It has been three full years since Zack Snyder’s mammoth 4-hour version of Justice League came out. The film was initially plagued by controversy when the director stepped back midway to allow Joss Whedon to take over the reins. This move did not work well on many levels with regard to Whedon’s association with the narrative and the cast, which then prompted Snyder to complete the film in his original vision.
To commemorate the 3rd anniversary of his labor of love, the Watchmen director uploaded a dark and edgy image of Jared Leto who played Joker in the film. But judging from the reactions of fans on social media, this version of the DC villain wasn’t appreciated then, and is continuing to garner some negative responses.
Fans Troll Zack Snyder For Plugging Jared Leto’s Photo As Joker
In many ways, Zack Snyder has pioneered a unique path for DC through his edgy, dark, and more relatable sketches of iconic superheroes like Batman and Superman and through various other characters in his Justice League. While the filmmaker may not be associated with the franchise anymore, his influence and impact cannot be discounted.
Three years into the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League which was critically appreciated the world over, the Man of Steel director paid tribute to the film (via DC Film News) by uploading a telling black and white picture of Jared Leto as Joker. The image shows the Oscar winner in his trademark long hair and ominously painted face holding a machine gun.
While Leto expectedly gave an impressive performance in the film, this version of Joker that Snyder created, received mixed responses and is continuing to garner criticism based on the online reactions to the image. Many netizens believed that this physical depiction of Leto’s Joker was a bit excessive and attention-seeking. Others simply panned the look brutally by calling it one of the worst Joker depictions.
I hate this Joker so much
— Thomas The Spartan (@thomas_spartan1) March 18, 2024
No matter how hard we try, we can’t escape that monstrosity 💀
— demonjoe (@demonjoeYT) March 18, 2024
dude needs to quit adding fuel to this nonsense
— Brandon (@Xx__BR4ND0N) March 18, 2024
This hurts humanity deeply
— P (@pablo_archimeds) March 18, 2024
Looks more like some horror movie ghost instead of joker
— BATMAN JATT (@Brucewaynejatt) March 19, 2024
The worst live action joker in the history of jokers.
— Julian Hernandez (@julianoff1c1al_) March 19, 2024
While Snyder did have a few supporters who appreciated his abilities to take risks and his courage to push the envelope, they were outnumbered by the majority who wanted to forget this version.
The DC Story That Zack Snyder Was Desperate To Make
Zack Snyder isn’t part of DC anymore with the Snyder Cut heralding the filmmaker’s final tryst with the franchise. While his work with the DCEU will be always remembered, the 300 director has not fulfilled all the dreams that he had envisioned for DC.
In a recent interview with Joe Rogan via the University of JRE, Snyder spoke of his filmography and his time with the franchise. In the course of the conversation, the Watchmen director revealed his love for Frank Miller’s graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns which is part of the Elseworlds Universe. Snyder who had a deep wish to cinematically adapt this book, unfortunately, did not get the opportunity.
”I was a Frank Miller fan for a long time, right? And I thought that I would do The Dark Knight Returns. Frankly, that was the movie that I wanted to, and I still want to do it. I always tell everyone that if I could do The Dark Knight Returns, I’d be done with comic book movies.”
The Dark Knight Returns takes place in an alternate universe where a middle-aged Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement and resumes his vigilante work in a deteriorating Gotham city ravaged by the Cold War. This narrative has all the makings of a great film in the hands of someone like Zack Snyder. It now remains to be seen if the director makes his dream come true.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League can be rented on Apple TV.
