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On Sunday, the service released the latest trailer for “Snyder Cut” – an expanded version of director Zack Snyder’s 2017 superhero film “Justice League”. The film, which is slated for release on HBO Max on March 18, comes with significant hype and high expectations.
But why would WarnerMedia, which is also CNN’s parent company, bother to re-release a 2017 film? And not only recut the movie, but also add new scenes to create a big budget four hour version of it?
Well, this serves two purposes: to please fans and increase HBO Max’s subscriber base.
Fans have been clamoring for the updated film – which sees DC superheroes Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman team up – from the original theaters four years ago.
Snyder, who has directed other films in the DC Entertainment catalog including “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, resigned as director of “Justice League” after a family tragedy. Joss Whedon, the director of Marvel’s “The Avengers,” was brought in to complete the film.
Since then, DC fans have practically begged Warner Bros. to post Snyder’s version, posting the hashtag #ReleasetheSnyderCut on social media. Eventually, they got their wish, with the studio announcing last May that it would be releasing Snyder’s version on HBO Max.
Releasing a movie starring Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman on their new streaming service might seem like a slam dunk for WarnerMedia. However, this poses a certain risk because The 2017 Justice League was a disappointment.
Fans didn’t like the movie – as you probably guessed, given that they were asking for a new version – and critics criticized it widely. Box office totals were also poor for a superhero movie, although it grossed around $ 660 million worldwide.
But box office numbers aren’t a problem when it comes to streaming.
For WarnerMedia, the decision to launch the “Snyder Cut” on HBO Max makes sense. Streaming is now the top priority for Hollywood media companies, and to compete with Netflix, the new services need as many subscribers as they can get and exclusive content to get them.
While HBO Max’s 17.2 million activations are solid, this is pale compared to Netflix (NFLX) and Disney + subscriber numbers, the service must therefore redouble its efforts to catch up.
It also helps explain why WarnerMedia announced in December that all Warner Bros. would be streaming and in theaters on the same day this year. The pick, which will bring potential blockbusters like “Dune,” “The Suicide Squad” and “The Matrix 4” into viewer lounges, has caused quite a stir in Hollywood. However, in a streaming market where content is king, WarnerMedia is not holding back.
So, bringing together DC’s most popular heroes in a movie that fans can only find on HBO Max is a no-brainer for WarnerMedia as it tries to create its own heroes in the streaming world.
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