Zack Snyder’s films have been a point of discussion for fans whenever they come out. While his modern films have become divisive, everyone agrees that he is a great visual filmmaker who has his own distinct style and flair. His contributions to the DC universe have been highly celebrated by loyal fans.
Snyder is also an avid lover of comic books and writers who have created some of the best comic runs ever. The director is a huge fan of Frank Miller’s works and wanted to adapt many of them for the big screen. He got to do that in full glory with 2006’s 300 which was an adaptation of one of Miller’s most celebrated comics.
300 Was Zack Snyder’s Ultimate Love Letter To Frank Miller
Before his tenure in the DC universe, Zack Snyder was making films that intrigued audiences due to his epic and bombastic approach to fantastical concepts. His first film Dawn of the Dead brought a certain excitement and energy to the zombie apocalypse genre. With 300, Watchmen, and Sucker Punch, the director was aiming at an even bigger canvas with the support of Warner Bros.
300 was a film that he wanted to make because he was in awe of Frank Miller’s original comic run and the various visually stunning illustrations in it. Snyder finally got the rights to the book and got to make one of his dream projects. However, it was not the only Miller comic that he wanted to adapt.
In an interview with Letterboxd, Snyder revealed that he wanted to adapt Miller’s Sin City and The Dark Knight Returns along with 300. However, he got to do only 300 and thus made sure that it was a perfect adaptation and a love letter to Miller. The Man of Steel director said,
…And then I made 300, which I’d been working on because I’m a big Frank Miller fan. I’m a Dark Knight Returns fan and 300 was the book I could get my hands on. I wanted to do Sin City, I wanted to do Dark Knight Returns and I love 300 so I made it as a love letter to Frank Miller.
Miller’s Sin City was adapted into the hit 2005 film of the same name which was loved by audiences. Snyder still passionately wants to adapt The Dark Knight Returns and recently revealed that it was the only project that would provoke him to return to DC. Snyder’s 300 was a hit, grossing $456 million against a $65 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). It is arguably the most celebrated work of his career.
Simon Pegg Has A Specific Pet Peeve About Zack Snyder’s Dawn of The Dead
Zack Snyder debuted as a filmmaker with 2004’s Dawn of the Dead, a remake of the 1978 film of the same name directed by George A. Romero. The film introduced Snyder’s capabilities as a director and he made a very confident debut. However, actor Simon Pegg hates one aspect of the film.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pegg stated that he is a huge fan of Snyder’s film. However, he is annoyed that Snyder used Romero’s title. The Mission Impossible star feels that not changing the title was disrespectful to the original film. He said,
I always got annoyed at Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake it’s a great movie. It’s really exciting. But I hated the fact they called it Dawn of the Dead because that was George’s film. They could have called it Deadish, which was a great line in the film that one of the actors used, and it still would have been a great film.
Pegg also came up with his own zombie apocalypse film with a similar title Shaun of the Dead that same year. Both films were critically and commercially successful, reinvigorating the genre in new and exciting ways.
Fans can watch/rent Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead and 300 on Prime Video.
