Helming a tentpole blockbuster that brings together the two greatest and most revered characters in comic book history, you’d think that Zack Snyder would let his Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice do the talking. Low and behold, the outspoken director has been tackling every subject that is pitched his way, from responding to Steven Spielberg’s comments comparing the superhero genre to that of the Western to the deafening speculation surrounding the Herculean showdown.
Now, Snyder has taken a shot at Marvel. When talking about the two titular characters in Dawn of Justice, the filmmaker claimed that each are “transcendent” in that they don’t comply with the superhero conventions of other cinematic films. A case in point for Snyder is Ant-Man, which he labels as a bland “flavor of the week” type film.
[zergpaid]Speaking with The Daily Beast, Snyder was careful not to say anything too spiteful, though he still managed to make his feelings crystal clear.
“…I feel like Batman and Superman are transcendent of superhero movies in a way, because they’re Batman and Superman. They’re not just, like, the flavor of the week Ant-Man—not to be mean, but whatever it is. What is the next Blank-Man?”
Shots fired. Granted, the filmmaker makes a fair point regarding the timeless nature of Supes and The Caped Crusader, but it’s still an unfair comparison to make by needlessly drafting in Marvel’s Ant-Man into the fray.
Snyder did manage to spend some time talking about Dawn of Justice and how his rendition tackles the dynamic between Batman and Superman, allaying fears that it would skew closer to the Bruce Wayne than Clark Kent.
“Only in that because it’s a different Batman than the Batman that was in the Chris Nolan movies, so we have a little bit more explaining to do—and you just had a whole Superman movie,” he smiled. “But I think only in that way, because you need to understand where Batman is with everything. And that’s more toward the beginning, but it evens back out as it goes on.”
Finally, the director acknowledged reports linking George Miller with an unknown DC project – once said to be Man of Steel 2 – noting that he hasn’t in fact talked with the Mad Max: Fury Road helmer yet, though he firmly believes he would make a fine candidate for the gig. Wrapping up the interview, Snyder added, “if I was to think he had any interest in them of course I’m happy to talk to him.”
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice opens in theaters on March 25, 2016.