the Man of Steel in hand-to-hand combat.

It's Wonder Woman who eventually figures out how to free Superman from Darkseid, and the hero quickly rejoins the League to repel the villain's invasion. However, things get a little strange at this point in Beall's Justice League film because Kal-El finds himself thrust eleven years into the future after travelling through a Boom Tube.

This has to be where Snyder and Terrio got the idea to tackle a "Knightmare" future in their version.

4. A Desolate Future

Superman learns that Darkseid has wiped out 80% of the planet's population, and Diana and Bruce are leading what's left of the human resistance.

Batman is Wonder Woman's second in command, and they have a son: Clark Wayne.

It seems Superman's disappearance through the Boom Tube left Earth defenseless, and even Lex Luthor is now aligned with the heroes. "Batman's Berzerkers" is a team made up of Deathstroke, Captain Boomerang, Huntress, and Cheetah, essentially meaning the Dark Knight is the leader of the Suicide Squad.

The survivors are based in Superman's Fortress of Solitude.

3. Time-Travel

We know Batman and Cyborg are responsible for sending the Flash back in time in the SnyderVerse, though it's likely those scenes were being saved for the sequel.

In Beall's film, it's Lex Luthor who figured out how to send Barry Allen eleven years into the past.

The Future Flash arrives on Earth prior to Darkseid's invasion, and dies in his younger self's arms shortly after warning the younger Barry about what's to come for the League.

After warning his teammates, the stage is set for an epic battle...

2. Epic Final Battle

Superman has already been taken to Apokolips at this point, so Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and Green Lantern travel to the planet to stop Darkseid before he can brainwash their teammate.

Superman is rescued, and the heroes take on the villain and his forces.

The Green Lantern Corps - who are alive in this timeline - soon arrive to lend a helping hand, as do the Amazon warriors from Themyscira. As you might expect, the heroes emerge victorious from the battle, and stop that desolate future from ever becoming a reality.

Darkseid may be defeated, but there's another foe waiting in the wings.

1. President Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor is planning to run for President, a nice hint at how his story played out in the comics. However, there's one final surprise that could set the stage for a Superman spinoff film.

Lex receives a message from his future self, and learns that Superman is, in fact, Clark Kent.

Beall's screenplay doesn't reveal what the villain does with that information, but there are plenty of ways that could have been addressed. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Lex deduces that himself, and the pay off wasn't quite what a lot of fans out there hoped for.

Beall's film sounds like it could have been a fun ride, but how much Snyder and Terrio borrowed is currently up in the air.

h/t The Wrap

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Open To Making Animated Sequels; Believes Some DC Fans Are Brainwashed

Recommended For You:

Henry Cavill Jokes (We Think) That His JUSTICE LEAGUE Mustache "Nearly Ruined My Career"

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?

Want to contribute?

104 Comments

1 2 3

dracula - 2/16/2021, 3:01 AM

He is lucky he got anything.

He can thank covid, without the lockdown they would have been able to make more content for HBOMax and wouldnt need this cut

aresww3 - 2/16/2021, 3:35 AM

@dracula - i would have laughed so hard. and his fans won't even admit he basically lied to them, and used them to strong arm and hold ransom wb for 70 million to a 100 million dollars.

dracula - 2/16/2021, 3:37 AM

@aresww3 - yup, there was never a finished cut and yeah this isnt even what would have been released in 2017, no studio would put out a 4 hour movie today

BoW - 2/16/2021, 4:40 AM

@aresww3 - Oh poor little ol WB and their executives cashing in their JL bonuses at the end of 2017.

BestAtWhatIDo - 2/16/2021, 5:06 AM

@dracula - Exactly; this would never have happened if the studio were only focused on theatrical releases. They need an exclusive to boost subscribers; something that HBOMax, as much as I like it personally, is struggling with at the moment.

Saintsinnister - 2/16/2021, 3:10 AM

This is a perfect example of how the minds over at WB work. This is trending on Twitter, release it now! Who gives a shit if it’s done or not? Quality is not a concern.

