With the plethora of superhero films that inundate today's film market, one particular name that continues to get tossed around is Zack Snyder. While rising to prominence through films like Dawn of the Dead and 300, the film director is perhaps best known in the industry for founding the modern-day DCEU.
Through Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder's Justice League (a.k.a. the "Snyder Cut"), long-time fans got a glimpse of the universe Snyder envisioned. Though unfortunate circumstances prevented Snyder's vision from being realized, many can't help but wonder if the director might find renewed purpose with the MCU.
10 Would Be: Snyder Can Do Female Superheroes Justice
While Batman v Superman was a highly contentious film amongst fans and critics, one thing most would agree on was that Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman steals the show in her phenomenal debut during the epic showdown with Doomsday. Director Patty Jenkins would go on to do the female superhero poetic justice in her solo movie, which Snyder had a small part in.
On the other hand, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has continued to struggle with its portrayal of female superheroes. While both Captain Marvel and Black Widow have been financial successes, neither film seemed to garner excitement like Jenkins' 2017 film. Bringing Snyder into the fold could help the MCU in overcoming this pressing issue.
9 Wouldn't Be: Snyder Uses Slow Motion A Little Too Liberally
If Zack Snyder had an Achilles' heel when it comes to his directing style, it's that he uses slow motion as a crutch. Consequently, films like Watchmen and Batman v Superman (Ultimate Edition) clock in at almost three hours for. In fact, Snyder's use of slow motion has become something of a running gag given the ubiquity of the criticism.
Marvel movies, by contrast, don't really see much slow motion, often choosing to instead emphasize snappy quips between characters that build personality and inject humor into their over-the-top plots. And while slow motion does appear in the MCU, its conservative use would be a severe setback to Snyder's directing style.
8 Would Be: Big Action Set Pieces Are A Snyder Trademark
Given the number of films now present in the MCU, it's become something of a joke that the studio has a checklist for what makes a "good" Marvel film, with one of the most significant items being a big action set piece in a film's third act, only completed with generous amounts of CGI and color-coded fight sequences to differentiate everyone.
If there's anything Snyder excels at, it's big action set pieces. Whether it's the decimating Man of Steel's Metropolis or nuking Army of the Dead's Vegas, Snyder is no stranger to making these bombastic sequences look spectacular. In fact, they're the reason for his rise to fame; look at 300—it's little more than a glorified two-and-a-half hour action set piece.
7 Wouldn't Be: Witty and Humorous Movies Aren't Snyder's Style
It's well-known that Robert Downey Jr. is the de facto grandfather of the MCU. In fact, his personality—often times synonymous with Tony Stark's—created a blueprint that subsequent MCU films would follow. Consequently, witty remarks and snarky humor gives the franchise its distinct identity as a family-friendly property that caters to all types of audiences.
Anyone familiar with Snyder's catalogue of films will all agree—campy wit and humor have no place in a Zack Snyder film. There's moments where characters may make wry comments on their situation, but Snyder's films tend to favor more serious and introspective stories over the lighthearted approach the MCU often opts for.
6 Would Be: Team-Up Films Are Snyder's Bread And Butter
Marvel Studios tends to be selective in their directorial choices for major team-up films. The enormous task of putting together both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame fell into the laps of the Russo brothers because of their previous success in navigating a vast cast of characters in Captain America: Civil War.
With team-ups like Watchmen, Batman v Superman, and Justice League under his belt, Zack Snyder would be well prepared to take on team-up movie in the MCU. While Marvel has been bold in taking chances on fresh directors like Taika Waititi and Chloé Zhao, Snyder is always a reliable gamble should the studio need an experienced director to fall back on.
5 Wouldn't Be: Movies Directed By Snyder Are Overly Long
One of the famous critiques Warner Bros. executives had with Batman v Superman was that the film was too long. Consequently, Snyder was forced to cut the runtime down, making the film difficult to follow due to its clunky, nonlinear plot. However, the Ultimate Edition's missing half an hour provides much needed clarity to the logical progression of events.
A similar trajectory plays out with Justice League, with the Snyder Cut clocking in at around four hours. While Snyder's version was substantially better than the egregious monstrosity called the theatrical cut, most would agree the film was too long. Likewise, the MCU movies boast pretty solid runtimes; however, they're never quite as long as Snyder's films.
4 Would Be: Snyder Is A Visionary Executive Like Feige Is
While only teased in 2016's Batman v Superman, Zack Snyder reveals a little more of his visionary genius with the release of 2021's Zack Snyder's Justice League, showcasing some of what would've happened if his trilogy of Justice League movies had been fully realized, which included Darkseid destroying Earth and Superman falling to the Anti-Life Equation.
Snyder also proceeded to show off the storyboards he had created for the second and third films, which has led to the #RestoreTheSnyderVerse movement. Similarly, Marvel head Kevin Feige has displayed his own visionary chops with the Infinity Saga. Seeing the two visionaries work together would undoubtedly mean exciting things for the future of the MCU.
3 Wouldn't Be: The Tone Of Snyder's Films Is Just Too Dark
A common complaint about Snyder's DCEU films is how dark and dour they are. Many feel Henry Cavill's grittier take on Superman in Man of Steel doesn't do the man in a blue spandex suit justice. Batman v Superman doubles down on this interpretation by the examining the brutal aftermath of the Kryptonian's fight with Zod in Metropolis.
For the most part, the MCU shies away from this darker side of superhero comics, only daring to occasionally tackle such stories like in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. And, seeing how the dark and serious nature of Snyder's filmmaking contrasts the MCU's established formula, there's not much hope for a crossover between the two any time soon.
2 Would Be: Snyder Has Proven He Knows Superhero Lore
If there's anything Zack Snyder has proven during his brief tenure in the DCEU, it's that he is acutely aware of the lengthy histories of the superheroes he brings to life. The director has made a point time and time again to honor what came before, whether it be Superman's death at the hands of Doomsday or The Flash reversing time to save the Justice League from Steppenwolf.
One of the major criticisms of the MCU is how they blatantly ignore the comics, often to the frustrations of comic fans. While the MCU has certainly carved out its own place among the broader Marvel label, bringing Snyder onto the scene might be the answer to appeasing Marvel comic fans while retaining the MCU's distinguished identity.
1 Wouldn't Be: Snyder Wouldn't Have Enough Creative Control
When all's said and done, Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. parted ways because of dramatic creative differences. Snyder was originally given free rein to develop a vision for kickstarting the DCEU. However, Warner Bros. changed their minds following the mixed reception of Batman v Superman, striving to create a universe more akin to the MCU.
With Disney and Marvel Studios' carefully laid-out plans for the future of the MCU, it's likely that Snyder would find himself butting heads with studio executives once more due to a lack of creative control. Given Snyder's recent success with Army of the Dead, it's safe to say he wouldn't be willing to give up that control any time soon.
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