Throughout the “Snyder Cut” era, director Zack Snyder has chosen to remain silent, content mostly to drop images and short clips on his Vero account (a social network owned by his , who has had cameos in more than one Snyder film). A book following the Snyder Cut saga is on the way, and the author offered up a few quotes from the director ahead of the release responding to critics of his work and of the Snyder Cut fanbase.
The quotes are mostly vague accusations aimed at unnamed foes with which Snyder believes he has unfinished business.
“We know the people who were the architects of that narrative, and it’s pretty obvious what their agenda is. Those are people that I’ve been held back from confronting, by wiser people in the room. Because I’d love to get at some of these characters,” Snyder said. “Some direct conversation would be nice. Just to say, one, you don’t know shit about what you’re talking about. And we can break down everything they’ve ever [said]. I can make a list. There’s a few of these guys where I could just get a list of everything they’ve ever said, that they thought was right, and [I could tell them] every single thing they’ve said is wrong.”
“In what world do you have any credibility anywhere, to anyone?” Snyder continued, addressing, according to the book’s author, “the ones whose information has been proven false time and time again.”
“I would love the opportunity to just say to the world, and to fandom in general, who these fakers are and what should be done to them, or with them,” Snyder continued. “It’s just a bunch of BS. In regards to that toxic fandom, or it’s ‘a win for toxic fandom,’ again, in what world does this ‘toxic fandom’ raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for suicide prevention? How is that toxic fandom? They’ve probably achieved more than any other fan base, [and done more] good than any other group. So I don’t understand.”
This statement in particular sticks out. Snyder notes that the Snyder Cut fanbase has raised over $500,000 for suicide prevention, a cause close to his life–he originally stepped away from Justice League after a family tragedy. However, his assertion that the fanbase has “achieved more than any other fanbase” is provably false. The Star Wars cosplay group known as the 501st Legion, through its “Bad Guys Doing Good” initiative, has raised nearly $300,000 for Make-A-Wish alone and hundreds of thousands–if not millions–more for other charities in addition to many hours of volunteer work across the organization.
In the same sentence, Snyder also absolves the fandom of toxicity because of this money raised. The fact that some members of a group have done good deeds doesn’t erase the harm done by others in the group. It’s not difficult to find a list of convicted sexual predators, scam artists, and pharmaceutical execs who have raised money for charity. It’s also easy to find of the of the Snyder Cut . While many members of the fanbase are certainly acting in good faith, interacting primarily with other like-minded fans and contacting WarnerMedia in a civil manner, countless others have taken to harassing en masse the critics of Snyder’s DC films for giving negative reviews or making sarcastic comments on personal social media.
Snyder’s statement will ring true with his long-time supporters, but the statements will sound hollow to the people the fanbase has harassed since the Snyder Cut movement began. The Snyder Cut itself will release on HBO Max as a four-hour film on March 18, 2021.
