Zack Snyder Still Hasn’t Watched James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Despite Earlier Praise

Zack Snyder’s connection to the DC universe, which he once led, continues to intrigue fans, especially after James Gunn took the reins to shape the franchise’s future. Although Snyder stepped away from the DCEU years ago, he has periodically shared his thoughts on how the rebooted DC Universe is progressing under new creative leadership.

This week, as Snyder promoted ‘The Last Photograph,’ his first independent film without a studio or streamer involved, the conversation naturally shifted to his views on Gunn’s take on Superman. Fans have been eager to hear Snyder’s genuine reaction since the film’s announcement.

In a recent interview, Snyder admitted that he still hasn’t seen Gunn’s ‘Superman,’ even though the film has been advancing the rebooted DC Universe for over a year. When asked about the movie, he chuckled and said, “I just haven’t gotten around to it yet,” while expressing his support for Gunn and his desire for the DC division to thrive, sentiments echoed in comments reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

This revelation contrasts with Snyder’s earlier comments this year. During an appearance on the “Happy, Sad, Confused” podcast, he had previously stated that he had seen the film, calling it “amazing” and praising Gunn’s approach as “singular,” even expressing excitement for the sequel.

Snyder and Gunn’s working relationship actually dates back decades, beginning with their collaboration on the 2004 remake of ‘Dawn of the Dead.’ This history has kept them on good terms, despite online fan communities attempting to pit their differing visions for Superman against each other.

Earlier this year, the duo leaned into this dynamic with a superhero-themed cameo on ‘Rick and Morty,’ where they portrayed animated, parodied versions of themselves arguing over whose Superman reigns supreme. This playful exchange highlighted the lack of genuine tension between the two directors, despite fans framing the takes of Henry Cavill and David Corenswet as a competitive rivalry.

Snyder also reflected on why Marvel has consistently outperformed DC at the box office. He compared Marvel’s strategy to an amusement park ride, suggesting that the studio has mastered the art of marketing its heroes, while his focus has been on exploring the characters’ iconic inner essence rather than purely aiming for mass appeal.

‘The Last Photograph’ represents a significant shift for Snyder, marking his first project created entirely outside the traditional studio or streaming framework. He expressed feeling like a huge fan of the atmosphere on the Warner Bros. lot during a recent visit for an Excalibur screening, noting that Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy invited him back for the event and a subsequent Q&A session.

Snyder also recounted some of the challenges he faced in his career during that same interview, recalling a moment when he was asked about the adversity he encountered while sitting in the very room linked to the conclusion of his DC universe tenure. He described the question as “strange” but managed to take it in stride. This kind of candid reflection has become more common for Snyder as he embraces this new, independent phase of his filmmaking journey.

Whether Snyder will eventually watch Gunn’s ‘Superman’ remains uncertain, especially given his conflicting comments throughout the year. For now, his ongoing support for Gunn’s vision of the DC Universe suggests that any perceived rivalry exists more in fan speculation than in reality.

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