Director Zack Snyder has stepped down from his duties on Justice League. He has done so to be with his family, in light of . The filmmaker’s daughter committed suicide in March, something that was kept private until now. After a few months of continuing work, Snyder and his wife, producer Deborah Snyder, have decided to step away from the production. Filmmaker Joss Whedon, who recently signed with Warner Bros. to direct Batgirl, will oversee the rest of post-production.
No matter your feelings in regards to Snyder, his DC films, and his work outside of the DC Universe, this is a deeply tragic situation. Our hearts go out to the Snyders, their family, and their friends. As a father of two, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain they have been going through. Kudos to Warner Bros. for fully supporting them in their decision. I can only hope the fans do the same.
How will this affect the film? It honestly doesn’t really matter, as far as I am concerned. It’s just a movie. We place a lot of importance on films, both as critics and fans, but no film is more important than someone’s life or well-being. No film is more important than one’s family. Also, if you yourself are ever thinking about ending your life, please seek out help. No matter who you are, there are people out there who love you and are willing to help you get through your troubles.
All of that said, no delay is expected to result from Snyder’s departure. It appears that Joss Whedon and WB have already been working closely with him to make the transition a smooth one. Whedon will oversee the additional photography that was already scheduled to take place early this summer, as well as the remaining months of post-production that lie ahead. He will, no doubt, do his best to remain true to Snyder’s vision for the project.
In the meantime, Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman will arrive in theaters in a few weeks. The film is currently receiving positive notices from most critics who have screened the film. DC’s first post-Justice League feature, James Wan’s Aquaman, is currently in production, ahead of a late 2018 release. All other projects remain in the early stages of development, with no production timeline currently in place.
