Zack Snyder Reportedly Threatened to Quit Over One DC Hero’s Appearance in Post Credit Scene
Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a cinematic triumph that took the world by storm, continues to captivate audiences long after its release. What sets this superhero spectacle apart is not just its epic storytelling and visual grandeur, but the intriguing post-credit scenes that left fans on the edge of their seats. The director’s ardent desire to include the iconic character Green Lantern, particularly the beloved John Stewart, in his extended cut of the film, became a point of contention that reverberated throughout the film’s production.
Snyder’s relationship with Warner Bros. during the making of Justice League was a well-documented rollercoaster ride. Snyder even went so far as to threaten to walk away from the project if this crucial post-credit scene wasn’t included. The clash between his creative vision and the studio’s reservations added a layer of suspense and intrigue, keeping fans and industry insiders alike.
The Green Lantern That Almost Lit Up Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Zack Snyder‘s Justice League, a monumental cinematic event, made its much-anticipated debut on HBO Max in 2021. While the film itself was a spectacle of epic proportions, the real intrigue lay in the tumultuous post-credit scene that had fans buzzing with anticipation.
At the heart of this cinematic saga was Zack Snyder’s original vision for Justice League, which included a pivotal Green Lantern cameo. The character he had in mind was none other than Jon Stewart, a US Marine hailing from Detroit. Stewart, a character steeped in DC Comics lore, held the distinction of being the first Black superhero in the DC Universe. His inclusion in the film would have been groundbreaking and a nod to the character’s rich history.
This creative clash reached a breaking point when Zack Snyder, unwavering in his commitment to the Green Lantern cameo, threatened to walk away from the project. The tension between the director’s vision and the studio’s preferences added a layer of suspense and uncertainty to the film’s production.
However, Warner Bros., the studio behind the project, had other plans. They insisted on removing the Green Lantern cameo, much to the dismay of Snyder and the fans who were eager to see this historic character brought to life. In the place of Green Lantern, the film revealed a surprise cameo from another DC character, Martian Manhunter, who had appeared in the film briefly.
The Green Lantern Feud Between Warner Bros. and Zack Snyder’s Vision
In a dramatic turn of events that sent shockwaves through the production of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the inclusion of Green Lantern almost came to fruition against the wishes of Warner Bros. According to Snyder’s own accounts in an interview, the director was so committed to bringing the iconic Green Lantern, specifically Jon Stewart, into the Justice League universe that he took matters into his own hands. In a bold move, he defied the studio’s directives and personally shot the scene in question, right in his own driveway, during the previous year.
The clash between artistic vision and studio preferences escalated as Warner Bros. pushed for the removal of this pivotal scene. However, Zack Snyder, deeply passionate about ensuring representation and diversity within the Justice League, vehemently opposed the idea of removing a person of color from the film. To underscore the seriousness of his commitment, he even went as far as threatening to walk away from the project entirely, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.
Ultimately, a compromise was reached, and the Green Lantern cameo was replaced by another beloved DC character, Martian Manhunter, portrayed by Harry Lennix. In the original scene, which occurs at the very end of the film, Martian Manhunter reveals himself to Bruce Wayne at his lake house. This scene was originally scripted to feature Green Lantern, making the switch to Martian Manhunter all the more intriguing and unexpected for fans.