Himura - 2/16/2021, 3:11 AM

Man...to be a fly on the wall for that presentation when he asked for those millions to do this.

Elbarto63 - 2/16/2021, 3:23 AM

Yikes. Dunno who's the worst at business decisions...., Snyder or WB.

BoW - 2/16/2021, 4:37 AM

@Elbarto63 - Not even remotely debatable...WB.

BestAtWhatIDo - 2/16/2021, 5:10 AM

@Elbarto63 - I mean Snyder is clearly quite savvy. He got his money upfront I'm sure, wanted to finish his movie, wanted to work doing Covid, and was smart enough to capitalize on the HBOMax launch and a pause in film production.

1 2 3

Related Headlines

Justice League

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Open To Making Animated Sequels; Believes Some DC Fans Are "Brainwashed"

JoshWilding

5 days ago

Justice League

Henry Cavill Jokes (We Think) That His JUSTICE LEAGUE Mustache "Nearly Ruined My Career"

JoshWilding

5 days ago

Justice League

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Suggests His Fans Campaign To #ReleaseTheSnyderCut Of SUCKER PUNCH

JoshWilding

5 days ago

Related Headlines

Justice League

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Open To Making Animated Sequels; Believes Some DC Fans Are "Brainwashed"

JoshWilding

5 days ago

Justice League

Henry Cavill Jokes (We Think) That His JUSTICE LEAGUE Mustache "Nearly Ruined My Career"

JoshWilding

5 days ago

Justice League

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Suggests His Fans Campaign To #ReleaseTheSnyderCut Of SUCKER PUNCH

JoshWilding

5 days ago

Justice League

JUSTICE LEAGUE: Zack Snyder Marks Snyder Cut's 3-Year Anniversary With New Look At Jared Leto's Joker

JoshWilding

Mar 19, 2024 07:03 AM

Justice League

ZACK SNYDER'S JUSTICE LEAGUE: Revisiting The Movie's Best Easter Eggs 3 Years After The Snyder Cut's Release

JoshWilding

Mar 18, 2024 12:03 PM

Justice League

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics Announces New Red-Band WEREWOLF BY NIGHT Series Full Of Blood-Soaked Action

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

X-Men '97

X-MEN '97 Directors On Potentially Taking The Characters Into Live-Action For MCU Reboot

MarkCassidy

4 hours ago

Latest Headlines

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

ANT-MAN: Michael Douglas Pushed For Hank Pym's Death In QUANTUMANIA; Suggests He's Now Done With The Role

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics Announces New Red-Band WEREWOLF BY NIGHT Series Full Of Blood-Soaked Action

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

X-Men '97

X-MEN '97 Directors On Potentially Taking The Characters Into Live-Action For MCU Reboot

MarkCassidy

4 hours ago

Jurassic Park

JURASSIC WORLD Sequel Circling BRIDGERTON Star Jonathan Bailey For Lead Role

RohanPatel

4 hours ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Every Rumored And Confirmed Deadpool Corps Member Set To Appear In The Movie

JoshWilding

4 hours ago

Spider-Man

SPIDER-MAN Swings To Impressive Box Office Haul For Re-Release As Crowd Reaction To Final Swing Goes Viral

JoshWilding

5 hours ago

Hot Headlines

104 comments

REACHER Star Alan Ritchson Won't Star In "Marvel Movies Regurgitating Stories We've Seen A Thousand Times"

JoshWilding

7 hours ago EST

86 comments

Is The SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Sequel Still Happening? Star Simu Liu Shares Update

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

70 comments

Layoffs Hit Marvel Studios After Bob Iger Previously Hinted At Reduced Output And Greater Focus On Quality

MarkJulian

22 hours ago EST

69 comments

RUMOR: DC Comics Launching "Absolute Comics" Reboot From Scott Snyder; Compared To Marvel's Ultimate Line

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

69 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

Disney's Goofy Was The Inspiration For The Terrifying Monsters In Nicolas Cage's New Horror Movie

More Cartoons & Animated ►

BORDERLANDS Movie Star Ariana Greenblatt Reveals Her Inspirations For Bringing Tiny Tina To Life

More Anime & Manga ►

ARCADIAN: The Monsters In Nicolas Cage's New Horror Movie Were Inspired By... Goofy!?

