Justice League: The Real Story Of The Snyder Cut

1. Whedon's Take

The humour was mostly shoe-horned in by Whedon as part of his need to lighten the tone - though not the gag about Aquaman sitting on Diana's lasso. Wonder Woman's story - or at least the references to her own movie - were beefed up because of the success of Patty Jenkins' movie. Snyder also had no Russian family in his cut, which has Whedon all over it.

For all of the talk that Whedon's cuts and changes were minimal, the reality of the past two years reveals that they were numerous and sought not to follow Snyder's blueprint - which was way darker, way more invested in mythology and way more focused on setting up future movies - but to reinvent and reshape the story in Whedon's Marvel-fed image. It wasn't successful because it wasn't the right way to approach the film at all.

Whether Snyder's vision was correct also remains a point for debate, but there's something romantic about the idea of not knowing for certain. It gives his fans a hero who never needs to be weighed up against his actual achievements with Justice League. All we need is the vaguest suggestion - teased through concept art and leaks - that Snyder's version would have been cooler and would have had set-pieces and lore and world-building that WOULD have improved it and Snyder becomes the hero his fans want him to be.

Quite why he'd sanction the release of his version when he can trade on that magic is a little confusing. But then, Snyder is persistently committed to his own vision - hence his release of Directors Cuts of other movies - and it is increasingly clear that he believes, stubbornly, in the quality of his vision. Which is partly what fuels his fandom.

Will we ever actually see the Snyder Cut? Well, there's a lot of interest in it thanks to the second anniversary of Justice League's release coming with further support from involved parties - including Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot - and there is SOME belief that it will actually lead to activity, but you have to question, somewhat, whether Warner Bros would ever sanction a movie that effectively stands as a monument to their wrongness. Would they allow something to come out and be better than the version THEY greenlit? Would they allow the black mark against them and whoever said yes?

There is the faintest glimmer of hope - and what is a world without hope anyway? - and it may be that Warner Bros see an opportunity to release the Snyder Cut on HBO Max, but whatever the case, it's been a compelling story probably more interesting than the theatrical cut itself.

Would you like to see the Snyder Cut? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.