Zack Snyder Steps Down From ‘Justice League’ Due To Tragedy

It was announced today that Justice League director Zack Snyder is stepping away from the remainder of the post-production on the upcoming DC film, as he and his family deal with a tragic family loss. The Hollywood Reporter revealed today the sad details that back in March, Snyder’s 20 year old daughter Autumn Snyder died by suicide. Ms. Snyder’s death was kept private since then until today as Snyder has officially stepped down.

Zack Snyder gave a statement to Hollywood Reporter about trying to finish the film that is in post-production while dealing with the death of this daughter. But the task got too difficult as Snyder has decided to step away in order to be with his family as they are all going through a difficult time.

“In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was way through it. The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all consuming. And 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.”

It was also revealed that Joss Whedon, who will be writing and directing Batgirl, will take over for Zack Snyder to finish post-production. Whedon has also written a couple of extra scenes that will be shot and added to the final version of Justice League. Warner Bros. Pictures president Toby Emmerich stressed that these scenes will not feature the introduction of new characters.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League opens in theaters on Friday, November 17.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter