Following an extensive campaign by fans worldwide, Zack Snyder revealed plans to release a director’s cut of the 2017 film Justice League. The filmmaker had to leave the production of the superhero ensemble after which Joss Whedon was hired to complete the movie. Despite the anticipation, the 2017 film failed to gain a positive reception.
However, persistent fan demand for Snyder’s original vision eventually led to the release of his version on Warner Bros.’ streaming service Max. The Snyder Cut was praised for its direction, visual aesthetics, action sequences, and performances. And the success of the Snyder Cut on the streaming platform could have potentially provided a boost to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic Dune.
How Zack Snyder’s Justice League Might Have Impacted Denis Villeneuve’s Dune?
Following its launch in 2020, Warner Bros. introduced a strategy of simultaneous theatrical and streaming releases for several films, including Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. Under this policy, several movies were made available for 31 days on Max from their theatrical release.
Villeneuve expressed his disapproval and openly criticized this approach. Despite his reservations, Dune achieved significant success, both in theaters and on the streaming platform. The film grossed $433 million at the box office and attracted 1.9 million households within its initial four days of streaming, surpassing the viewership of Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Following the disappointing 2017 DCEU film Justice League, Warner Bros. opted to release the Snyder Cut on their streaming platform, Max. The four-hour-long epic premiered on the platform in March 2021, ranking as the fourth-most-streamed film on the streaming platform that year.
Considering the Snyder Cut was released ahead of Dune and was one of the most-watched films on the platform, it can be argued that Snyder’s Justice League contributed to a surge in viewership on the platform, thereby, setting the stage for Dune’s successful performance.
The success of the film has been followed by Dune: Part Two. The sequel’s commercial and critical success has also caused the anticipation of a third installment in the sci-fi franchise.
Denis Villeneuve Was Against Warner Bros. Hybrid Distribution Model
The Dune director Denis Villeneuve voiced strong opposition to Warner Bros.’ decision to release the movie simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters through an op-ed for Variety. He argued that such attempts are made by the studio for the “survival of a telecom mammoth.”
The filmmaker also expressed concern that the decision to release Dune on streaming simultaneously with theatres would restrict its financial performance and potentially jeopardize the franchise’s future. He said,
“Warner Bros.’ decision means “Dune” won’t have the chance to perform financially in order to be viable and piracy will ultimately triumph. Warner Bros. might just have killed the “Dune” franchise.”
While he agreed that streaming services have their place in the industry, Villeneuve also claimed that they cannot sustain films of the scale and scope of Dune. Denis Villeneuve also expressed his understanding and support for delaying the film due to the global pandemic.
However, he argued that the efforts and dedication put into such a film should be presented on the big screen. “I strongly believe the future of cinema will be on the big screen,” he argued, stating that people will return to the theatres once things get normal. His conviction finds support in the sequel’s robust box office performance, recently surpassing the $500 million mark globally.
Dune and Zack Snyder’s Justice League are available to stream on Netflix.
Dune: Part Two is playing in theatres.
