HBO Max Wants Its Own DC Films With Budgets Under $65 Million; Snyder Cut Called A "Pipe Dream"

With the DC comic book properties enjoying a bit of recent success on the big screen, thanks to “Aquaman” and “Joker,” you would think the future of Warner Bros’ superhero output is going to stay in theaters. Well, with the future of the industry leaning towards the Streaming Wars, WB needs to make sure HBO Max is going to survive. And reportedly, the studio is exploring options to branch off, allowing for some DC films to perhaps land on the digital platform.

According to Variety, HBO Max is exploring the idea of populating its library with a selection of films based on DC comic book properties for the streaming service. However, don’t expect the next “Superman” or “Batman” films to be exclusive to HBO Max. The report claims that the films that find their way onto the streaming service exclusively will likely carry budgets no greater than $65 million (aka the price WB paid to produce “Joker”).

Much like what Marvel Studios is doing with characters like “Moon Knight,” “Ms. Marvel,” and “She-Hulk” (relegating them to the Disney+ streaming service), it appears that WB is interested in doing the same. However, unlike its competition, HBO Max won’t just have superhero TV series, but will also be the home of exclusive DC films. (I’d like to suggest an “Animal Man” feature, written by Grant Morrison, naturally. Thanks!)

That being said, one film that is likely not going to end up on HBO Max is the Snyder Cut of “Justice League.” According to the report, the studio is not interested in spending money on making the mythical Snyder Cut presentable and isn’t going to move forward with any release of the version of “Justice League” that passionate fans have been begging for over the last two years. Not even as a special feature on HBO Max.

Regarding the likelihood of the Snyder Cut being released at all, one insider told Variety, “That’s a pipe dream. There’s no way it’s ever happening.”

Composer Danny Elfman, who worked on “Justice League,” echoes the idea that the Snyder Cut is likely not going to see the light of day.

In an interview with Joe, he said, “Well, the thing is, he never finished it. So, I don’t know quite how they’d do that. He had a tremendous tragedy, which forced him to not finish the film.”

He added, “So it is kind of a unique situation. I mean, there is definitely other movies where the director was fired, and a studio radically changed the movie because they didn’t like it. And as a fan, you go ‘I wonder what the director did, before the studio changed the movie.’ But I’m not really aware of how that dynamic would really apply here.”

So, fans of Snyder’s vision will have to keep hoping that WB will change its mind. Because even with the streaming service desperate for content, the studio still isn’t going to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut.

Maybe after 10 years?