Joss Whedon Replaces Zack Snyder as ‘Justice League’ Director In Wake of Family Tragedy

This is terribly sad.

Justice League
Warner Bros

In the wake of the tragic suicide of his 20-year-old daughter, director Zack Snyder is stepping aside from Justice League, and Avengers director Joss Whedon is taking over. 

“In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was a way through it,” Snyder told the Hollywood Reporter.  

Zack Snyder

“In the last two months I’ve come to the realization … I’ve decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me. They are all having a hard time. I’m having a hard time.”  

Warner Bros., the studio behind the upcoming DC Comics-derived blockbuster, wanted to push back the release date, but Snyder declined. Whedon will shoot the rest of the film’s scenes on location in England.

Warner Bros. president Toby Emmerich told the Hollywood Reporter that Whedon won’t be making any major changes from Snyder’s vision. 

“The directing is minimal and it has to adhere to the style and tone and the template that Zack set,” he said. “We’re not introducing any new characters. He’s handing a baton to Joss, but the course has really been set by Zack. I still believe that despite this tragedy, we’ll still end up with a great movie.” 

Justice League stars Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Jason Moma and Ezra Miller. It hits theaters November 17. 

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