Zack Snyder’s Justice League Could Receive R-Rating And Theatrical Release
The arrival of Justice League to HBO Max will finally allow Zack Snyder to realize his long-overdue vision, as the director has revealed that his cut may receive an R-rating and a theatrical release.
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In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Snyder revealed “one piece of information nobody knows”, telling the entertainment news outlet that “the movie is so insane and so epic and is probably Rated R.”
“That’s one thing I think will happen, that it will be an R-rated version, for sure,” said Snyder. “We haven’t heard from the MPAA, but that’s my gut.”
According to Snyder, an R-rating is warranted due to the darker, more explicitly violent and profanity-laden tone of his upcoming cut.
When pressed for details on what new material could warrant an upgraded MPAA rating, Snyder explained that “There’s one scene where Batman drops an F-bomb. Cyborg is not too happy with what’s going on with his life before he meets the Justice League, and he tends to speak his mind. And Steppenwolf is pretty much just hacking people in half.”
“So [the rating would be due to] violence and profanity, probably both,” he added.
Snyder previously noted that his version of Batman, as portrayed by Ben Affleck, had no aversion to killing and had the potential to find himself sexually violated in prison.
As such, “barracks talk” from the Dark Knight would be no surprise, especially given how subscription services like HBO Max allow for more mature and graphic content.
Related: Warner Bros.’ 2021 HBO Max Release Strategy Draws Criticism from Theater Industry
An R Rating for a film, no matter the reason for its grading, doesn’t mean much unless it’s released as a full-length theatrical feature.
To that end, Snyder is also contemplating that possibility that, even amidst the current climate of lockdowns, his Justice League cut could also premiere in cinemas, with Snyder revealing that “I’m a huge fan and a big supporter of the cinematic experience, and we’re already talking about Justice League playing theatrically at the same time it’s coming to HBO Max.
“So weirdly, it’s the reverse [of the trend],” he observed, referencing the trend of numerous studios, particularly Warner Bros., opting to adopt simultaneous-streaming-distribution plans.
As for where Snyder stands on that trend, the director stated that “It felt like a pretty bold move and that maybe the implication wasn’t 100 percent thought out”.
“I feel like there’s a lot of people panicking during COVID,” observed Snyder. “I hope that, in the end, that’s what this was — some sort of knee-jerk to COVID and not some sort of greater move to disrupt the theatrical experience.”
He continued, “I thought we were kind of already getting very close to the ideal theatrical window where you still had marketing material out there and you hadn’t forgotten about the film by the time it came out on DVD or streaming. I thought we were starting to hone in on that sweet spot, but this kind of throws a monkey wrench in the works.”
https://youtu.be/XIOU_k4mwDw
Whether DC’s premier super team heads to theaters or not, it’s unlikely that any potential monkey wrench would prevent Zack Snyder’s Justice League from premiering on HBO Max.
What do you make of Snyder’s latest comments? Would you like to see the Snyder Cut in theaters? Let us know your thoughts on social media or in the comments down below!
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