#ReleaseTheSnyderCut: Justice League director’s cut will be released in 2021, Zack Snyder confirms

Fans have campaigned for release of original cut since 2017, earning the support of the film’s stars in the process

Zack Snyder has announced a 2021 release for his director’s cut of the superhero team-up movie Justice League.

Snyder made the long-in-the-works announcement during a live-streamed watch party for his 2013 Superman movie Man of Steel, confirming that the film will debut on new streaming service HBO Max.

In a statement, Snyder said: “I want to thank HBO Max and Warner Brothers for this brave gesture of supporting artists and allowing their true visions to be realised. Also a special thank you to all of those involved in the SnyderCut movement for making this a reality.”

While little is known about Snyder’s original vision for the 2017 blockbuster, it is believed to have been wildly different to that of Joss Whedon, who was brought on to complete the film and guide several months of reshoots. Snyder stepped down from the movie following the death of his daughter.

Despite assurances at the time that Whedon had merely added flourishes to Snyder’s work, many fans believed it had been radically altered. The subsequent fan movement, which used the hashtag #ReleaseTheSnyderCut across social media, developed upon the film’s release. They have continued to vocally press for the release of Snyder’s original cut in the years since.

Justice League stars Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa have all declared their support for the #SnyderCut movement, with Momoa revealing in 2019 that he had seen the film.

“I think the public needs to see it,” he said. “I’m obviously indebted to Warners and DC and I don’t know how they feel about it. But as a fan, I’m very, very happy I got to see it.”

Robert Greenblatt, chairman of Warner Bros Entertainment, said that the fans were responsible for the decision to finally release the film.

“Since I got here 14 months ago, the chant to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut has been a daily drumbeat in our offices and inboxes,” he said in a statement. “Well, the fans have asked, and we are thrilled to finally deliver. At the end of the day, it really is all about them and we are beyond excited to be able to release Zack’s ultimate vision for this film in 2021.”

During the Man of Steel live-stream, Snyder said that he did not have an official date for the film’s release, adding that he still had “a little work to do” for it to be finished.