Does the Justice League Snyder Cut set a precedent?

Few thought it would be possible. I didn’t think it would be possible. When Justice League came out in its butchered form, Warner Bros. made it clear that the Zack Snyder era was over. They were going in a completely different direction, and I simply didn’t see them reversing it at the fans’ behest. But they Zack Snyder fans didn’t let up. Throughout all the mocking and criticism (even from us), they persisted, creating a film movement the likes of which we’ve never seen before.

The end result was Zack Snyder’s Justice League. That’s right. we’d be getting the Justice League Snyder Cut we were all hoping for on the streaming service HBO Max. This was huge for fans. The studio caved and finally gave them what they wanted.

I don’t know if caving is actually the way to think about it,” HBO Max boss Tony Goncalves told The Verge. “I think the consumer wins at the end of the day, and I think we’ve put together a product offering that has multiple Snyder cuts.”

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I can see where Goncalves is coming from. Caving almost makes it sound like it was a real moment of weakness, but in reality it’s a win-win. The consumer makes it known what they want, the studio delivers and profits. And it’s great for all involved. However, it’s easy to look at this and see it as a precedent. If we don’t like a studio cut of a troubled film, if we yell loud enough, this proves we can get what we want, right?

“Look, definitely not a precedent,” Goncalves said. “And you’re right. There’s different types of fandoms. There’s the fandom you just described, and there’s other fandoms. My reference to the fandoms is the fact that we’re in a space where consumers are loud. Consumers guide, and we absolutely have to listen as industry. I had a boss that once said, ‘Industry and consumers aren’t always aligned, but consumers do tend to win.’ It’s a fine balance. And I think when it comes to video, when it comes to entertainment, when it comes to content, consumers have never had more choice, and they’ve never had more of a voice. But that doesn’t mean that we will go and invest our dollars in every single fandom that exists.”

“But I think the reference to the Snyder Cut and the Friends fandom is the fact that consumers are speaking, and we have to listen,” Goncalves continued. “It doesn’t mean that we’re going to go redo every movie ever made. But I think that we definitely have to have our ear to the ground. And I think we do.”

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I’d say 99% of what Goncalves said is right. As I originally stated, this is very much a situation where the voice of fans and the motivations of a network aligned. It wasn’t just a matter of fans being loud but HBO Max being able to benefit from their demand. However, it is 100% a precedent. Fans now know that if they yell loud enough, there’s a possibility something could be done. 

If we hear of a troubled Warner Bros. production in the future where there are dueling cuts, and we hate what comes out, there’s an opportunity. If we yell loud enough, a director’s cut is always a possibility. That’s the reality. Sure, it won’t work every time, but the Justice League Snyder Cut is a precedent that shows fan demand is ultimately what can move the needle — within reason, of course. There has to be existing footage for an alternate cut, a desire for the director to return, and other miscellaneous stars that have to align.

But it’s still a precedent. It may not be the norm, but it’s a precedent.

How do you feel about the matter? Will the Justice League Snyder Cut lead to more director’s cut when it benefits the studios? Let us know your thoughts down below!

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SOURCE: The Verge