Zack Snyder Steps Down From Justice League

Director Zack Snyder has announced that he is stepping down from working on DC’s Justice League film. Producer Deborah Snyder, his wife, is also leaving the production. The couple revealed that his daughter, Autumn, died by suicide in March and they need time together with their family to grieve.

Autumn’s death has not been public knowledge until now. Zack Snyder had taken two weeks off after the tragedy but hoped getting back to working on the film would help keep his mind off of it. Ultimately it seems that working on Justice League did not help him in the way that he hoped and Zack Snyder is now stepping away from the project for good.

Zack Snyder says that he had hoped to keep his daughter’s death a private matter. When it came time to re-shoot some scenes in England, he realized that his priorities ay at home with his family and it was not a good time to leave them.

Warner Brother’s Studio fully supports Zack Snyder’s decision.

In the wake of Zack Snyder’s departure, Joss Whedon will be stepping into the role of Justice League Director. Joss Whedon has an extensive background in directing, including critically acclaimed Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and The Avengers. He was already working on writing additional scenes for the film when Zack Snyder decided to step down.

Most of the film is completed and in post-production, and the release date is not being changed. Joss Whedon will have to direct some reshoots, but will adhere to the tone that Zack Snyder has already implemented. The allegedly hardest job for Joss Whedon now is to organize cast members to come back for reshoots. Actors such as Jason Momoa and Amy Adams are already working on their next films and will be hard pressed for free time to come back.

Although fans may associate Joss Whedon with Marvel with his directing of The Avengers and The Avengers: Age of Ultron, this is not his only role in the DC cinematic universe either. He is nearing a deal to direct, write, and produce a Batgirl film.

Our condolences go out to Zack Snyder and his family during this hard time.

See Justice League in theatres on November 17, 2017.