Will Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 Ever Happen?

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Following the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League, will there be a Zack Snyder's Justice League 2? 2017 became a shake-up year for Warner Bros. after the release of Justice League, which had been retooled by Joss Whedon after Snyder had to step down towards the end of production following the passing of his daughter. The film was then swathed in controversy as it became clear that Warner Bros. had interfered with the director's original plan.

But knowing that there was a larger plan with Zack Snyder's Justice League, a campaign led to the film finally be released on HBO Max as a 4-hour cut. However, it has been known for years that Snyder originally had plans that went beyond just one ensemble film. For a good couple of years now, Snyder and his creative team had plans that would have included sequels, including a Zack Snyder's Justice League 2.

The follow-up to his Justice League would have been entirely set in the Knightmare timeline as he has hinted to in past DCEU movies, including the Snyder Cut. Despite the amount of excitement and hype leading up to the film's HBO Max release, what is the future for Snyder's Justice League franchise?

Will Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 Happen?

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While there are creative plans that exist for a Zack Snyder's Justice League 2, it appears right now that a sequel won't be happening. Zack Snyder has been on the record that Warner Bros. isn't interested in pursuing any more installments to this specific iteration of their DC properties. The director has also spoken about how the studio is still considering Whedon's Justice League film to be canon to the ongoing and upcoming films that they have coming. Snyder even felt that the only way he could have released his 4-hour cut is by having it not be part of the DCEU anymore. While the filmmaker and seemingly Warner Bros. may not have plans to get Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 made, the release of the Snyder Cut itself is enough to suggest that people should never say never.

As it stands, the plausibility of Justice League 2 happening depends on how the Snyder Cut does in terms of numbers for HBO Max alongside its reception, which has so far been very positive. Even if the studio wouldn't want it to happen, that doesn't mean that WarnerMedia's owners AT&T would be as opposed to it. If the film does well in reception and commercially, then they could easily be the ones to push a sequel to happen. The chances of it getting a theatrical treatment may be low, but Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 could happen on HBO Max.

Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 Story

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There are already plans in place for what Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 would look like, with everything revolving around the Knightmare storyline. As mentioned, Justice League 2 would take place almost entirely in this apocalyptic timeline, which is explored in the Snyder Cut. Snyder's DCEU movies represented a five-movie Superman arc, starting with Man of Steel and ending with Justice League 3, so Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 would've been the penultimate entry in that. Snyder has explained his Justice League 2 plans, saying:
 

"It’s the fall of Earth, when Superman succumbs to anti-life. And then sending Flash back in time to change one element so that doesn’t happen. And then the big battle where we beat him. When [the villain] Darkseid comes to Earth, in the movie that you’ll never see, the armies of Earth all unite again, as they did before. This time there would be aircraft carriers and Special Forces guys, all the armies of the world would come together, as well as [Aquaman’s fellow] Atlanteans rising out of the ocean and the Themyscirans [Wonder Woman’s compatriots] coming off their island. That was our big finale. But it’s a long drum roll and guitar solo to get there."

Zack Snyder's DC Future

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Zack Snyder's DC future remains uncertain right now. Following the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League, the director isn't attached to helm or write any upcoming DC movies, although he is credited as an executive producer on both The Suicide Squad and The Flash. Even without Zack Snyder's Justice League 2 happening, there are ways of incorporating Snyder into DC's future, perhaps by building on his plans or bringing back other elements he laid the groundwork for. It's a long-shot right now, but it's still possible he will eventually return for Zack Snyder's Justice League 2.