Director Zack Snyder revealed the conflict between Batman and The Joker is "central to the universe," which was why he made certain to restore it to Zack Snyder's Justice League, his expanded cut of the 2017 film.
"It was important to me that Batman and Joker have a scene together," Snyder said during an interview with I Minutemen on YouTube. "Let's be honest, Batman/Joker are kind of the -- that conflict is central to the universe," Snyder continued. He added that "it seemed odd to me or a shame" not to have it be part of the story that unites the world's heroes against a threat to all of existence.
"Frankly, it was a conflict that I had planned for the nightmare sequence," he continued. "And so, you know [I] was excited to like, get the opportunity to do it, to have a little taste [of] that. So, I thought it was important for fans to see their Batman and this cinematic universe's Joker coming to some small conflict."
The Snyder Cut of Justice League restores more than two hours of footage that didn't appear in the theatrical release, which was finished in post-production by The Avengers director Joss Whedon, as Snyder left to deal with a family tragedy.
In ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE, determined to ensure Superman’s ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf, DeSaad and Darkseid and their dreadful intentions.
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, 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: YouTube