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    Fabled “Snyder Cut” of “Justice League” to be released on HBO Max

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1166 Views
    This Aug. 3, 2016 file photo shows director Zack Snyder at the premiere of "Suicide Squad" in London. Warner Bros. Pictures say that Snyder’s cut of 2017′s “Justice League” will debut next year on the streaming service HBO Max. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, File)

    By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    For several years, the slogan "Release the Snyder cut" has reverberated online as a rallying cry both genuine and ironic — a "Vive la revolution" for comic book movie fans. On Wednesday, they finally got their wish. 

    Warner Bros. Pictures announced that a director's cut of Zack Snyder's 2017's DC Comics film "Justice League" will next year debut on the streaming service HBO Max. Snyder first announced the news himself in a live video conference commentary for his Superman film "Man of Steel."

    The so-called #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement began around the release of "Justice League," a movie that Snyder directed but was replaced in postproduction by Joss Whedon. The "Avengers" director, who was credited as co-writer, oversaw extensive reshoots, editing and visual effects. 

    By then, Snyder's stewardship of the DC Comics films had drawn much criticism; his previous film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" rated 28% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. But some fans remained loyal, even as Warner Bros. reshuffled their approach to DC films. 

    At the time of his departure, Warner Bros. said Snyder was stepping away to be with his family  following the death of his 20-year-old daughter. 

    Snyder remained the sole credited director of "Justice League" and it was likewise panned by critics (40% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and considered a disappointment by most fans. But some have maintained that Snyder's vision of the film would have been better. In November, even the film's stars Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot added to the chorus on Twitter. 

    "Since I got here 14 months ago, the chant to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut has been a daily drumbeat in our offices and inboxes. Well, the fans have asked, and we are thrilled to finally deliver," said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of Warner Media Entertainment, in a statement. 

    It's unclear if another "Snyder cut" ever existed before the director's departure. Speaking to fans during the "Man of Steel" watch party, Snyder said he still had work to do on it. 

    "I want to thank HBO Max and Warner Brothers for this brave gesture of supporting artists and allowing their true visions to be realized," Snyder said in a statement. "Also a special thank you to all of those involved in the SnyderCut movement for making this a reality."

    Tags:HBO MaxJustice LeagueWarner Bros.Zack Snyder



    Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

    Saturday, December 21, 2024
    Suchir Balaji poses for a photo in Hawaii in 2018. Balaji was a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who died in November 2024. (Balaji Ramamurthy via AP)

    Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26.

    Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products.

    "We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this difficult time," said a statement from OpenAI.

    Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said "appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation." The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide.

    His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a "happy, smart and brave young man" who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends.

    Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT.

    "Suchir's contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn't have succeeded without him," said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what... Read More

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