Zack Snyder’s Justice League isn’t official DCEU canon

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Zack Snyder is getting closer to presenting his true version of Justice League when it hits HBO Max next week. Despite this being the definitive cut of the film and presented as Snyder truly intended, the film will not be a part of the official DCEU canon. In fact, the 2017 cut that is credited to Joss Whedon and is the target of a ton of negative criticism, is what Warner Bros. considers official canon and it's something Snyder is aware of, for better or worse.

Snyder had a chat with the "DC Cinematic Podcast" and he was asked about how his film fits into the greater DC Extended Universe. Even though the Snyder Cut of Justice League features characters who still have a future and upcoming films, his version doesn't really fit into the continuity of the universe that the later films have followed after Whedon's cut of the story. Snyder made it very clear that his version will never be considered canon:

"It's interesting, sort of in the DCEU, or whatever it's become, that that trilogy (comprised of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Justice League) sort of insulates itself in some ways [and] becomes its own thing now. I famously said, and it's true, this isn't controversial, my Justice League is not canon, right? Canon for Warner Bros. is the Joss Whedon version of Justice League. In their mind, that's canon. And what I'm doing is not. Everything is not. So, it's just an interesting, that relationship. And I'm fine with it because I feel like the only way that I could have made this film with autonomy was because of that, because of me admitting and agreeing to the fact that it is not canon."

Snyder also confessed that the fact that his version isn't canon partially frustrates him because his vision was supposed to help shape the DCEU before circumstances put Joss Whedon in charge of the film. Snyder goes on to say "The grander, greater concept for the DCEU is on another road. And there's nothing I can do about that. That is just, it is what it is. It's not my decision."

This has to put Snyder in an interesting spot because on the one hand, he could present the cut he truly wanted to make without having to connect it to the greater DCEU but I can also sense the frustration that the vision he intended for the universe as a whole can't be realized because of how everything worked out.  No matter how you feel about Snyder as a filmmaker, he seemed to have plans and a clear vision for what he wanted to do with these projects. The director admitted earlier that Warner Bros. has no plans on sticking to their earlier five-picture deal that they set up with him that started with Man of Steel and would've concluded with a Justice League trilogy. The Snyder Cut appears to be his last hurrah with the DCEU since there are reportedly no plans for Justice League 2:

"The reality is, as far as I know, there's no interest and/or appetite to do more of these movies from Warner Bros. With me, anyway. But I didn't think making this, finishing this film correctly would ever happen. But I did do my best to – as far as the creation of the Justice League, those different personalities being brought together – that idea, that's what this movie is about… There is a suggestion of course in the film, as there would be within any of these movies, of a larger universe that's still out there."

I'm just happy that the guy got to make the movie he wanted to make and fans finally get to see it. I'm by no means a part of the Zack Snyder fandom but I respect artistic integrity and this is a chance that a lot of filmmakers don't really get to have. He got a second chance to make the film as he saw fit and he has a ton of support in his corner that helped get it made. That's something that he should appreciate, even if this story won't serve some greater cinematic universe moving forward.

Do YOU think they should find a way for Zack Snyder's Justice League to be canon or is it best to have it stand alone?