We tend to look at the production of big studio movies, in particular superhero movies, as being of such importance that little outside of them matters. We criticize and insult and denigrate the men and women who make them as if they don't have families, outside lives to lead that take precedent. And that fact has never been more clearer now as Zack Snyder steps down from directing Justice League in the wake of a personal tragedy.
Joss Whedon, who is set to direct the DC Films Batgirl movie, will wrap-up post-production on Justice League while Snyder is away, writing and directing additional scenes. Zack, and his producer wife Deborah Snyder, are stepping aside to deal with the death of their daughter, Autumn, who committed suicide in March, something they managed to keep out of the public ever since. While the Snyders attempted to keep going on, they both decided it was necessary to be with their family at this moment in time, and who can really blame them? Zack tells THR...
“In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was way through it. 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.”
Warner Bros. president Toby Emmerich adds...
“The directing is minimal and it has to adhere to the style and tone and the template that Zack set. We’re not introducing any new characters. It’s the same characters in some new scenes. He’s handing a baton to Joss but the course has really been set by Zack. I still believe that despite this tragedy, we’ll still end up with a great movie.”
Perhaps the most telling aspect is what Snyder felt he needed to include about the facts of the situation, given the narratives the Internet will likely spin about this situation. I'm awaiting the first "Snyder was fired from Justice League due to poor testing" headlines that will emerge.
“Here’s the thing, I never planned to make this public,” Snyder said. “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 break, I knew there would be narratives created on the internet. They’ll do what they do. The truth …I’m past caring about that kind of thing now.”
Justice League is still on track to open November 17th. Our thoughts are with the Snyders as they deal with this awful tragedy.