More Horror ►

Alex Garland's CIVIL WAR Is The #1 Movie In North America- Opens To $25.7M

More Action Movies & TV ►

Chad Gable Turns Heel On RAW By Brutally Attacking Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn

More Pro Wrestling ►

ALIEN: Ridley Scott's 1979 Masterpiece Returning To Theaters To Celebrate 45th Anniversary

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

JUSTICE LEAGUE: Warner Bros. Initially Suggested Releasing The "Snyder Cut" In An Unfinished State

When Zack Snyder's Justice League arrives on HBO Max next month, it will be as a fully completed, four-hour feature. However, Warner Bros. initially hoped to put the movie out there unfinished...

10. Batman And Superman Are Allies

9. Darkseid Is The Film's Big Bad

8. There's No Aquaman

7. Green Lantern/Hawkman Team-Up

6. Massacre On Oa

5. Batman v Superman

4. A Desolate Future

3. Time-Travel

2. Epic Final Battle

1. President Lex Luthor

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Open To Making Animated Sequels; Believes Some DC Fans Are "Brainwashed"

Henry Cavill Jokes (We Think) That His JUSTICE LEAGUE Mustache "Nearly Ruined My Career"

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Open To Making Animated Sequels; Believes Some DC Fans Are "Brainwashed"

Henry Cavill Jokes (We Think) That His JUSTICE LEAGUE Mustache "Nearly Ruined My Career"

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Suggests His Fans Campaign To #ReleaseTheSnyderCut Of SUCKER PUNCH

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Open To Making Animated Sequels; Believes Some DC Fans Are "Brainwashed"

Henry Cavill Jokes (We Think) That His JUSTICE LEAGUE Mustache "Nearly Ruined My Career"

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Suggests His Fans Campaign To #ReleaseTheSnyderCut Of SUCKER PUNCH

JUSTICE LEAGUE: Zack Snyder Marks Snyder Cut's 3-Year Anniversary With New Look At Jared Leto's Joker

ZACK SNYDER'S JUSTICE LEAGUE: Revisiting The Movie's Best Easter Eggs 3 Years After The Snyder Cut's Release

SPIDER-MAN Star J.K. Simmons Explains Viral Workout Photo And Admits He Didn't Get Jacked For JUSTICE LEAGUE

Popular Headlines

Rebecca Ferguson Was Contacted By Several Former Co-Stars After Publicly Slamming "Idiot" Actor

Geena Davis Explains Why She Won't Return As Barbara Maitland For BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

REACHER Star Alan Ritchson Won't Star In "Marvel Movies Regurgitating Stories We've Seen A Thousand Times"

SPIDER-MAN Swings To Impressive Box Office Haul For Re-Release As Crowd Reaction To Final Swing Goes Viral

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Some Intriguing, Potentially Spoilery Details About Headpool Have Been Revealed

ANT-MAN: Michael Douglas Pushed For Hank Pym's Death In QUANTUMANIA; Suggests He's Now Done With The Role

Marvel Comics Announces New Red-Band WEREWOLF BY NIGHT Series Full Of Blood-Soaked Action

X-MEN '97 Directors On Potentially Taking The Characters Into Live-Action For MCU Reboot

ANT-MAN: Michael Douglas Pushed For Hank Pym's Death In QUANTUMANIA; Suggests He's Now Done With The Role

Marvel Comics Announces New Red-Band WEREWOLF BY NIGHT Series Full Of Blood-Soaked Action

X-MEN '97 Directors On Potentially Taking The Characters Into Live-Action For MCU Reboot

