Zack Snyder’s Justice League is, reportedly, getting a “black-and-white” version, following official tweet that hints “Justice is Gray.” The classic visual style of which, in theory, could provide a fresh perspective to the lengthy movie.
https://twitter.com/snydercut/status/1373424594787446786
Fans clamoring for the original vision of Justice League had their pleas heard when the “Zack Snyder cut” saw distribution via HBO Max last week. Essentially, the version that sees incorporation of many scenes not seen from the theatrical 2017 release.
Following original intention to extend beyond the average Hollywood film length, it spans a whopping 242 minutes from start to finish. Twice the duration of the Joss Whedon-redirected Justice League. The very same DC-based film which was reported to have only used 10 percent of the original director’s creations.
Conversely, by being true to the initial director’s view, the Zack Snyder’s cut didn’t employ any scene produced by Whedon. Thus, making the video-on-demand release an absolute faithful illustration to the first imagining.
#ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement
Word about the unused Snyder-directed scenes came as soon as the big screen Justice League hit the theaters in 2017. A notion that gave life to the moniker “Josstice League,” referring to the substituting director’s own re-interpretation of the entire project. More importantly, it led to a petition demanding the release of the “Snyder Cut,” which subsequently took more than 100,000 signatures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM-Bja2Gy04
The campaign asking for the original director’s cut came even before the idea of said cut coming into public attention. The suspicion primarily boiling from the fact that Snyder had to leave post-production following the death of his daughter. Subsequently, paving the way for Whedon. An action that left the popular film-maker without credit for the work he initially did partake in. Events of which that may had been telling that the 2017 version was of inferior quality.
However, the misgiving is not necessarily unfounded. Members and crew of Justice League who knew first-hand likely being the source. Eventually, coming out and voicing their support to the effort.
A viable undertaking
Pundits in the industry question the viability of releasing an alternate cut for Justice League even after strong demands. The concern being partly in part the additional cost for the endeavor, worth millions in dollars. Now confirmed to be at least $70 million.
However, Zack Snyder, is not entirely a stranger when it comes to re-releasing films he made. Such as what he did in the past after launching the extended versions of his previous works, namely Watchmen and Batman v Superman. This belief alone made the chance of a Justice League alternate cut a feasibility rather than an impossibility.
A monochromatic visual may long be dated, but it certainly has appeal to the modern audiences. Much that certain recent moving pictures are blatantly made with as few colors as possible for unique aesthetic charm, retro-style. This would be especially true for a film that’s obviously of great entertainment value as Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Image used courtesy of HBO Max/YouTube Screenshot