The Snyderverse could potentially return if a few factors align, and if that were to happen, there are three ways in which the DC franchise could return, though I believe only one of them would make sense. Zack Snyder’s three DC movies and his vision for the DCEU movie franchise proved divisive. However, he gained a loyal following over the years.
It was because of those fans that Zack Snyder’s Justice League was released in 2021 after Joss Whedon took over 2017’s Justice League. Now, after years of campaigning for Netflix to bring back the Snyderverse, there is actually a chance that it could happen.
Netflix is interested in buying Warner Bros. Discovery, exploring a bid for DC’s parent company, and if the deal happens, here is how the Snyderverse could return.
New Live-Action Justice League Movies
The first option, and the one Snyder’s fans have been campaigning for years, is that the Snyderverse would return as it was. That means live-action Justice League sequels to see Snyder’s vision for the DC team’s trilogy fully realized onscreen. Given the state of James Gunn’s DC Universe, which is DC Studios’ main focus going forward, this seems unlikely.
If DC’s Snyderverse were to come back right now, it probably would happen within Netflix itself. As such, any live-action DC movies set in the Snyderverse would have more of a chance to exist as Netflix Originals. Since Snyder and the streamer have a years-long partnership, which has led to multiple movies, this could happen, though the elevated budgets play against it.
A Live-Action Snyderverse Limited Series
The other way in which DC’s Snyderverse could come back in live-action is if the franchise were to fully migrate from a movie series to a TV show. Zack Snyder’s version of DC would make for an exciting Elseworlds universe through a limited series. Netflix knows how to produce high-quality event series, with shows like Stranger Things, The Witcher, and The Sandman putting their budgets onscreen.
Netflix is the perfect home for a premium Justice League limited series. Instead of making a Justice League movie trilogy, Snyder could fulfill his plans with two seasons, each adapting his ideas for one of the original movie sequels. Additionally, Zack Snyder’s Justice League was almost released in a 4-part limited series format on HBO Max, so there is a precedent.
Two Animated Justice League Movies
Finally, the most likely option if the Snyderverse were to return as part of Netflix’s interest in buying Warner Bros. Discovery is that the franchise would return in animation. Given the divisive nature of the DCEU, which saw all of its final four releases in 2023 underperform at the box office, it would not make sense to revive the live-action franchise.
Instead, Netflix could let James Gunn’s DCU continue to lead DC in the movie space, with Snyder’s DC franchise existing as an Elseworlds animated movie series. DC is known for interconnected stories in animation that have nothing to do with the theatrical universes, like the recently concluded Tomorrowverse, or the announced 4-part Batman: Knightfall movie franchise.
Snyder has already commented on the possibility, revealing that he would be open to completing his DC plans in animation. Speaking to Empire (via @DCFilmNews/Twitter), Snyder said, “Yeah, absolutely. That’d be fun. That’d be cool.” Now, it remains to be seen whether the deal will happen. That said, the Snyderverse does have bigger chances of returning than ever before.
- Created by
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Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- Cast
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Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena
- Movie(s)
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Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold
- Character(s)
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Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam
