Justice League director Zack Snyder has never been quiet about his dream projects. The filmmaker is extremely vocal when it comes to expressing his passion. Following his departure, Snyder has expressed an interest in adapting his favourite Batman story: The Dark Knight Returns.
Zack Snyder wants to adapt The Dark Knight Returns
Interviewed by the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Snyder explained that adapting this comic book storyline is a dream project. While Snyder's Batman v Superman was a loose adaptation of that storyline, Snyder wants to craft a faithful recreation.
The director explained that he would love to bring the story to life in the same style as his Watchmen adaptation. That movie was a mostly frame-by-frame retelling with an edited ending. As far as adaptations go, it was certainly faithful.
“It would just be its own thing. I would just do it 100% Watchmen-style, really frame-accurate, really…really do it. I don’t think it would be that expensive, to be honest. I don’t think so. It’s pretty gritty. There’s that dialogue in there that’s just incredible. The VO in that movie is Frank at his best. That whole ‘the rain on my chest is a baptism’ thing.”
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Snyder wants an older Batman on screen
The Dark Knight Returns sees an aged Bruce Wayne return as the Caped Crusader to quell crime in Gotham. Much like Batman v Superman, the comic book sees a brutal, heartless Dark Knight turn to more violent methods of crime fighting. In the comic, he eventually fights a Superman that has become an extension of the US government.
While Batman v Superman took multiple cues from the comic, Snyder's dream project would be a perfect adaptation. As such, Snyder would want an older actor to play a grizzled, Clint Eastwood style Batman.
"That’s the kind of guy you need. Some crusty, awesome…it’s hard to say who it would be right now, you’d have to look around. I think probably in their 50’s, and they could play in their 60’s, early 60’s. I think he’s still in his late 50’s in the comic book. But still, that’s old for knocking around, fighting. I always love, also how big he is in the book. There’s that whole bit where he’s trying to grab that gun and he can’t get his finger in the trigger guard because it’s so little. That’s cool. There’s that shot where he’s carrying her, and she’s just so small in his arms. You just have to find some big f***ing guy. Who’s huge?"
Snyder has described Warner Bros as being aggressively Anti-Snyder after the release of Justice League. With this in mind, it's not likely we'll ever see the filmmaker's version of The Dark Knight Returns.
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