Justice League: What went wrong? (And how to fix it)

For years, it has seemed the development of a Justice League movie has enthralled every person on the face of the Earth, myself included. Growing up on the animated cartoon show, and reading Geoff John’s run on these influential characters, the Justice League played a pivotal role in my development. The heroes’ determination to the do the right thing, in addition to their compassion and kindness, had a large impact on me and countless others. So when it was announced that a Justice League movie was in the works after all the success other media outlets had on the property, overwhelming excitement flooded a large community of people who had been waiting tirelessly for a live rendition of the iconic superheroes. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to everyone’s expectations.

Behind the scenes, issues had stunted Justice League’s progress. From the suicide of director Zack Snyder’s beloved daughter to extensive reshoots from Joss Whedon after Snyder left the project in his hands, it seemed nothing was going right for the picture. It also didn’t help that the studio had largely interfered with the crafting of this movie, as Warner Brothers had mandated that the length of the film be less than two hours long, leaving the end product feeling rushed and unfinished. Scenes that were integral to the plot had been left on the cutting room floor, and over an hour of content was lost. But the studio couldn’t help the tonal differences between the two directors. Their divergent visions were unbearably evident throughout the movie. Joss Whedon, who’s known for his wittiness and humor, conflicted with Snyder’s gritty and dark perception. The film failed because the entirety of the development process was a nightmare.

The DC Extended Universe’s previous films may have been plagued with dilemmas, but there are solutions for the future. First and foremost, the studio (Warner Brothers) should not interfere in the crafting of their films. They should let the director have total creative control, no matter how long the film is. The critical reception of a film determines the numbers it receives in the box office, so cutting the movie to a shorter length is detrimental to its success. Letting the directors make the film that they envision could also yield better reception from the public. Also, DC should focus their efforts on fleshing out their characters, instead of building up for the next movie. There isn’t a problem with world-building, but if the audience isn’t invested in the characters then they won’t care for them as much as they should. Warner Brothers has all the right pieces to create a critically and commercially successful universe. It is not beyond the realm of possibility, as Wonder Woman has shown us that they can listen to criticism and produce hits. With James Wan taking on Aquaman next, I am excited to see where Warner Brothers takes the DCEU, and if they can finally fix their previous mistakes.