#ReleaseTheSnyderCut Movement Begins With A Timeline And Emotional Tribute
THE BUILD UP
June 30th, 2016: Rick shows gift for pre production on The Flash.
July 22nd, 2016: Rick mentions he’s heading to SDCC.
July 23rd, 2016: Rick takes photo with Ben Affleck and David Ayer.
July 23rd, 2016: SDCC with Suicide Squad Trailer, Wonder Woman Trailer, and Justice League Trailer
- Fans got a glimpse of never-before-seen footage from the superhero all-star film “Justice League “ from director Zack Snyder, as well as the action-packed first trailer for “Wonder Woman ,” starring Gal Gadot.
- Snyder and the cast flew in from London to tease “Justice League,” which is currently in production and not set to hit theaters until November 2017.
- Warner Bros. has 10 films pegged to the interconnected universe over the next few years including “Suicide Squad,” which comes out next month, “Wonder Woman,” ‘’Aquaman,” ‘’The Flash,” and the stand alone “Batman” film, which Affleck is directing and starring in.
- To kick things off, Affleck was joined on stage by all of his fellow directors David Ayer (“Suicide Squad”), Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”), James Wan (“Aquaman”), Rick Famuyiwa (“The Flash”) and Snyder.
- “DC is the foundation of what we all know about comic books and heroes. To have my voice be a part of that is really exciting,” Famuyiwa said.
- Wan, who made his name in horror films like the “Saw” and “Conjuring” films said that he’d be bringing some of that sensibility to “Aquaman” as well.
- Neither Wan nor Famuyiwa had any footage to show, since “The Flash” and “Aquaman” don’t come out until 2018, but fans did get a first look at director Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman ,” which highlights the romance and World War I-era adventure of Diana Prince’s origins.
- The baddies of “Suicide Squad” took the stage too, including stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto.
- “This is not a movie about good versus evil,” Smith said. “This is a movie about bad versus evil.”
July 25th, 2016: Kiersey Clemons is cast as Iris West in The Flash movie.
- “The Flash” had to overcome the hurdle of replacing the film’s original director, Seth Grahame-Smith, who parted ways with the project over creative differences. “Dope” helmer Rick Famuyiwa took over directing duties in June. The movie, however, appears to be able to meet its planned start date. Production is expected to commence sometime this year.
August 3rd, 2016: Word comes out about Suicide Squad troubles from The Hollywood Reporter.
- So despite grueling moments, multiple editors and competing cuts, the production of Suicide Squad barely stands out in today’s landscape. In a joint statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Ayer and Warner Bros. production president Greg Silverman say: “This was an amazing experience. We did a lot of experimentation and collaboration along the way. But we are both very proud of the result. This is a David Ayer film, and Warners is proud to present it.”
- Warners chief Kevin Tsujihara announced the project in October 2014 as part of a slate of 10 DC films stretching into 2020. Though the studio believed there was enough time to get the movie done, a source with ties to the project says it was a sprint from the start. “[Ayer] wrote the script in like, six weeks, and they just went,” he says, arguing that the whole process would have benefited if Ayer, 48, had been given more time to work. But another source closely involved with the film says once it was dated, pushing back the release was not an option: “It’s not just that you’ve told the public the movie is coming, you’ve made huge deals around the world with huge branding partners, with merchandise partners. It’s a really big deal to move a tentpole date.”
- A source with knowledge of events says Warners executives, nervous from the start, grew more anxious after they were blindsided and deeply rattled by the tepid response to BvS. “Kevin was really pissed about damage to the brand,” says one executive close to the studio. A key concern for Warners executives was that Suicide Squad didn’t deliver on the fun, edgy tone promised in the strong teaser trailer for the film. So while Ayer pursued his original vision, Warners set about working on a different cut, with an assist from Trailer Park, the company that had made the teaser.
- By the time the film was done, multiple editors had been brought into the process, though only John Gilroy is credited. (A source says he left by the end of the process and that the final editor was Michael Tronick.) “When you have big tentpoles and time pressure, you pull in resources from every which way you can,” says this source. “You can’t do it the way it used to be, with one editor and one assistant editor.”
- In May, Ayer’s more somber version and a lighter, studio-favored version were tested with audiences in Northern California. “If there are multiple opinions that aren’t in sync, you go down multiple tracks — two tracks at least,” says an insider. “That was the case here for a period of time, always trying to get to a place where you have consensus.” Those associated with the film insist Ayer agreed to and participated in the process. Once feedback on the two versions was analyzed, it became clear it was possible to get to “a very common-ground place.” (The studio-favored version with more characters introduced early in the film and jazzed-up graphics won.) Getting to that place of consensus, however, required millions of dollars’ worth of additional photography.
- Other sources describe a fraught process — one cites “a lot of panic and ego instead of calmly addressing the tonal issue.” Clearly all wasn’t sitting right with Ayer, who in June suddenly dropped his longtime agent at CAA and defected to WME, though the agency won him back in a day. “He was under a lot — a lot — of pressure,” says one person with knowledge of the situation, arguing that Ayer was exhausted and needed time to process conflicting ideas.
- And there may have been other strains. Just weeks before the two versions were tested, Warner Bros. declined to ante up for Ayer’s next project, Bright, which will reunite him with Suicide Squad star Will Smith. He ended up at Netflix, which made a staggering $90 million deal. Nonetheless, a day or two after Ayer fired and rehired CAA, another cut of the film was screened for a test audience, and sources say the results were strong enough that there was an upbeat plane ride back to Los Angeles.
September 9th, 2016: Billy Crudup is hired to play Henry Allen.
September 26th, 2016: Famuyiwa posts picture of his current revision of The Flash script.
Oct 31st, 2016: Famuyiwa drops out because it was ‘more edge’ than they (WB) wanted.
- “When I was approached by Warner Bros and DC about the possibility of directing The Flash, I was excited about the opportunity to enter this amazing world of characters that I loved growing up, and still do to this day. I was also excited to work with Ezra Miller, who is a phenomenal young actor,” Famuyiwa said in a statement. “I pitched a version of the film in line with my voice, humor, and heart. While it’s disappointing that we couldn’t come together creatively on the project, I remain grateful for the opportunity. I will continue to look for opportunities to tell stories that speak to a fresh generational, topical, and multicultural point of view. I wish Warner Brothers, DC, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns, and Ezra Miller all the best as they continue their journey into the speed force.”
January 25th, 2017: Zack post a quote from Watchmen “What the hell happened to us? What happened to the American Dream?” To which the Comedian replies “What happened to the American Dream? It came true, you’re looking at it!” on Vero. Read into that all you’d like.
January 27th, 2017: Zack post a picture of Gal Gadot working on post JL doing voice on Vero.
Janurary 30th, 2017: Ben Affleck Steps down from directing The Batman
- Affleck is still on board to play the superhero, but sources close to the talent said Affleck and Warner Bros., after discussing how to best make the film possible, came to the decision together.
- “There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” Affleck said in a statement. “Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.”
- Affleck has completed work as the Caped Crusader in “Justice League,” which opens Nov. 17, and he was preparing to go into prep on the solo “Batman” movie this summer. Affleck co-wrote the script with Geoff Johns. There had been rumblings that Affleck was considering not directing the film during the past month, but in recent weeks sources say the multi-hyphenate came to the decision it was best to let the directing job go and focus on playing the part.
February 17th, 2017: Larry Fong, Director of Photography for BvS, shows Zack’s picture of Justice League being worked on as editing has been complete through his Twitter account
February 22nd, 2017: Zack post a photo on Vero of Rorschach with the quote “Never compromise, not even in the face of Armageddon.” Again, could mean nothing, or could mean everything. Given when and how this was, says a lot though.
February 23rd, 2017: Matt Reeves is announced as The Batman Director
- Reeves states: “I have loved the Batman story since I was a child,” Reeves said Thursday in a statement. “He is such an iconic and compelling character, and one that resonates with me deeply. I am incredibly honored and excited to be working with Warner Bros. to bring an epic and emotional new take on the Caped Crusader to the big screen.”
- The announcement comes one week after discussions with the filmmaker broke down, though sources said at the time that talks could resume at a later date.
- “We are thrilled to have Matt Reeves taking the helm of Batman, the crown jewel of our DC slate,” said Toby Emmerich, president and chief content officer, Warner Bros. Pictures Group. “Matt’s deep roots in genre films and his evolution into an emotional world-building director make him the perfect filmmaker to guide the Dark Knight through this next journey.”
March 1st, 2017: Zack post video of Aquaman swimming up to the throne in Atlantis, on his birthday no less, saying he is, in fact, working on Vero.
March 3rd, 2017: Joss Whedon to direct Batgirl. Oddly enough, no direct quotes from Whedon himself on the project and the fact he is the sole writer, director, AND producer with no one else seems weird.
- Whedon is nearing a deal to write, direct, and produce an untitled Batgirl pic for Warner Bros. as part of its DC Extended Universe. (strange that he was the only one writing, directing, and producing the film by himself)
- No other producers are currently attached. Toby Emmerich, president and chief content officer of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, is overseeing with Jon Berg and Geoff Johns. The new project originated in the past month following a meeting between Whedon, Berg and Johns.
- Whedon would be making a big move from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its DC counterpart, having written and directed “The Avengers” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” for Disney-Marvel. He also created the television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Firefly,” “Dollhouse,” and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”