Summary:
- Snyder’s final DCEU movie was too similar to the end of the MCU’s Infinity Saga, leading to some negative comparisons.
- The big battle between Superman and Darkseid that was hinted at in Justice League won’t happen, even though Snyder had big ideas for it.
- Also, using time travel again in the finale would have felt repetitive since it was already a key moment in Justice League.
Zack Snyder recently shared his vision for the DCEU’s ultimate showdown, but it bears a striking resemblance to the finale of the MCU’s Infinity Saga. A major letdown of Zack Snyder’s Justice League was its setup for an epic confrontation that will never occur.
After their victory over Steppenwolf, the Justice League had a tense encounter with Darkseid, who was on his way to Earth. Despite plans for a climactic battle, the face-off with Darkseid in the DCEU will remain unrealized. In a recent GQ interview, Snyder detailed how his version of the Snyderverse would have concluded, particularly focusing on Superman’s fate.
He (Superman) was going to have to succumb to the Anti-life, be destroyed, turn the clock back, and then get his chance for this battle against Darkseid that would have finished his trilogy of becoming this guardian, and sort of, return him to his humanity.
While the envisioned battle between Superman and Darkseid sounds thrilling, it also mirrors the narrative arc of the MCU’s Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. With the DCEU often perceived as trailing behind Marvel, having a finale too akin to Endgame might have invited relentless comparisons.
Zack Snyder’s DCEU Vision More Similar to Avengers: Endgame
Snyder’s plan for the final battle between Darkseid and the Justice League involved Superman being defeated and falling victim to Darkseid, which would trigger the catastrophic future that Bruce Wayne had nightmares about.
Later, Superman would find a way to turn back time and stop Darkseid, erasing that bleak future. This idea is interesting, but it’s very similar to what happens in the Marvel movies. In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos beats the Avengers and wipes out half of all life.
In the next movie, Endgame, the remaining heroes figure out how to travel back in time to prevent Thanos from ever getting his hands on all the Infinity Stones. Although the details differ, the overall story feels too similar to Marvel’s, and it might look like DC was just copying its rival.
Snyder Included a Standout Time Travel Scene in Justice League Already
Superman’s time travel isn’t new; he famously rewound time by flying backwards around the Earth in the 1978 Superman movie to save Lois Lane. However, Snyder added a remarkable time-travel sequence in Justice League with Barry Allen using the speed force to prevent the mother boxes from uniting.
This scene wasn’t just a visual treat; it also provided significant emotional development for Barry.
Given how memorable this moment was, introducing another time-travel scene to defeat Darkseid might feel redundant. Overusing time travel can lead to numerous plot inconsistencies, questioning why characters don’t use it to solve more problems.
Moreover, it risks becoming a crutch in storytelling. While time travel can be thrilling when executed correctly, it’s wise that the DCU opts to use it sparingly.
