Zack Snyder reveals why that Knightmare scene in Justice League almost didn't happen

Jared Leto in Zack Snyder's Justice League
(Image credit: Warner Bros./HBO Max)

Zack Snyder's Justice League has done a phenomenal job of teasing fans with what could have been if the Synderverse had continued. One scene, in particular, stands out – the extended look at the Knightmare world teased in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The chat between Joker and Batman is one of the most talked-about moments of the movie, and it almost didn’t happen.  

In a new interview with Yahoo! Sports, Snyder revealed some details about the new Knightmare sequence, including some studio pushback on Joker's involvement. Snyder thought it would be rude not to have a scene with Ben Affleck's Batman and Jared Leto's Joker together, but the studio wasn't initially keen on the idea.

"Originally, the studio said, 'Now we don’t want that,' but I was like, 'I’m going to do it anyway.' I was going to put up some green screens and shoot it in my backyard, but we didn’t have to do that in the end," the director said.

Synder also went on to explain how Darkseid’s invasion was all Lex Luthor's fault. "Darkseid would have come to Earth, and Lex would have figured out the Anti-Life Equation and given it to him upon his arrival," Snyder said. "He also gives Darkseid the knowledge that if he kills Lois, Superman will succumb to Anti-Life. The Earth falls, and Flash has to go back in time to stop Lois from being killed. That’s really the linchpin of the whole thing."

It’s only been about a week since the Synder Cut hit HBO Max, and with over four hours of content, there's sure to be more behind-the-scenes information to come. Including why Justice League Snyder Cut almost gave Superman a beard and mullet.

Before you watch Snyder Cut, be sure to catch up on all the DC movies in order – and if you don't have HBO Max yet, check out the best HBO Max prices.

TOPICS
CATEGORIES

Stephanie is a comic book historian and pop culture critic for publications including SYFYFANGRRLS, Marvel, The A.V. Club, Nerdist, Den of Geek, and Rotten Tomatoes. Stephanie is also a comic creator with three ongoing webcomics, Parenthood Activate!, But What If Though?, and Living Heroes. She made her Marvel debut with a short story featuring Monica Rambeau in Marvel’s Voices: Legacy. She recently made her DC Comics debut in Wonder Woman Black and Gold #2 and is co-writing the Nubia and the Amazons miniseries.

Read more
Superman and Lois Lane in Superman
Will Superman save the day? James Gunn's upcoming DC movie will make or break the new DCU
James Gunn
James Gunn and Zack Snyder's viral photo was posted to prove to DC fans there's no bad blood between them: "It's such a weird dynamic that's been created between factions online"
Superman
How to watch DC movies in order (release date and chronological)
Robert Pattinson in The Batman
Upcoming DC movies and TV shows: every DCU title coming soon
Superman
James Gunn says there are "two little things" that set up the DCU's future in Superman, but don't expect major post-credits teases: "If something’s there just to set up something else, f**k it"
David Corenswet as Superman in first look at James Gunn's new movie
Superman release date, trailer, cast, and everything you need to know about the new movie
Latest in Superhero Movies
Batman and Catwoman talking
Robert Pattinson is hoping to team up with his The Batman co-star Zoe Kravitz on another project soon
The cast of Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts director says the new Marvel movie is inspired by Toy Story 3: "Can they get out of the trash can together?"
Robert Downey Jr announces his Doctor Doom casting at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"He is so dialed in": Robert Downey Jr. is coming up with backstory and costume ideas for Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
Robert Pattinson worries he will be a "f*cking old Batman" by the time filming on The Batman 2 finally starts
Lewis Pullman as "Bob" in Thunderbolts
The first look at Thunderbolts' Sentry suit seemingly leaked in new Marvel merchandise
Spider-Man: No Way Home
This is why fans think Spider-Man will become the MCU's most important character after Avengers: Doomsday
Latest in News
Balatro
Balatro creator started "properly playing the game myself about a week before launch" and had "a pretty emotional moment" where he realized it's "actually fun"
Death Stranding 2 Collector's Edition
Hideo Kojima reveals Death Stranding 2: On the Beach release date, and the Collector's Edition includes exactly what I predicted it would
Kingmakers
Kingmakers is a strategy game about taking on medieval armies with a gun, but its devs thought the giant mech was too much
The Witcher 3 lead says "not many games" were trying to match the RPG back in 2015, and that meant "there was a risk" to making it in the first place
The Blood of Dawnwalker
The Witcher 3 dev says his new vampire RPG Blood of Dawnwalker wants to challenge genre conventions, but only if "we're changing them to actually achieve some goal"
Daredevil recap: The Defenders
Marvel fans are discussing which of the Netflix series characters would have survived the Blip