Will a Lack of Original Content Inspire Studios to Release Re-Edited Films?
By: Felix Quiñonez Jr.
Tags: Movies, Filmmaking, Features, Film, Culture

Although it always seemed like it was never going to happen, this past May, HBO announced they would release the fabled Snyder Cut exclusively on their new streaming service, HBO Max. And apparently, it’s not going to be cheap either. The Snyder Cut, set to debut sometimes in 2021, will reportedly cost HBO upwards of $30M to complete. In an interview with IndieWire, HBO Max boss Bob Greenblatt said:

“It isn’t as easy as going into the vault, and there’s a Snyder Cut sitting there to put out. It does not exist. Zack is actually building it, and it’s complex, including new VFX shots. It’s a radical rethinking of that movie, and it’s complicated and wildly expensive. I’ll just say I wish it was just $30 million and stop there. It’s an enormous undertaking and very complex.”

In the same interview, Greenblatt was happy to attribute the decision to release the Snyder Cut to fan efforts, saying:

“… well, the fans have asked, and we are thrilled to finally deliver. At the end of the day, it really is all about them, and we are beyond excited to be able to release Zack’s ultimate vision for this film in 2021.”

However, as lovely as that sounds, it also seems highly unlikely. No amount of fan demand would’ve changed the fact that Justice League almost killed the entire DCEU. Afterwards, stars Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill left the franchise, and spin-off movies for The Flash and Cyborg were put on indefinite hold. Because of that, it’s hard to believe they would have decided to spend more money to give the fans another version of a failed blockbuster. After all, Snyder’s vision for the last two movies had been poorly received by most people.

Many would argue Snyder’s vision is the biggest reason why the DCEU faltered in the first place. For a long time, rumours circulated that even before a family tragedy caused Snyder to leave the production, Warner Bros. was looking for a reason to fire him from Justice League.

Their most beloved movies, Wonder Woman (2017) and Aquaman (2018) stand apart from Snyder’s vision, almost entirely. Since then, Warner Bros. has pivoted away from the ‘shared universe’ tactic that has fuelled Marvel Studios. Instead, they’ve started focusing on movies that are more independently minded.

Last year, they had a massive award-winning hit with a darkly dramatic Joker (2019) starring Joaquin Phoenix. The fact it grossed more than a movie starring Superman and Batman that introduced Wonder Woman is perhaps the most explicit repudiation of Snyder’s handling of the DCEU. So, why would HBO spend $30M to acquire the Snyder Cut, exclusively for its fledgeling streaming service? The short answer is that viewers expect an ever-flowing stream of new content from streaming companies, even during a global pandemic.

In the beginning, streaming services represented a bold new chapter; a new way for consumers to access their entertainment media. When Netflix, who began as a DVD mail rental service, introduced an online streaming service in 2007, they were the only game in town.

It was a paradigm shift from the way cable companies had been doing business for decades. Instead of serving entertainment a la carte, where consumers pick different packages, they could now pay one price for a buffet-style all-you-can watch service. It represented brave new thinking and was a less expensive alternative to the cable services.

But those halcyon days didn’t last long, and now they seem like a distant memory. Netflix not only changed the way we consume media but, naturally, they inspired many others to follow suit. It didn’t take long for other streaming services to pop up, vying for consumer cash. Having more options might seem like it would benefit consumers, but in reality, it had the opposite effect. As competition increased, content dispersed, forcing consumers to subscribe to more services to watch what they wanted. Nowadays, that often means spending as much as cable services cost!

And with more streaming services available, the competition became more cutthroat, elevating the importance of streaming services to stand out. In fact, it’s getting harder to tell them apart every day! Sometimes it seems like they are just passing big movies around. In the last few months in the US, Batman Begins (2005), and The Dark Knight (2008) have jumped from Netflix to Hulu and now to HBO Max.

The big movies and shows come and go and jump from service to service when the various licensing deals expire. But the real way that streaming services stand out is with the original content they have. Netflix has House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and some Marvel-made shows, among others. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and The Boys are found on Amazon Prime. Hulu has The Handmaid’s Tale, Ramy, Catch 22, etc. And HBO Max has Love Life, Raised by Wolves and, of course, the upcoming Justice League: Snyder Cut.

However, the pandemic has thrown a giant wrench in every studio’s plans. Netflix paused production all around the world. Even one of their biggest shows, Stranger Things, wasn’t safe. Work on that show’s fourth season came to a halt. Additionally, Netflix cancelled both The Society and I Am Not Okay With This. In a statement to Deadline, Netflix explained that:

“We’ve made the difficult decision not to move forward with second seasons of The Society, and I Am Not Okay With This. We’re disappointed to have to make these decisions due to circumstances created by COVID.”

Last quarter, Netflix debuted 180 new titles in the US. So, it’s hard to believe viewers wouldn’t notice the sudden drop in original content. In a sign of how serious this situation is, Netflix cautioned its investors not to expect them to add as many new subscribers as last quarter.

And even as production slowly resumes, it’ll be a while for things are back to “business as usual.” Strict new guidelines will strongly impact how and even what kind of shows get made. Joanna Cabello, an Assistant Accountant, who has worked on Pose and Little America, among other shows, explains that:

“This may have an impact on how many shows are renewed or get greenlit. I think we will see a decrease in scripted shows and an increase in nonunion unscripted shows.”

To get around the lack of available new content would require creativity. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all. It might seem completely unrealistic to expect that, contrary to all available evidence, Zack Snyder’s vision would result in a great movie. Still, it’s also impossible to ignore how much publicity the fabled Snyder Cut has garnered. Frankly, the level of consumer awareness the Snyder Cut has is something studios would kill to have for any of their projects!

Even before the pandemic, it was difficult for streaming services to stand out amidst the ever-growing competition. But now a worldwide pandemic has left so many unemployed, suddenly every monthly expense is being heavily scrutinized. This fact is especially hard for HBO to ignore because they debuted their streaming service, HBO Max, in the middle of this financial downturn. In that context, providing exclusive access to a project that has reached almost mythical status makes perfect sense. And if it comes with the added bonus of it being “for the fans,” then that’s just all the better.