‘Justice League’ VFX Reel Shows Unseen Footage Of Batman And Superman
A VFX reel has gifted DC fans with a few extra seconds of Batman and Superman action. The just-released Justice League footage is juicy.
What Could Have Been
The clip popped up on Reddit, where fans were quick to point out that it apparently shows how much of both Joss Whedon and Zack Snyder's contributions were cut out of the finished product.
"This was a committee film," quipped one user.
Fans have been demanding Zack Snyder's director's cut of the movie ever since it was released in theaters. The general assumption is that his vision was diluted by the powers-that-be, leading to a messy movie that didn't connect with audiences or critics.
As it turns out, Whedon also fell foul of the DC hive-mind as this new footage makes clear. The visual effects reel shows Batman and Superman having a conversation, presumably following the lengthy, and underwhelming battle with villain Steppenwolf.
The timing is evident because of the CGI on actor Henry Cavill's face. Justice League came under fire for digitally removing a mustache the actor was sporting while filming Mission Impossible: Fallout. The removal of his upper lip hair was annoyingly obvious in the movie, particularly in an opening sequence that puts Superman front and center.
A Turbulent Production
Whedon took over directing duties from Snyder, but the latter remains the sole director credited for the movie. Whedon is credited as screenwriter, and he also handled the much-publicized reshoots on the movie. Fans have been eagerly anticipating the "real" cut of the movie ever since the details of the difficult production became public.
Snyder stepped down from the movie following the death of his daughter. However, recent rumors suggest he was actually fired from the production.
Although he backed the finished product 100 percent prior to release, once the wave of negative criticism was unleashed, Snyder went back on his comments, venting his frustrations on Vero, a social media platform.
He's openly supported fans demanding his "Snyder Cut" of the film, made fun of the CGI removal of Cavill's mustache, and shot down any suggestions that a Justice League 2 might happen. Whedon, meanwhile, was ready to write and direct a long-anticipated Batgirl movie but recently left the project.
Finding The Best Fit
The filmmaker, who jumped ship from Marvel to DC was called out by his ex-wife in a scathing essay labeling him a fake feminist. Whedon, the mastermind behind girl power shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was criticized for his treatment of women on his sets. Warner Bros. was therefore seen to be making a grave error in handing him the reins for Batgirl.
DC Films recently announced that Ava DuVernay, whose A Wrinkle In Time hits theaters shortly, is working on a film adaptation of Jack Kirby's New Gods. This move should up DC's representation quotient going forward.
Justice League was a major failure for the studio, grossing just a little over $229 million domestically over its total run. It was the lowest-grossing film in the new DC Universe.
It was a huge disappointment, considering the team-up movie brought together Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, while introducing Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg.
The flick was set to be DC's answer to The Avengers, a movie that changed the game for Marvel. Even the goodwill generated by Patty Jenkins's world-conquering Wonder Woman couldn't sell it to fans or critics, both of which gave Justice League a drubbing.
