In James Gunn’s version of the DC Universe, there’s no established Justice League during the timeframe of his “Superman” movie. The main reason for this lies in four significant words: Zack Snyder’s “Justice League.” As Gunn’s “Superman” approaches theaters on July 11th, with marketing and press activities gaining momentum, Gunn has also started offering some insights into the movie’s role within the freshly introduced DCU and how it will shape crucial events for this new cinematic universe. One of Gunn’s more intriguing statements was his confirmation (via EW) that the DC Universe’s most famous superhero group, the Justice League, has not materialized yet, with Gunn simply stating, “There is no Justice League in this world… not just yet.
From my perspective as a supporter, Gunn’s statement about the Justice League forming at some point in the DC Universe seems indicative of his plans. However, delving into the formation of the Justice League is far from simple given DC’s recent cinematic history. The legacy of the initial cinematic Justice League movie, which ultimately became Zack Snyder’s Justice League, or the Snyder Cut, poses a significant challenge for any attempt to work with the Justice League at all within the DCU. In essence, the story behind the Snyder Cut and its associated elements make it prudent for Gunn to initiate the DCU without an established Justice League as the team’s history and connected events make the immediate formation of the Justice League a complex endeavor.
Justice League Is the DC Movie Scar That Still Hasn’t Healed
Among the DC movies produced by Warner Bros., who owns the DC brand cinematically, Justice League is one of the most ambitious productions. After years of attempts by Warner Bros. to create a Justice League film, including George Miller’s unfulfilled 2008 project titled Justice League: Mortal, the movie officially entered production as part of the DCEU’s lineup, serving as a culmination following Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and Wonder Woman. However, the reception to Batman v Superman being highly divisive led Warner Bros. to reconsider Zack Snyder’s plans for the DCEU, resulting in extensive reshooting of Suicide Squad and tight control over Justice League during its filming (although Snyder secretly filmed his intended version of Justice League during principal photography).
Subsequently, the backstage accounts of the filming process for Justice League became increasingly troubling. Warner Bros. stepped in to extensively re-shoot the movie following Zack Snyder’s departure during a personal crisis in post-production. Joss Whedon was reportedly brought on board, and his actions towards the cast and crew were allegedly harsh, leading to Ben Affleck’s decision to step away from his planned Batman film and lose interest in the role. The underwhelming box office performance of Justice League and Warner Bros.’ subsequent abandonment of Snyder’s vision had a domino effect on the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), leaving many Justice League characters, excluding Wonder Woman and Aquaman, uncertain about their futures. The DCEU and the Justice League team lacked direction following this period, until the arrival of the Snyder Cut…
The Snyder Cut’s Impact Can’t Be Over-Stated
As a die-hard movie fan, I couldn’t help but notice the buzz surrounding Justice League after Zack Snyder left the project. Warner Bros. assured us that Joss Whedon’s reshoots were merely meant to complete what Snyder had started. However, it didn’t take long for this statement to feel like a public relations tactic when Henry Cavill’s CGI upper lip made an awkward appearance less than a minute into the movie. The #ReleaseTheSnyderCut hashtag quickly took off before Justice League even finished its underwhelming opening weekend. Despite constant claims that Snyder’s cut of Justice League was non-existent, he kept the conversation going by sharing tantalizing glimpses of unseen footage, characters, and storyboards from his vision of the film on social media.
The intense demand for #ReleaseTheSnyderCut by cast and crew members eventually forced Warner Bros.’ hand on May 20th, 2020, resulting in its official greenlight and release on March 18th, 2021. This decision sparked further calls for #RestoreTheSnyderVerse, reaching a significant milestone of 1.5 million tweets by March 25th, 2021. However, Warner Bros.’ management at the time distanced themselves from Zack Snyder’s Justice League and the Snyderverse movement until the formation of DC Studios following their merger with Discovery, which marked the end of the DCEU and the start of the DCU. This historical context is essential to grasp Gunn’s assertion that no established Justice League exists within the DCU as we approach the release of his Superman and the beginning of the new DCU.
A DCU Justice League Would Be Too Close To Zack Snyder’s Justice League
The manner in which the Snyder Cut was developed and unveiled has been accompanied by some extremely concerning accounts of what occurred behind the scenes, particularly regarding the cast and crew’s treatment and the significant changes made to the movie during a difficult time for Snyder due to his family issues. Add to this the catastrophic impact that the theatrical version of Justice League had on the DCEU and Warner Bros.’ reluctance to address the popularity of the Snyder Cut, it’s no wonder that the Justice League team has become a source of annoyance for many DC fans and a challenging project for any director other than Zack Snyder.
The impact of Zack Snyder’s Justice League has been immense in the world of DC, making it a significant benchmark when considering any future iterations of the Justice League. If James Gunn were to reveal a new version of the Justice League in the DC Universe shortly, comparisons to Zack Snyder’s Justice League would be inevitable and potentially disruptive. The ensuing discussions would likely stir up conflicts within the fanbase that are all too common. If such an announcement were made prematurely, without a proven track record for the new DCU, every piece of news about the League’s future – whether it be rumors, castings, or reveals – could only be seen in relation to its predecessor. Essentially, a new Justice League in the DC Universe would face numerous challenges in carving out its own identity and success.
On July 11th, you’ll find James Gunn’s Superman in cinemas, while Zack Snyder’s Justice League can be streamed on HBO Max.
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2025-06-29 16:41