Warner Bros can’t ignore Zack Snyder’s Justice League success

Though it will be a while before the Nielsen streaming ratings give fans a concrete idea of how Zack Snyder’s Justice League performed for HBO Max, to the casual observer it certainly seems like the movie dominated social media in the days leading up to its release. After the release, social media blew up and suddenly there were multiple trending topics related to the Snyder Cut. If the social media buzz translates to ratings, there’s no way Warner Bros can turn a blind eye to it.

By all accounts, Zack Snyder is pleased with the reception to Zack Snyder’s Justice League and it’s well known that the movie in its original iteration sets up multiple sequels that lead into an expanded universe that includes The Flash movie, which is already in the works. DC’s future is already tied to the characters that Snyder developed, with Matt Reeves’ The Batman being the exception.

Since the groundwork has been laid, it makes sense to continue with Snyder’s vision for the DC universe. In a recent interview with EW, Snyder indicates that he’s open to it. “Who knows what the future holds?” he said.

Suddenly, the possibility for Snyder’s return opens up in ways that weren’t possible before.

But what about Warner Bros? After vehemently denying the existence of a Snyder Cut for so many years, it would take a massive mea culpa on the studio’s part to give the reins back to Snyder so that he can continue his vision. But if the movie is successful, it’s hard to imagine that they won’t reverse their decision.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League could continue on HBO Max

Now that streaming services have become such a dominant force in the entertainment space, it’s possible that Warner Bros could reverse their decision and grant Snyder the opportunity to bring his vision to life on HBO Max instead of in a series of feature films.

A limited series would be a good option for Snyder because it allows him to dive into the details that his storytelling is known for. Actors seem to enjoy making the jump to the small screen these days, especially with COVID-19, so it could be a win-win. The series could provide the foundation for future DC movies, like Ava DuVernay’s The New Gods.

Of course, Warner Bros could allow Snyder to have full control over the universe once again and let him keep working on their DC blockbusters. It all depends on how they want to bring the story together.

The biggest step, though, is getting Warner Bros to give the reins back to Snyder. Admitting they were wrong won’t be easy, but it’s possible they could gain some points with fans by acknowledging their mistake and course correcting, rather than trying to sweep it all under the rug.

It would be one of the biggest blunders in Hollywood history for Warner Bros to ignore the success of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. The studio has options for Snyder to continue telling his story, knowing there’s an audience that’s ready for it. The question is whether Warner Bros is willing to swallow their pride and reverse course.