Why Zack Snyder Should Develop A Live-Action TV Show Next (Not Another Movie)

Zack Snyder’s next project should be a live-action TV show and not another movie. Snyder loves to leave very little on the cutting room floor as some of his projects ballooned to three, even four, hours. Warner Bros. refused to take the gamble of releasing his movies at that runtime by cutting out whole chunks for the theatrical versions.

Since Watchmen, Snyder’s obsession with including every detail and lingering in scenes, along with his visual style, is part of his brand. It’s not uncommon to buy one of Snyder’s movies and see that it comes with an extended or director’s cut. Even some early reports suggested an original cut of Justice League would be three hours and a half, but the final HBO Max version added another 30 minutes. The director enjoys telling long stories that ask audiences for about an eighth of their day. The Snyder Cut made it as clear as day the director could no longer work in the confines of the two-hour film standard. But longer runtimes means fewer showtimes, which typically leads to a lower box office haul for studios.

Related: The DCEU's Biggest Mistake Was Not Letting Zack Snyder Finish His Vision

Warner Bros. may not take that risk with Snyder as his DC films became divisive and didn’t reach box office expectations, but Netflix might. Netflix allows for more risks in terms of its programming, especially with its more mature content. Army of the Dead gave Snyder a high amount of creative control as the film’s director, cinematographer as well as one of its writers and producers. Zack Snyder is better off at Netflix as his longer forms of storytelling can be turned into shows while still giving him creative freedom. Netflix also gave Snyder the greenlight for a prequel film and a tie-in TV series for Army of the Dead, turning the franchise into a whole universe. On top of that, Snyder is also developing a Norse mythology anime series and a live-action sci-fi film titled Rebel Moon for the streaming service. With all that, a turn to live-action television could be just where this director fits.

One of Snyder’s hallmarks is his distinct visual style and slow-paced films. He’s not the kind of director that is in a hurry to tell his story. Snyder is also good about creating interesting live-action worlds and bleak atmospheres that fans have come to expect, like with his rendition of Krypton in Man of Steel. Without studio intervention, Snyder can display his strengths and weaknesses but also hone his craft since his natural inclination is to go longer in runtime. Like a zombie heist movie or the epic fantasy action of Sucker Punch, Snyder's original ideas are not only unique to him but also perfect ideas for shows. Especially with the high-caliber actors and crew, he can put together. Snyder’s aesthetic across his live-action work would be a fresh voice in the world of television.

Snyder is also someone who is a long-term planner, which works well for television. In Batman v Superman, the director laid the seeds for the Knightmare timeline where the Flash traveled through time to warn Batman of what’s to come. In television, this is the kind of plot point that could tie whole seasons together. One could argue that Snyder even started to play with television structure as Justice League could work in episodes with its chapter breaks. If the movie were a six-episode mini-series, the Snyder Cut movement fans absolutely would have driven discussions week to week online about potential theories and setups. This makes for event television that keeps interest alive. The discussions surrounding WandaVision and Loki consistently create social media buzz.

As he moves on from the DCEU, Snyder can allow his adaptations and original ideas to be truly his. It's something that’s always held back his work as Warner Bros. as they never truly saw eye to eye with him. Instead of focusing on movies, maybe it's time Zack Snyder stopped trying to confine his vision and made live-action television.

More: Army Of The Dead Is Much Better For Zack Snyder's Style Than Justice League

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July 11, 2021 at 12:40AM