When first teased by the director, Zack Snyder's Justice League felt like something more akin to finding Bigfoot than anything close to reality. Nevertheless, fan interference and the introduction of HBO Max helped bring this long-debated cut of the film to fruition. It also took a bit of monetary support from Warner Bros. to properly bring Snyder's vision to life.
The theatrical cut of Justice League ended up becoming one of the most expensive films ever, with a $300 million budget. This also included the reshoots done by Joss Whedon after he picked up the project. However, when Zack Snyder's Justice League gained more traction, it still needed more money to finish its extensive visual effects shots.
In a New York Times interview, Snyder explained how the creation of the film came to be and what went into making it a reality. He stated, " I want [the heroes] to be fully realized as characters, existing in that world." To create fully-realized characters, it became equally important to create a believable world, which required a modest budget to bring to life.
In the end, Snyder was able to secure an extra $70 million to finish what shots were needed to complete his cut of Justice League. This even included bringing back Jared Leto's Joker to finally film a scene opposite Ben Affleck's Batman, something that had never been done with these iterations of the characters. Fortunately, Snyder had filmed enough scenes to ensure that every penny went to new material rather than working on what already existed.
Aside from picking up scenes that hadn't been filmed yet, the budget also went to fleshing out character arcs and giving them their time to shine. No character needed it more than Ray Fisher's Cyborg. He didn't have many scenes that expanded his character in the theatrical cut, but in Zack Snyder's Justice League, he is considered the film's heart. That being said, it should be noted that while the scenes will undoubtedly define the character, Warner Bros. hasn't officially made the film canon.
Certain characters that were cut from the theatrical release will also be making their debuts in the Zack Snyder's Justice League. This includes the utterly terrifying Darkseid and Harry Lennix as the Martian Manhunter. According to the director, there is even a cameo that no fan is ready for.
Zack Snyder's Justice League will surely be as divisive as it is praised. While this may seem risky, it's also exactly what fans have been asking for. No matter how the film is received, it's evident that its extra $70 million budget has not been wasted.