Written By Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
Warner Bros Discovery is interested in R-rated DC Black Label films for director Zack Snyder.
On June 16, 2021, I revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav had discussions to restore the SnyderVerse. No, these talks were not with Snyder himself. After all, Zaslav hadn’t stepped in the door yet. Rather, these talks were with people Zaslav had sought consultation.
Indeed, sources observed Zaslav is like a sponge. He absorbs ideas and numbers. Simply put, money fuels his interest in Snyder’s work. Make no mistake: Fanboy interests don’t drive Zaslav’s decisions.
Zaslav is aware that Zack Snyder’s Justice League was a global smash on HBO Max. Moreover, he admires the massive social engagement for the SnyderVerse. In addition, Zaslav and Snyder have a common bond. They both see the importance of DC Comics’ trinity: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
The previous Warner Bros. regime wanted to boot out the SnyderVerse. These include Warner Bros Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich; Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff, and DC Films president Walter Hamada.
Warner Bros Discovery Wants Zack Snyder For R-rated DC Black Label Films
Image: Warner Bros.
In that same article, I leaked Zaslov would fire them all. Two years later, Zaslov removed Emmerich and Sarnoff. Hamada’s stay is temporary.
Zaslav smashed the walls that blocked the SnyderVerse. Obviously, that’s not his reasons for doing so. Warner Bros. was a mess, especially DC Films.
Zaslov hired Zack Snyder fan Michael De Luca and his Pamela Abdy to replace Emmerich. Warner Bros. had previously chosen De Luca to co-produce Suicide Squad 2 with frequent Zack Snyder collaborator Charles Roven in 2018.
It was to be set in the SnyderVerse.
But Hamada and his cronies killed the sequel for James Gunn’s soft reboot, The Suicide Squad. The Suicide Squad tanked at the box office.
Now Zaslav seeks Joker director Todd Philips in a non-executive role at DC Films. As I reported before, it won’t be DC Films much longer. I stated on Syl Abdul’s YouTube channel on February 1 that DC Films will transform into DC Studios. (Whether Zaslav will call it that is unknown.)
Insiders say Zaslav wants Philips’ assistance in a series of R-rated DC Black Label movies. For the most part, they’ll be standalone pictures such as Joker. Their budgets will be lower than the DCEU’s blockbusters.
Warner Bros Discovery Wants Zack Snyder For R-rated DC Black Label Films
Image: Warner Bros.
The first DC Black Label comic book was Batman: Damned in 2018. For the DC Black Label, Batman: Damned was a baptism of fire. It showed the Dark Knight’s junk. No, not junk as in the Birds of Prey flick. But Batman’s penis.
Insiders acknowledge Zaslav sees the DC Black Label as a perfect destination for Zack Snyder. That is, after Zack Snyder finishes his Justice League trilogy. Oddly enough, Zack Snyder’s Watchmen was a proto DC Black Label movie.
Philips actually admires Zack Snyder as well. In an earlier interview, Philips called Watchmen among “the ballsiest studio films made in the last five years.” Watch it here.
Although it’s unlikely Warner Bros. Discovery will do a DC Black Label movie for Batman, Jared Leto’s the Joker is a possibility. Match it with Zack Snyder and see it explode. For now, though, it’s just talk. Zaslav just moved in.
There’s more furniture to move before hands shake.