Zack Snyder still wants to adapt The Dark Knight Returns

The director of Watchmen and Batman v Superman no longer has control over the DC Universe. But he still dreams of returning to superheroes with an adaptation of one of the most famous Batman comics.

Zack Snyder may no longer have the keys to the DC Universe since James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, but he hasn’t completely turned his back on superheroes.

Asked by Variety during the Toronto Film Festival, the filmmaker confirmed that he would like to direct one day The Dark Knight Returnsthe famous graphic novel by Frank Miller.

The project obviously remains very hypothetical. Snyder has no agreement with Warner Bros. But he is already imagining an adaptation completely outside the DC cinematographic universe, as long as the studio gives him the possibility:

“The reason I want to do a The Dark Knight Returns movie – if anyone will let me do it outside of the DC Universe – is because I already did Watchmen. And Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, these two works, at the same level, represent for me the complete cycle of superhero comics.“

Above all, Snyder sees a form of historical logic in this possible adaptation. According to him, Watchmenwhich he brought to the cinema in 2009, corresponded to the start of a new era for superheroes in cinema, while The Dark Knight Returns could today represent a form of achievement.

“Watchmen arrived at the beginning of the superhero movie phase. So it would be very relevant for The Dark Knight Returns to happen now in my opinion. Because we have reached a stage that I would describe as… I don’t want to talk about “twilight” for the genre. But let’s just say we’ve already come a long way with the superhero movie genre. And I think audiences would understand The Dark Knight Returns. He would understand the reason for it today.“

Because Frank Miller’s book was itself conceived in a similar context. Published in 1986, The Dark Knight Returns imagined an aging Bruce Wayne, returning to Gotham to resume his costume after years of retirement. For Snyder, the parallel is obvious:

“The Dark Knight Returns was written for a comic book audience that was very tired of comic books, in the same way that Watchmen was designed with that in mind. Making this film now, for people who are tired of comic book films, would be the right time!“

This idea necessarily resonates with Snyder’s journey. After 300, Watchmen, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman And Justice Leaguethe filmmaker largely participated in shaping the modern era of DC adaptations. However, he no longer has any role in the new universe launched by James Gunn.

Snyder also admitted not having watched Superman Or Supergirlthe films of the new DC Universe, believing that it was still too personal for him.

For now, The Dark Knight Returns therefore remains a director’s fantasy.