Even after WarnerMedia gave Zack Snyder the green light to finish his version of Justice League, the filmmaker continued to clash with the studio.
In fact, the director recently revealed that he considered walking away from the "Snyder Cut" after Warner Bros. stepped in and stopped him from using the John Stewart version of Green Lantern. Snyder cast little-known actor Wayne T. Carr as the hero, but WB put its foot down and that final scene with Bruce Wayne was reshot (during last year's reshoots) with Martian Manhunter.
Snyder has already shared some behind-the-scenes photos and concept art, but this latest piece actually reveals what the meeting between Batman and Green Lantern would have looked like on screen.
Even though the chances of a sequel to Zack Snyder's Justice League are somewhere between slim and none, this would have still been a cool note to end things on, and it's hard to understand why Warner Bros. had such an issue with Stewart making his presence felt here. The only possible explanation is that they didn't want this appearance to detract from what they have planned for the character.
Doing the rounds to promote Army of the Dead, Snyder confirmed he's heard nothing from the studio since the movie arrived on HBO Max, so even a comic book continuation seems unlikely at this stage.
Check out this concept art from Zack Snyder's Justice League below:
Click on the "Next" button below to check out some deep
cut Easter Eggs in Zack Snyder's Justice League!
10. Flashpoint Tease
When Rick Famuyiwa was set to direct The Flash, it was widely claimed the film would adapt Flashpoint.
That storyline saw Barry Allen travel through time to stop Reverse-Flash from killing his mother; little did he know that would create a whole new timeline. In that world, Cyborg was a top tier superhero, Thomas Wayne was Batman, and Atlantis was at war with Themyscira.
There's a hint of that in the Snyder Cut when the heroes are digging up Superman's body.
Wonder Woman talks about the animosity between her and Aquaman's people, and while he seems uninterested in any sort of conflict, this could have quite easily been expanded on in a Flashpoint film (sadly, that's not happening now).
9. Dusty
There's a little more Martha Kent in Zack Snyder's Justice League, including a scene with her visiting Clark's grave.
She's joined by the Kent family dog Dusty, and even though the name has been altered, this feels like a deep cut reference to Rusty, young Clark's pet dog from the comics.
In the pages of 1986's The Man of Steel #1 (written and pencilled by John Byrne), it was Rusty who helped the future Superman learn to fly...accidentally. Snyder is such a huge fan of the character, it's no great surprise he turned to the comics for inspiration for such a small moment.
It's a small Easter Egg, but those are sometimes the best ones.
8. Gard'ner Fox
When the action moves to Central City, we catch up with Barry Allen attempting to get himself a job, and it's then that the Fastest Man Alive locks eyes with Iris West.
Thanks to his incredible speed, Barry is able to save her from certain death, but a closer look at the truck which nearly kills her features one heck of an Easter Egg. The company is Gard'ner Fox, a pretty clear reference to DC Comics writer Gardner Fox.
He co-created the original Flash, along with characters like Sandman and Hawkman. He was even jointly responsible for the Justice Society and Justice League, and would later introduce the Multiverse in The Flash #123 in 1961.
Without him, the DC Universe would be unrecognizable.
7. Arkham Asylum
At the end of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the Dark Knight manages to imprison Lex Luthor in Arkham Asylum. It was a great moment, and a fitting fate for the villain.
In the Snyder Cut, we get a better look at Arkham and learn that it's now known as the "Arkham Home for the Emotionally Troubled."
This new name for the iconic Gotham City location was first used in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Given Snyder's love of that story, it's no great surprise that the filmmaker took inspiration from it.
The plaque also reveals that Arkham was established in 1974, the year it first appeared in the comics (in Batman #258).
6. River Styx
When Cyborg makes contact with the Mother Box and Flash powers himself up to help resurrect Superman, something strange happens.
Victor Stone gets a vision of a dark future, and as well as learning that Aquaman was killed by Darkseid, we witness Wonder Woman's funeral (explaining why neither hero was part of the Knightmare future where Earth has been conquered).
Diana Prince burns on a funeral pyre in front of her mother and the rest of the Amazons. Why does she have coins on her eyes? Well, Greek mythology can explain.
The dead would have to pay Charon, Hades' ferryman, to be allowed to cross the River Styx into the afterlife. Coins were placed on their eyes, hence why Wonder Woman looks the way she does here.
5. AFSP
Bruce Wayne recruiting Barry Allen to the Justice League plays out here similarly to 2017's theatrical cut.
However, as they leave Central City together in the billionaire's car (his superpower is being rich, remember), we see a billboard with a mural for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This is a fitting place to include that, especially as Barry is clearly struggling with loneliness when Batman tracks him down.
Snyder's fans have done a lot for the AFSP since the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement launched, and have helped them raise over $500,000.
If you need help, or would like to contribute, you can do so by checking out their website.
4. Bat-Tank
A montage at the end of the film teases what's next for each member of the League, with Diana Prince longing for her home on Themyscira, Flash embracing his speed, and Superman returning to Metropolis.
Cyborg, the standout in Zack Snyder's Justice League, also moves past his anger and grief.
However, it's Batman who interests us most. The Dark Knight is shown having apprehended a group of crooks in Gotham City, but he's standing atop a massive tank after doing so.
Unsurprisingly, this epic Batmobile was lifted straight from the pages of The Dark Knight Returns.
3. Kilowog
We've mentioned Cyborg's horrifying vision of the DC Universe's future, but there's another big moment we have to talk about.
Superman, now under the control of Darkseid's Anti-Life Equation, has wreaked havoc on the Hall of Justice (built on the remains of Wayne Manor). Shown holding Batman's cowl, it's who's lying at his feet that really jumped out at us.
That Green Lantern is, without a shadow of a doubt, Kilowog.
Perhaps the most iconic non-human Lantern, this is probably the only character Warner Bros. would allow Snyder to use (he's gone on record to say Warner Bros. wouldn't let him include John Stewart), but it makes for one hell of a visual. Kilowog, who has fought to protect Earth many times, was clearly no match for the Man of Steel.
2. Granny Goodness
When we visit Apokolips, we catch a glimpse of Granny Goodness. One of Darkseid's most loyal followers, she trains his soldiers using a combination of torture, brainwashing, and general cruelness.
She's a bad b*tch, and it seems likely Snyder hoped to further explore her plans at the villain's side in a sequel.
However, this isn't the only reference to Granny Goodness that can be found in the Snyder Cut of Justice League. During the Central City scene with Barry and Iris, the hot dog cart actually has the name "Granny Goodness" on the side. It's a weird Easter Egg to include in a film where she's introduced.
Perhaps it ties into the Multiverse theories about the film?
1. Ryan Choi, Atom
Chinese actor Zheng Kai was completely cut from 2017's Justice League, but finds his role as Ryan Choi restored in this version of the film.
He has a recurring presence alongside Dr. Silas Stone, but is more than just a supporting character. In the comics, Choi - who first appeared in DCU: Brave New World #1 in 2006 - became the fourth character to become Atom.
Near the end of the film, Choi becomes S.T.A.R. Labs' Director of Nanotechnology, a strong hint that he was destined to become a superhero in the not too distant future.
Perhaps that was the plan for Justice League 2, though Snyder has yet to confirm this.