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Many outlets are reporting the news that director Zack Snyder is stepping down from directing the upcoming Justice League in order to be with his family following the suicide of his daughter, Autumn, in March. This news has unfortunately prompted some insensitive reactions online. This brings to light an interesting separation between the artist and the art they create.
Snyder has his fair amount of detractors. I was impressed by his debut with Dawn of the Dead and got caught up in the zeitgeist that was 300. But, I have been less than thrilled with his contributions to the superhero genre in Watchmen, Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
This has birthed a persona of the man – Zack Snyder, director. His personal life and character has been shielded by a believed persona of what we feel this man is like, just because of the films he makes. We assume that the CGI heavy and slow-motion leaning visual style says more about the man than anything else...
my friend texted me "why is no one talking about how rooney mara and tom hiddleston have the same face" & now i cant stop thinking about it pic.twitter.com/dBFMo6g2Ho
Chris here with some post-Comic Con excitement. We've already shown you the two standouts of footage revealed at Comic Con (Wonder Woman and Kong: Skull Island) but they didn't suck all of the air out of the room. This year felt like the first in a long time to be jampacked with buzzy titles, from early first looks, deeper dives, and "Gotcha!" surprises. Here's some of the footage (and first thoughts) you might have missed:
Justice League
• Jason Momoa as Aquaman is the standout, striking the right balance of brooding and fun that BvS never struck. • ... but haven't we been promised that Justice League would be a less morose affair? An amped up rock tune is not a levity factory - turn the volume off and unfortunately this looks like more of the same. • If it brings more of Ezra Miller's charm to the masses, will it all be worth it anyway? • No hinting at Superman's inevitable return, so thankfully no long-game tease of what we already know, killing any tension in the actual film.
Fantastic Beasts, a new take on King Arthur, and more after the jump...
They're trying to trick us with this new Wonder Woman poster. Look at all that COLOR. From WB/DC? Could it be possible? Mmmm yes and no.
Since it was Comic Con weekend the studios were working hard to inundate fans with new superhero footage and the second Wonder Woman trailer is here... which has some color to it but a lot of blue grays since that's how DC (and action movies) likes to play it these days. The trailer is a bit premature as the film is not due for 11 months but we'll take it. It looks pretty good and maybe, just maybe, they'll do right by the Amazon princess?
Our Yes No Maybe So is after the jump but first things first. You must know that we do deeply dig The Little Mermaid shoutout which begins the trailer. Steve Trevor is all washed up on shore like a Prince Eric thirst trap and Diana is eager to drink him up...
The Film Stage Kate Winslet will lead Woody Allen's next film which supposedly involves Coney Island W Magazine gets Tom Hiddleston stripped down (not an unusual triumph of late: see High-Rise) i09 even though Sterling Archer may or may not be dead (cliffhangers. argh) Archer has been renewed for 3 more seasons. Yay! Playbill Kristin Chenoweth is joining TV's next live musical, Hairspray in the Velma Von Tussle role (yup, the Debbie Harry / Michelle Pfeiffer part)
Gothamist the Bryant Park outdoor movie series begins. If you watch this footage this is why I never go! I've been once and omg the claustrophia and noise and inability to enjoy the movie (full disclaimer: I also hate summer which might have contributed to my distaste for outdoor summer events) Kickstarter Here's an oddity. Apparently Todd Haynes and Christine Vachon who have brought us so much eventful art cinema in the past 25 years made short films before the films we know and they're trying to find them and restore them Guardian Sarah Polley will adapt Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace for a Netflix series AV Club John Boyega joins Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit riots movie Boy Culture does his annual review of Broadway Bares - so cool that Daniel Dae Kim did his bit for the cause! PajibaThe Lego Movie predicted Donald Trump's current villany Antagony & Ecstasy looooves Piper, the new Pixar short. It's true -- it's better than the feature that follows it.
Superheroics and Hijinx Tracking Board glorious ginger viking Kristover Hivju, who devoted Film Experience readers know as a former nominee here for his perfect supporting work in Sweden's Force Majeure but who most of the world knows from Game of Thrones has joined the cast of Justice League /Film a very long set visit report from Justice League. I know WB is trying to send the message that this will be fun but this sounds like a mess to me. Especially the part about Mother Boxes. I mean after Horcruxes and Infinity Stones who isn't sick of "collect these objects before the villain and win!" plots. SO DULL MNPP why did Zach Snyder make this cut from the Batman & Lois bath scene? Comics Alliance I wasn't aware that Tank Girl, a comic that once became a Lori Petty movie in the 90s, has been revived but it has. Tank Girl was always so cool looking. Still is Coming Soon Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, is joining the Supergirl TV show. Alas not as Wonder Woman but as POTUS. After all the fictional female presidents we've had over the years we better get a real one soon
Look. It's the Looking movie trailer. Now I have to sob gay tears all over again that these beautiful characters will soon ascend to showbiz heaven never to be seen again. *sniffle*
Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 4:00PM 
Many outlets are reporting the news that director Zack Snyder is stepping down from directing the upcoming Justice League in order to be with his family following the suicide of his daughter, Autumn, in March. This news has unfortunately prompted some insensitive reactions online. This brings to light an interesting separation between the artist and the art they create.
