Zack Snyder steps down as Justice League director after family tragedy, Joss Whedon in | Hollywood - Hindustan Times
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Zack Snyder steps down as Justice League director after family tragedy, Joss Whedon in

Associated Press | By, Los Angeles
May 23, 2017 07:45 AM IST

Justice League director Zack Snyder has stepped down from completing the film after a family tragedy. Avengers filmmaker Joss Whedon will help take the film over the finish line.

The recent death of director Zack Snyder’s daughter has driven the prominent filmmaker to step away from finishing the ensemble superhero movie Justice League.

Zack Snyder directs Henry Cavill on the sets of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Zack Snyder directs Henry Cavill on the sets of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

A source close to production who was not authorised to speak publicly said Monday that director Joss Whedon would take over completing the film, which should still hit its November 17 release.

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Snyder and his wife and producing partner Deborah Snyder told The Hollywood Reporter they will be using the time away to focus on their family and seven children.

Zack Snyder with Ben Affleck as Batman.
Zack Snyder with Ben Affleck as Batman.

The Reporter story stated Snyder’s 20-year-old daughter, Autumn, committed suicide in March. Coroner’s spokesman Ed Winter said Autumn Snyder’s March 12 death is being investigated as a possible suicide due to an overdose of prescription medications. The official cause of death has been deferred pending toxicology results.

Snyder told the magazine that at first he tried to throw himself back into work, but in the past two months realised he needed to be with his family - especially as additional photography shoots in London loomed on the horizon.

Zack Snyder directs Ben Affleck in Batman v Superman.
Zack Snyder directs Ben Affleck in Batman v Superman.

“They are all having a hard time. I’m having a hard time,” Snyder said.

The Snyders are cornerstone players in Warner Bros. production of DC Comics films. He directed both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Man of Steel and is serving as a producer on the additional films in the DC Universe, including last year’s Suicide Squad and the upcoming Wonder Woman.

Justice League is a critical entry in the slate of DC films, bringing together major superheroes like Ben Affleck’s Batman, Henry Cavill’s Superman, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller’s The Flash and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman.

Zack Snyder and Man of Steel executive producer on set.
Zack Snyder and Man of Steel executive producer on set.

Whedon, who directed the Marvel Comics ensemble films The Avengers and its sequel Age of Ultron, and is writing and directing Batgirl for Warner Bros., has been working with Snyder on Justice League for over a month. In addition to post-production work, Whedon will also shoot some additional scenes for the film.

Warner Bros. Pictures president Toby Emmerich told the Reporter that the additional scenes will adhere to the style and template set by Snyder.

Snyder said he knows fans will be worried about the film without him at the helm.

But, he added, “In the end, it’s just a movie. It’s a great movie. But it’s just a movie.”

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