It’s a blur. It’s a tease. It’s Black Superman.
Director Zack Snyder debuted the first tease of Superman in Black Suit from his upcoming “Snyder Cut” of Justice League. The DCEU filmmaker’s highly-anticipated original vision of the movie — which underwent substantial rewrites and reshoots with writer/director Joss Whedon before it was released theatrically, including the elimination of the black suit — is set to premiere exclusively on HBO Max sometime in 2021. (My review of that 2017 theatrical release can be read here.)
In this weekend’s online Justice Con, a DC-driven fan event, Snyder debuted the 8-second sneak about halfway through the hour-long “Spotlight on Zack Snyder” panel. You can watch the entire session above (WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT), or to see the actual Black Superman clip, they play it for the first time at 31:40. They play it again, twice back-to-back, just after 38:00. I have the embedded video cued to a few seconds before that moment.
In the brief clip shows a newly-resurrected Superman (Henry Cavill) fly down into Bruce Wayne’s garage, introducing himself to butler Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) for the first time.
Another thing apparent in the presentation: it’s in Snyder’s originally intended 1:4:3 aspect ratio, which is a bit more box-shaped than a more traditional “widescreen”, almost closer to IMAX in its effect. Snyder confirmed that his cut of Justice League (which will not include anything shot by Joss Whedon) will be shown in this ratio.
The project is currently in post-production, a process that Snyder was never afforded after his shoot was wrapped. Warner Bros. has reportedly given him $20 to $30 million to complete it.
Snyder is currently petitioning for the film’s official title to be Zack Snyder’s Justice League, so as to clearly delineate from the theatrical release, but it may not be possible due to legal reasons.
Whatever it’s finally called, the Justice League Snyder Cut will launch exclusively on HBO Max next year, likely in the first half of 2021.
