the DCEU’s Justice League film, he made a far more crowd-pleasing movie that set up numerous storylines and character arcs for future installments. In addition to laying the groundwork for an epic Justice League storyline involving Darkseid’s quest for the Anti-Life Equation and a dystopian alternate future Snyder also set up the stories of current and eventual Justice League and their Jack Kirby-inspired allies and enemies.
The DCEU began in 2013 with Snyder’s epic Justice League adaptation. Following Snyder’s departure, Joss Whedon of The Avengers fame took over production of Justice League, resulting in a lackluster film and numerous allegations of on-set misconduct. The Zack Snyder director’s cut of the film proved to be the far superior iteration of the film, though, by that point, WB made significant changes to its DCEU plans.
In addition to being the culmination of four previous DCEU films, Snyder’s Justice League set up two sequels, forming an epic trilogy that pit Earth’s defenders against Darkseid’s Apokoliptian forces. Snyder’s plans would have created a far more interesting version of the famous Injustice: Gods Among Us storyline, in which Superman becomes a murderous tyrant who oppresses Earth. Knowing that Superman is intrinsically incapable of this, even if he’s grieving Lois Lane dying, Snyder would have had Superman’s free will be removed by Darkseid via the Anti-Life Equation. Snyder’s Justice League films were set to end with Batman and The Flash using time travel to undo Superman’s corruption and defeat Darkseid at the cost of Batman’s life. In addition to his exciting Justice League, Snyder’s Justice League also set up the following DCEU spin-off films.
The Batman (Ben Affleck)
One of the final scenes of Zack Snyder’s Justice League saw Lex Luthor, having escaped Arkham Asylum, revealing Batman’s secret identity to Deathstroke. This was intended to set up a Ben Affleck-directed Batman solo movie, in which Deathstroke - a longtime enemy of The Dark Knight - would have used his newfound knowledge to dismantle his opponent’s life, creating a unique dynamic for a The Batman, which will not take place in the DCEU.
Cyborg
The theatrical cut of Justice League made little meaningful use of Ray Fisher’s version of Cyborg, but he was a key character in the director’s cut with an emotional and compelling character arc. Snyder’s Justice League coincided with WB’s plans for a Cyborg solo movie, which would have had Victor Stone continuing to develop as a superhero while coming into with enemies who seek to use his technology for sinister purposes. Ray Fisher’s experiences during the production of Cyborg’s future uncertain.
The Flash
Zack Snyder’s Justice League also properly utilized Barry Allen’s abilities and characterization. In the final battle against Steppenwolf, Allen uses powers to travel back in time, preventing the Apokoliptian from terraforming Earth and allowing the rest of the Justice League to defeat him. This sets up Barry Allen’s time-traveling plotline in his solo film, The Flash. The film will be a loose adaptation of the Flashpoint comic storyline, and it may significantly alter the DCEU franchise. The 2022 film will feature the final appearance of Ben Affleck’s Batman, the reintroduction of Michael Keaton’s Batman from the Tim Burton universe, and Keaton’s potential replacement of Affleck as the DCEU’s Dark Knight.
Man of Steel 2
As the DCEU’s first superhero and an invaluable combatant against Steppenwolf, Superman was, unsurprisingly, set up for another solo movie by Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Having been resurrected and still on the mend (as evidenced by his solar radiation-collecting black suit), Superman would have likely dealt with the difficulties of restoring his life as Clark Kent, given the death of both identities in Dawn of Justice. Zack Snyder intended Kent to grow back into his role as a superhero, eventually returning to his iconic blue and red suit when he’s physically and emotionally back to himself. The film would have also been tied to Snyder’s planned Justice League sequels, but production ended in early 2019, possibly due to the theatrical version of Justice League’s poor performance.
Atom
S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Ryan Choi was absent from the theatrical cut of Justice League, despite Zack Snyder’s footage of him as an ally to both Cyborg and his father. The Justice League director’s cut, however, restored the footage, featuring Zheng Kai as the kindly nanotech expert. Zack Snyder intended Choi’s inclusion to set him up for an eventual Atom solo film, which he pitched to Warner Bros. With no announcement of further Snyder Justice League movies or an Atom spin-off film, the continued adventures of the DCEU’s Ryan Choi seem unlikely.
The New Gods
Steppenwolf, Darkseid, and other Apokoliptian villains served as the antagonists of Zack Snyder’s Justice League and its intended sequels, so, unsurprisingly, a film centered on the New Gods was set up in the process. Directed by Ava DuVernay, Jack Kirby’s iconic Fourth World characters with Mister Miracle and Big Barda in starring roles. Despite DuVernay’s ion for the planned film and collaboration with DC Comics writer Tom King, the film was reported to be canceled in April 2021, though the possibility of resuming production on New Gods was not ruled out.
