A few weeks ago came the news that HBO Max would be releasing “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” the so-called ‘Snyder Cut’ of the DC Comics film which will require a further $20-30 million to complete.
While the decision has made the backers of the move very happy, it has come under some criticism that this sets a dangerous precedent. That precedent? If fans complain enough, they will be able to directly influence the making of films – a possibility that has both good and bad aspects.
Indeed in the wake of the news, the #ReleaseTheAyerCut relating to “Suicide Squad” has become something of a movement. Now, in a recent interview with The Verge, HBO Max boss Tony Goncalves wants to make it clear this is not going to be a regular thing:
“I don’t know if caving is actually the way to think about it. I think the consumer wins at the end of the day… We’re in a space where consumers are loud. Consumers guide, and we absolutely have to listen as industry. I had a boss that once said, ‘Industry and consumers aren’t always aligned, but consumers do tend to win.’ It’s a fine balance.
And I think when it comes to video, when it comes to entertainment, when it comes to content, consumers have never had more choice, and they’ve never had more of a voice. But that doesn’t mean that we will go and invest our dollars in every single fandom that exists.
But I think the reference to the Snyder Cut and the Friends fandom is the fact that consumers are speaking, and we have to listen. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to go redo every movie ever made. But I think that we definitely have to have our ear to the ground. And I think we do.
I just go back to look at the buzz that the Harry Potter library brought us yesterday. It was a wonderful surprise and delight. It’s because consumers are passionate about these franchises.”
That doesn’t rule out the Ayer Cut, but it does sound less likely to happen. Ayer himself has spoken about it again today on social media, saying Jared Leto “was pretty mistreated during this. No one has seen his performance. It was ripped out of the movie.”
For now, the new cut of “Justice League” is targeting a 2021 release on the service.
