Warner Bros. sides with director Joss Whedon.
Over the past few months there have been numerous accusations towards the treatment that the once renowned studio has given to both the directors and creative minds behind the studio (Let’s not forget the public letters of condemnation by both Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve after their HBO Max move) as well as numerous accusations of racism by actor Ray Fisher.
Another one that has come under fire over the past few months has been Director Joss Whedon, who was chosen by Warner Bros. to rewrite and reshoot Justice League after Zack Snyder had to leave filming due to a family tragedy. The accusations include racism and general mistreatment to the cast of the film by Ray Fisher, as well as abuse and sexism towards Charisma Carpenter, backed up by Michelle Trachtenberg who wasn’t allowed in a room alone with him. She was 16 at the time. One of his additions to Justice League was the infamous scene in which The Flash falls on Wonder Woman’s clevage.
Earlier this year, Warner Bros. released Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which is the original vision by duo of writer and director Chris Terrio and Zack Snyder. A 4 hour cut which was met with support by Christopher Nolan’s production company Syncopy, as well as the acclaim by both critics and fans. And whilst Warner Bros. doesn’t release the official numbers, we know the film not only crashed the servers in the entire Asian continent, but also broke records in countries like Australia and Canada.
However it appears that Warner Bros. not only seems discontent with the success brought in by Zack Snyder’s Justice League, after they insisted on not continuing with the director’s original story line and possible solo-movies (including Ben Affleck’s Batman solo movie and a movie starring Chinese actor Ryan Zheng) but also appears to endorse and support Joss Whedon’s behaviour and actions, as well as his version of the movie which was a critical and financial bomb.
Today they released a trailer for a 4K version of the disgraced director version of the movie, fully cementing their plans on ignoring the critically acclaimed film by the director and focusing on a film that is surrounded by the numerous controversies previously mentioned. The result?
Since the trailer was released a few hours ago at the time of writing, it has garnered nearly 5 thousand dislikes from numerous fans, and a barrage of comments criticizing the studio and a demand for them to return and continue with Snyder’s original story plan.
It makes one wonder what kind of company is Warner Bros. where not only serious claims are not just ignored, but apparently rewarded with re-releases of a film that has not a single positive aspect towards it, both in front as well as behind the camera.
The current CEO of Warner Media, Ann Sarnoff not only stands by the vision of a director that treats women like objects and threatens their career, but also defends the head of the DC film universe, Walter Hamada, despite several and serious accusations made towards him.
Despite the negative reaction towards the comments made by Sarnoff and Hamada, the fact that the Snyder fanbase has gathered as of today over half a million dollars in donations for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, as well as the positive reaction of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which caused the hashtag “#RestoreTheSnyderVerse” to break records on twitter, taking the throne from Avengers Endgame, it seems that the duo of Sarnoff and Hamada are a one way train on roads that nobody but them wants to follow.
Roads that are filled with negativity, toxicity, sexism and racism, showing that their desire to be more diverse in their filmmaking are nothing but a facade to what truly happens behind the scenes. Makes any future filmmakers not only what kind of statement they’re sending by joining them, but also what kind of company they are working for.
Edit: New numbers arrived, it charted Number 1 at the official film charts of the UK.
