Zack Snyder has often been regarded as the only person who could save DC from itself, but this wasn't always the case. When Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hit theaters in 2016, it ignited fervent online debates that continue to this day.
Despite an impressive opening weekend that set new box office records, the DC film suffered a monumental decline in its second weekend and ended up performing well below expectations.
During a Q&A session at the Full Circle charity event hosted by Snyder, the acclaimed filmmaker finally addressed the film's negative reception and explained why both critics and audiences criticized it.
Q: "Well this film, in particular, you created so many layers for the storytelling in the characters, and I think you have to want to make an effort to dig a little deeper…"
Snyder: "Yes, but I think that probably is what caused the movie to be so polarizing. I think, and maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like a lot of people went into the movies for going like, 'Oh, it’s the superhero romp, right? Let’s have fun with it.'"
Furthermore, Snyder remarked that the film demanded a great deal of attention from the viewers, which was an aspect they didn't necessarily appreciate.
And we gave them this sort of hardcore deconstructivist, heavily layered, experiential modern mythological superhero movie that needs…that you really need to pay attention to. That was not cool [for them]. That’s not something anyone wanted to do. They were like, 'What? No! That’s exhausting. How about, why do they fight at night?' I hate that.
Backing Snyder's stance, ex-Warner Bros. executive Greg Silverman asserted in a tweet that Snyder's DC films aren't praised by critics due to their personal views of the filmmaker.
I couldn’t agree more. My suspicion always was that Zack’s kindness openness and enthusiasm created an environment for critics to undervalue his work. Because he is a decent approachable humble human, he didn’t fit the mold of an auteur. Shitty. Should be the opposite.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice sees the Dark Knight confront the Man of Steel after he was manipulated by criminal mastermind, Lex Luthor, into a preemptive battle against his archenemy. However, the two Justice League heroes ultimately reconcile their differences and team up to face an even greater adversary, Doomsday, whom they ultimately defeat with the much-needed help of the Amazonian goddess, Wonder Woman.
However, two years after the film's release, Snyder intimated that the "real" Doomsday was still at large. According to the American director, an earlier iteration of Doomsday was created on Krypton, but the experiment that brought him to life had subsequently been banned, rendering Luthor's creation the second version of Doomsday.
It's uncertain if we'll ever witness a live-action showdown between the "real" Doomsday and the Last Son of Krypton, but the probability of it happening is slim.
Back in 2018, Warner Bros. Animation adapted "The Death of Superman" comic storyline into an animated film, which numerous critics lauded as a more accurate adaptation of the source material than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
The good news is that fans of Zack Snyder can look forward to his upcoming grand space opera, Rebel Moon. The film, which will be divided into two parts, will be shot consecutively, and both parts will have extended R-rated versions.
Rebel Moon is scheduled to be released on Netflix on December 22.