JURASSIC WORLD Sequel Circling BRIDGERTON Star Jonathan Bailey For Lead Role

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Every Rumored And Confirmed Deadpool Corps Member Set To Appear In The Movie

SPIDER-MAN Swings To Impressive Box Office Haul For Re-Release As Crowd Reaction To Final Swing Goes Viral

Hot Headlines

REACHER Star Alan Ritchson Won't Star In "Marvel Movies Regurgitating Stories We've Seen A Thousand Times"

Is The SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Sequel Still Happening? Star Simu Liu Shares Update

Layoffs Hit Marvel Studios After Bob Iger Previously Hinted At Reduced Output And Greater Focus On Quality

RUMOR: DC Comics Launching "Absolute Comics" Reboot From Scott Snyder; Compared To Marvel's Ultimate Line

Fired THE MANDALORIAN Star Gina Carano Says Pedro Pascal Remembers Her As A "Protector" On Set

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

ALIEN: Ridley Scott's 1979 Masterpiece Returning To Theaters To Celebrate 45th Anniversary

DUNE: PART TWO - First 10 Minutes Of Denis Villeneuve's Epic Sequel Officially Released Online

JURASSIC WORLD 4 Taps BRIDGERTON & BROADCHURCH Star Jonathan Bailey For Leading Role

Cartoons & Animated Features

Disney's Goofy Was The Inspiration For The Terrifying Monsters In Nicolas Cage's New Horror Movie

TRANSFORMERS ONE Trailer Release Date Revealed; Will (Literally) Launch In Outer Space

X-MEN '97 Clip Takes Us Into Outer Space For A Heated Confrontation Between Deathbird And [SPOILER]

Gaming

BORDERLANDS Movie Star Ariana Greenblatt Reveals Her Inspirations For Bringing Tiny Tina To Life

FALLOUT Star Ella Purnell Is Teasing A Deeply Tragic New Season Of Netflix's ARCANE

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 Adds Keanu Reeves As The Villainous Shadow

Anime & Manga

Donald Glover Teaming Up With Comedian Zack Fox On New Anime

ONE PIECE ODYSSEY Coming To Nintendo Switch This July

ONE PUNCH MAN Movie Still In The Works From Justin Lin; RICK AND MORTY Scribes Rewriting Script

Horror

ARCADIAN: The Monsters In Nicolas Cage's New Horror Movie Were Inspired By... Goofy!?

READY OR NOT Directors Confirm "Absolute F*cking Banger Of A Sequel" Is In The Works

ABIGAIL First Reviews Land As Movie Earns Fangtastic Early Rotten Tomatoes Score

Action Movies & TV

Alex Garland's CIVIL WAR Is The #1 Movie In North America- Opens To $25.7M

THE ACCOUNTANT 2 Adds Four More Actors Including JURASSIC WORLD Star Daniella Pineda

Edgar Wright's RUNNING MAN Remake Casts TOP GUN's Glen Powell In The Lead

Pro Wrestling & MMA News

Chad Gable Turns Heel On RAW By Brutally Attacking Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn

The Undertaker Only Found Out About His Surprise WRESTLEMANIA Return On The Day It Happened

Rhea Ripley Forced To Relinquish Women's World Championship Due To Injury; New Tag Team Titles Revealed

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

ALIEN: Ridley Scott's 1979 Masterpiece Returning To Theaters To Celebrate 45th Anniversary

DUNE: PART TWO - First 10 Minutes Of Denis Villeneuve's Epic Sequel Officially Released Online

JURASSIC WORLD 4 Taps BRIDGERTON & BROADCHURCH Star Jonathan Bailey For Leading Role

REAL STEEL TV Series Gets A Promising Update From Original Director Shawn Levy

JURASSIC CITY Reportedly Eyes FEAR THE WALKING DEAD Star Colman Domingo For Its Lead Villain

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Confirms Six-Hour Director's Cuts; Teases Release Date And Threequel Plans

Cartoons & Animated Features