Transformation of Justice League (2017) to the Snyder Cut (2021) in the Digital Streaming Era: The Case of the Movie’s Re-Release on HBO Max Four Years After the Global Theatrical Release

Abstract

Justice League (2017) movie has a sensational place in the superhero movie genre. The director, Zack Snyder, experienced a family tragedy due to his daughter’s loss during the movie’s post-production. Then, Warner Bros. assigned a new director, Joss Whedon, to the project to complete the production process. However, the movie became a global box office flop alongside negative comments of critics and audience. Fans operated a massive and global social media campaign to led the company to release Snyder’s completed and re-cut version. In 2021, fans achieved to experience Zack Snyder’s Justice League as a four-hour superhero action-adventure on HBO Max. This chapter primarily investigates the narrative and aesthetic differences between two versions of the Justice League movie. Besides, the study covers the power of global social media campaign titled #ReleasetheSnyderCut by the fans, the strategy of WarnerMedia Studios & Networks in streaming major blockbusters, including the Snyder Cut, on HBO Max, and the digital technologies-based authorship of Snyder on the Snyder Cut. Therefore, the study could broaden a new perspective on global content in digital streaming services and the influence of subscribers and fan communities on the companies. Notably, the chapter could contribute to the field of film studies and contemporary researches on film-making and streaming in the era of subscription video-on-demand services. The chapter proposes to provide significant insight into the future of the genre. © 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.