Joe Manganiello posts BTS Deathstroke pic to support SnyderCut movement

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

This past weekend marked the two year anniversary since the release of JUSTICE LEAGUE.  Due to studio interference and a personal tragedy on the part of director Zack Snyder, director Joss Whedon was brought in to touch up and finish the team-up of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, and The Flash. Consequently, what audiences received was a half-baked, lackluster comicbook film that had moments of brilliance but was mostly forgettable. In a movement best suited for the age of social media, millions of fans soon began to petition Warner Bros. to release Zack Snyder's true vision for JUSTICE LEAGUE. And so #ReleaseTheSnyderCut was born.

Sadly many have denigrated the movement, viewing its champions as nothing more than entitled fanboys and fangirls whining until someone gives them a cookie. However, that mentality is factually inaccurate as JUSTICE LEAGUE actors like Jason Momoa have routinely supported the fans' desire for the film. On Sunday that support was cranked up to eleven as a myriad of JUSTICE LEAGUE cast members including Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, and Ray Fisher tweeted out their support.

Another one of JUSTICE LEAGUE's cast members was actor Joe Manganiello, who showed up as Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke in a post credits scene that teased the Legion of Doom. Manganiello was slated to have a much more significant role in upcoming DCEU films, however since then situations have radically changed at Warner Bros. and Manganiello's future in the franchise is uncertain at best. However, this didn't stop the Deathstroke actor from lending his own support, as Manganiello took to Instagram to share a behind the scenes Deathstroke photo:

Manganiello is one of those actors who just can't seem to catch a break when it comes to superhero films. In the past the MAGIC MIKE actor was up for both the roles of Superman and Batman and I personally think he would have killed it (pun intended) as Deathstroke. Ah what might have been!

Whether or not anything ever comes of the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement remains to be seen. Although millions of fans desire this cut of the movie (myself included) it all comes down to money. While an assembly cut of the film undoubtedly exists as well as several finished VFX shots, there's still multiple effects shots that need to be completed. Additional photography will also be required and actors' and actresses' schedules have to be taken into account. All of this adds up to a lot of green and unfortunately JUSTICE LEAGUE carried a sizable budget that didn't lead to lucrative box office returns. I'm not trying to shit in Batman's cowl here but these are the realities that fans of the movement are facing.

Then again the Donner Cut of SUPERMAN II took decades to come to fruition so what do I know? Here's hoping the fans' dedication and persistence pays off and audiences eventually receive this particular iteration of the JUSTICE LEAGUE.