A former Warner Bros. executive has reportedly expressed regret over the studio's past conflicts with director Zack Snyder regarding his vision for the DC Universe. Snyder shared this sentiment in a recent interview with Variety, describing the period as a "low point."
The executive, who is no longer with the company, allegedly told Snyder, "You were right about everything." They admitted that the studio had "battled" him, but ultimately conceded that Snyder's approach was correct. Snyder suggested the studio's actions stemmed from a desire to protect its valuable intellectual property, viewing the situation as an opportunity to regain control of the films.
Warner Bros. and Snyder reportedly clashed over his darker, more grounded interpretations of DC characters. Snyder's films featured Superman killing General Zod, Batman killing and branding individuals, and plans for a tyrannical Superman. As audience reception varied, the studio began to push back and compromise Snyder's original creative direction.
Snyder also revealed that he has never seen the theatrical cut of Justice League, which underwent significant reshoots and tonal changes under Joss Whedon after Snyder stepped away during post-production due to the death of his daughter. He noted that his wife, producer Deborah Snyder, saw Whedon's cut and advised him against watching it, sensing it would be heartbreaking. The theatrical Justice League was met with critical and commercial disappointment and is largely seen as having disrupted the cohesion of the DC film continuity.
While he hasn't seen the recent James Gunn-led DC reboot, including Superman and the upcoming Supergirl, Snyder stated his relationship with DC remains "too personal" and "too soon" to engage with. He expressed appreciation for Gunn's vision.
Snyder has since moved on to other projects, including his passion project, The Last Photograph. IGN's review of the film noted its languid pace and lack of substance, assigning it a 4/10.