Zack Snyder’s adaptation of Alan Moore’s Watchmen brought a unique and controversial perspective to the superhero genre.
Speaking with Letterboxd, Snyder reflected on his career, and of course, his work in the comic book movie genre.
Snyder’s comments highlight his view that superheroes, traditionally seen as paragons of virtue, are inherently flawed and complex.
Watchmen to me is like the ultimate deconstructionist comic book. Superheroes have sexual anxiety. They’re all agoraphobic and incestuous and insane and addicted to violence.
Snyder has never shied away from incorporating complex and mature themes into his superhero narratives.
In his adaptation of Watchmen, he included explicit content that stayed true to the original graphic novel’s mature tone, but some critics felt his portrayal was excessively graphic.
Similarly, his version of Justice League, known as the “Snyder Cut,” reintroduced a darker, more violent narrative that contrasted sharply with the theatrical release.
One of Snyder’s most controversial ideas involved a storyline where Batman would be sexually assaulted during his imprisonment.
Additionally, Snyder envisioned a subplot in which Batman and Lois Lane would develop a romantic relationship and have a child together after Superman’s death.
Warner Bros. rejected these ideas, deeming them too disturbing and inconsistent with the characters’ established narratives
