Netflix Reportedly Dumps Zack Snyder, So Is The SnyderVerse Officially Dead?

by

Zack Snyder has arguably reshaped the DC film universe more than any other director. He started with Watchmen, a highly-regarded graphic novel, though the film adaptation received a mixed response initially. It later gained a dedicated fanbase, a pattern that continued as Snyder reimagined other DC characters. Following Watchmen, Warner Bros. entrusted Snyder with the Superman franchise, leading to the controversial Man of Steel and the creation of the DC Extended Universe.

For years, filmmakers struggled to create a shared universe with DC’s most famous heroes. Zack Snyder was the first to succeed, launching the DC Extended Universe with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Although Warner Bros. removed him from Justice League, a dedicated fan campaign led to the release of his four-hour director’s cut on streaming services. Snyder had envisioned a much larger future for these characters, but those plans never materialized. Despite this, many fans continue to hope for the continuation of his vision, though recent developments suggest that’s unlikely.

Zack Snyder Moved to Netflix After His Time With the DCEU

Zack Snyder’s movies aren’t for everyone, and critics often reflect that, but he’s undeniably a visually talented director. After finally releasing Rebel Moon, Snyder left Warner Bros. and began a partnership with Netflix. Netflix is known for letting filmmakers have a lot of creative control, which seemed like a great fit for Snyder after his previous experiences.

While at Netflix, Zack Snyder started with the zombie film Army of the Dead, revisiting a genre he enjoyed. He took on multiple roles for the 2021 movie, directing, writing, producing, and even handling the cinematography for the first time. The film, starring Dave Bautista and Ella Purnell, proved to be one of Snyder’s most successful projects yet.

In addition to Army of the Dead, Snyder also planned released later that year.

As a big fan of Zack Snyder’s work, I was really excited about the potential of both Army of the Dead and Rebel Moon on Netflix. It wasn’t just Army of the Dead he was building, though. After that movie, he started working on Rebel Moon, which actually started as a pitch for a Star Wars film way back when! He had big plans for Rebel Moon – a whole series of movies and even expanding into other formats – but unfortunately, Netflix didn’t seem happy with how it performed, so those plans were scrapped. What’s even cooler is that Snyder envisioned these two universes – Army of the Dead and Rebel Moon – eventually colliding in an anime series called Last Vegas. It’s a shame we probably won’t see that happen now.

Zack Snyder’s latest Netflix release was the series Twilight of the Gods, which wasn’t connected to his other work for the platform. Despite positive reviews, Netflix decided not to renew it for a second season. Currently, Snyder is working on a new film called The Last Photograph, which is already being filmed. He had previously been developing an action movie set in the LAPD, but Netflix chose not to move forward with that project.

Netflix Is in the Running To Purchase Warner Bros.

Right now, the biggest story in Hollywood is Warner Bros. being sold. Several companies, including Paramount, Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix, are interested in buying it. With Netflix potentially involved, some fans are hoping this could lead to a revival of Zack Snyder’s DC universe, often called the SnyderVerse.

It’s still unclear who will ultimately buy Warner Bros., and it’s possible the studio won’t be sold at all, or the sale might be delayed. However, similar deals in the superhero world have dramatically changed which stories get told. For example, when Disney bought 20th Century Fox, Marvel Studios got the rights back to characters like the X-Men and Fantastic Four. This allowed characters from those older Fox films to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Marvel is now restarting the Fantastic Four and X-Men franchises with new movies.

A change in ownership at Warner Bros. will have a huge impact on the entire entertainment industry, not just DC Comics. DC is a major asset for Warner Bros., and the company has recently relaunched it with a new creative team led by Peter Safran and James Gunn.

It’s Hard To Imagine the SnyderVerse Returning

When David Zaslav became CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022, he chose James Gunn and Peter Safran to lead DC Comics’ film and television projects. As part of this new direction, several projects already in the works were canceled, including a sequel to Wonder Woman and another Man of Steel movie. In a move that sparked controversy, Warner Bros. and DC Studios also decided not to release the Batgirl film, opting instead to take a financial loss for tax purposes.

James Gunn and Peter Safran have revamped the DC Universe, and the initial response is much more positive than it was under Zack Snyder’s direction. Early projects like Creature Commandos, Superman, and Season 2 of Peacemaker are receiving better reviews, which is vital for shifting how people view the franchise. This positive reception has also translated to financial success, with the new DCU already earning over $600 million worldwide for Warner Bros.

Even though DC Studios is building a new cinematic universe, many fans hope Zack Snyder’s previous vision could be revisited through the ‘Elseworlds’ label. This banner will be used for standalone projects like The Batman — Part II, and expectations for quality are high. Snyder himself has indicated he’d only return to superhero stories if they were very specific – either a faithful adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns or a Daredevil movie – otherwise, he’s interested in exploring different genres.

Even if Netflix were to buy Warner Bros, it’s doubtful they’d revive Zack Snyder’s DC universe. Snyder’s previous work hasn’t been a major success for the streaming platform, and the Netflix executive who initially signed him to a deal is no longer with the company. Rather than a large-scale return to his original DC plans, fans will likely see Snyder focus on smaller projects, such as The Last Photograph and a UFC film called Brawler that he’s currently working on.

Although Zack Snyder wasn’t able to fully execute his plans for the DC Universe, he accomplished more than many other directors working with superheroes. However, his DC films didn’t perform as well as Warner Bros. hoped. Movies like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice didn’t resonate with audiences in the same way Marvel’s films did at the time. Snyder’s approach was to explore complex, personal interpretations of superheroes, prioritizing his artistic vision over broad appeal.

Zack Snyder’s take on DC Comics wasn’t universally loved, but he definitely left his mark on superhero films. Directors like Christopher Nolan, Sam Raimi, and James Gunn have all pushed boundaries with superhero movies, and Snyder deserves to be recognized alongside them. Though his films sometimes faced criticism, he brought a unique vision to the characters, faithfully recreating classic comic book scenes and emphasizing their legendary qualities.

Zack Snyder’s superhero movies are still among the best adaptations of comic books. While his take on these heroes isn’t necessarily the final word, they’re visually striking and ambitious. Recent projects haven’t been as successful, but that shouldn’t diminish what he’s already achieved. Like the runs of directors Nolan and Raimi, all good creative chapters eventually close.

Read More

2025-11-29 02:42