Zack Snyder is stepping down as director of Justice League, not because he’s still embarrassed over Superman vs. Batman, but because his daughter passed away.
While this is an unfortunate situation, Snyder has entrusted the film to Joss Whedon, who has a pretty good track record when it comes to ensemble superhero movies. The movie is still on schedule to release in November. Whedon will just finish up post-production and shoot any additional scenes.
Snyder’s wife, Deborah, is also stepping away from the film. She worked as a producer.
Zack’s daughter, Autumn Snyder, took her own life in March, but the Snyders kept it private. The film took a two-week break, but Snyder was eager to return. Uhhh, dude, chill. Family comes first. I’m sure these crazy DC fans would have understood.
Here’s what Snyder had to say:
“In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was the way through it,” said an emotional Snyder in an interview Monday in his office on the Warner Bros. lot, with Deborah sitting by his side. “The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all-consuming. And in the last two months, I’ve come to the realization … I’ve decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me. They are all having a hard time. I’m having a hard time.”
Yeah, you didn’t realize this two months ago?
The studio was willing to give Snyder as much time as he needed, even pushing back the release of the film. But Snyder was actually worried about how fans would react.
The internet and comic book movie fans being what they are, Snyder already is anticipating what some DC loyalists may think.
“Here’s the thing, I never planned to make this public,” he says. “I thought it would just be in the family, a private matter, our private sorrow that we would deal with. When it became obvious that I need to take a break, I knew there would be narratives created on the internet. They’ll do what they do. The truth is … I’m past caring about that kind of thing now.”
I’m sure the vocal minority would have been pissed, but the vast majority would have understood.
People in Hollywood really need to realize that family comes first and this movie stuff can wait. Hopefully, the Snyder family takes all the time they need.