Zack Snyder’s highly anticipated Man of Steel sequel doesn’t start filming for another month, and doesn’t arrive in theaters until 2016, but Batman vs. Superman just may be the most talked about and controversial comic book film in history. Snyder isn’t just making a Superman sequel, he’s bringing Superman and Batman together on the big screen for the very first time. He’s also giving Wonder Woman her feature film debut and most importantly, he’ll be laying the groundwork for what will (hopefully) be a shared cinematic universe for DC. The film is under a great deal of scrutiny from fans, and the director has started more than one heated debate that has shaken the very foundation of fandom.
With all of the scrutiny that comes with a film like this, you’d think Snyder would be a bit weighed down by all the pressure. However, in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, he seems more excited than ever.
“We’re getting ready to start shooting in a month or so. It’s going great. I’m very excited. It’s very fun to get into this world with different heroes coexisting in the same universe, but a lot of balls in the air as they say. As a fan, it’s an amazing opportunity. You know, Superman and Batman in the movies have never existed in the same frame together. So it’s an interesting historical thing.”
It’ll be a while before we get to see our first glimpse of any official footage, but one thing we can look forward to is seeing the film’s costumes, which are rumored to arrive this month. We’re extremely excited to see how Wonder Woman’s outfit is brought to life on screen, and of course, we are anxiously awaiting a look at this “mind blowing” Batsuit that we’ve been hearing about for months now.
“We were just testing the suits, right? The new Batsuit and the Superman suit. It wasn’t even with the actors, right? It was just to see ‘em. I was standing there, they were standing next to each other,” said Snyder. “And I was like, “Guys, someone take a picture! This has never happened before.” We slightly dork out. Like, “Are you kidding me?!””
The biggest debate about the film has been the casting decisions. From Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and most recently, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, calling the casting “divisive” would be putting it mildly. Snyder himself has noticed this, and says it’s both reassuring and frustrating.
“There are two ways to think about it. We know the material. Unfortunately, the fans don’t know the material. So, we’re casting according to what’s happening in the script. And we’re hoping that leads to enough originality, enough perspective on what we’re doing that you get something fresh and exciting. I understand the canon. I’m not crazy. I know what these characters need from a mythological standpoint. I think Jesse is going to be an amazing Lex. Let’s not forget he was nominated for an Academy Award. It’s not like I just grabbed my friend to play the guy! This guy’s the real deal. By the way, in looking at all the talk-back, you can get all different perspectives in there too. Some people are hating to hate. Some people — someone did some fan art. And you look underneath and someone wrote, “I guess I can see it.” Honestly, are you kidding me? Just stop it! It’s reassuring and frustrating at the same time.”
Most importantly, the director is looking at the bigger picture and is happy that they can now explore new territory with these characters. After all, expanding the universe and making it a shared continuity is something that DC hasn’t done before.
“[The movie] literally takes the “Man of Steel” and “Batman” universes and explodes them. You’re not as tied to the mythology. In “Man of Steel,” we had to create an origin story, a mythology, and there’s a lot of energy into that, which we love doing. Don’t get me wrong. But when you think about how fun it is too — now that you’ve got these characters — to now let ‘em loose. That’s fun!”
Regardless of how you may feel about some of the casting decisions thus far, it’s refreshing to hear that Snyder is listening to the fans. It would be easy for someone in his position to get overwhelmed, but he’s doing a remarkable job of keeping his cool. Hopefully once production starts up in a month we’ll hear more from the cast and crew and finally get to see how this monumental film will take shape.
What do you think about Snyder’s comments on Batman vs. Superman? Sound off below!