The pandemic provided Zack and Deborah Snyder with one final hurdle when it came to finishing the new cut of Justice League.
Producer Deborah Snyder spoke with THR about finalizing her husband's vision for Justice League, which arrives tomorrow on HBO Max. But aside from the standard issues of finishing up a movie years after production has wrapped, like actors having packed schedules, the creative team and actors had to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Ezra was shooting Fantastic Beasts, so Zack directed him over Zoom," Snyder said. "His crew was gracious enough to shoot him, and Zack piped in over Zoom. Ben and Jared (Leto) were not available on the same days, so they were shot separately. Ben was shot with the rest of the group (including Fisher, Amber Heard and Joe Manganiello). We planned that in COVID around everybody's schedule, but with the impending deadline. Those visual effects were the last things that we got done. It was only three days. And we probably could have shot it faster, but with all the COVID protocols, it just takes a little bit longer to get things done. And also to get up and running with everybody."
One key moment that Zack Snyder wanted to include was a new scene between Batman and Joker, finally bringing the iconic rivals together within his version of the DCEU.
"It was so much fun. The way it came about, I think for Zack, the ultimate was always to have a scene with Batman and Joker," Snyder continued. "I think he wanted to do one thing that was just fresh. Because a lot of people are like, 'Oh, you probably did a lot of additional photography.' And actually no, everything else we had. We had all this amazing photography that really completed everybody's arcs and completed the story. It was this one thing and then we shot some pickups for another scene at the same time, but that was it."
Despite critics being split over the new take on the superhero film, the movie is Zack Snyder's best-reviewed DC film. Outside of the narrative itself, many are also curious about the unique situation and how it all came together. Luckily, HBO Max is airing a making-of documentary alongside the release of the movie.
Zack Snyder's Justice League stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Ray Porter as Darkseid, Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. The film arrives on HBO Max March 18.
Source: THR