Filmmaker Zack Snyder recently joined the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his highly-divisive comic book film, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Released on March 25, 2016, the movie, despite opening to negative reviews, achieved a significant global gross of $874 million. This tentpole served as a sequel to the equally polarizing “Man of Steel,” which had already sparked debate among comic book enthusiasts for its depiction of Superman killing Zod. “Batman v Superman” further intensified fan divisions with its portrayal of Batman killing criminals and the controversial moment where the two heroes bond over their mothers sharing the name Martha.

Reflecting on the film a decade later, Snyder staunchly defended his creative vision, asking, “Do you really want a movie that’s had all the edges shaved off it by the focus groups? Do you really want the Kmart version of your story?” He emphasized a preference for artistic integrity over boardroom-driven or tested ideas designed for mass enjoyment.

“Batman v Superman” marked the second installment in Snyder’s DC Universe, affectionately dubbed the ‘SnyderVerse’ by his dedicated fanbase. The subsequent film, “Justice League,” faced its own set of controversies after Snyder’s departure from production due to a family tragedy. Joss Whedon was brought in by the studio to rewrite scenes and conduct reshoots, leading to significant changes from Snyder’s original vision. This intervention fueled a massive social media campaign, with Snyder fans demanding the release of the “Snyder Cut” of “Justice League,” a movement that ultimately succeeded, culminating in the debut of “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” on HBO Max in 2021.

Snyder expressed his deep appreciation for the mythological journey undertaken across these three films, noting “The intensity of where we ended up with ‘Justice League’ and how it evolved and where it came from. That whole insanity.” He also recalled the challenges faced during the production of “BvS,” particularly with the MPAA’s rating process. He recounted instances where the movie was repeatedly kicked back for still being deemed an ‘R’ rating, with one MPAA report even stating, “‘We just don’t like the idea of Batman fighting Superman. That kind of makes it an R. He really hits him hard with that sink. That’s rude. That feels like an R.’” Snyder recognized at the time that they were “kicking the zeitgeist in the nuts,” anticipating that people would be angered by the deconstruction of their beloved heroes and their conflict.

Although the SnyderVerse concluded before Snyder could realize two additional “Justice League” movies, he revealed on the podcast that he has “absolutely talked about” bringing these stories to life through alternative mediums such, as comic books or animation, asserting, “We live in a world where all that is possible.” When questioned about the persistent calls from fans for the SnyderVerse to continue, Snyder stated, “I would never say there is no way.” He acknowledged the numerous dark times during the creation of “Justice League” when his version seemed impossible due to cost, politics, and other factors, yet it ultimately came to fruition. Snyder credited the fans for this achievement, also highlighting their significant fundraising efforts for suicide prevention. He passionately defended his fanbase against accusations of toxicity, stating, “They catch a lot of flak for being toxic or whatever, but they literally saved human lives. You can go fuck yourselves if that’s what you think.”

The DC Universe has since been reimagined under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran at Warner Bros. Gunn’s new “Superman” movie, released last year, received largely positive critical and fan reception. Snyder offered his well wishes, saying, “James is cool. I wish them all the best. It is what it is.” He underscored that his three-movie trilogy remains a distinct entity, independent of the new DC projects. “That three movie trilogy is a weed that just won’t die. It grows on its own. It has its own life. It’s not concerned with James’ Superman, which is amazing and all the best to them. I can’t wait to see the next movie. It’s awesome. To me, it’s not the same thing. It’s a different thing.”