Justice League director Zack Snyder steps down due to family tragedy

THE long-anticipated Justice League has just lost its director Zack Snyder after he announced he will be stepping down to deal with a family tragedy.

LESS than two months after DC and Warner Bros. released their long-awaited trailer for Justice League, the film’s director Zack Snyder has left the movie.

The Hollywood Reportersaid Snyder is stepping down to spend time with his family after his 20-year-old daughter Autumn suicided in March.

Snyder’s wife, Deborah Snyder, who works on Justice League as a producer, is also taking time off.

The movie originally took a two-week break back in March for the family to deal with their loss but, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the couple reveal have decided to step down permanently to spend some much needed time with their loved ones.

“In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was the way through it,” a teary Snyder told the publication, with Deborah by his side.

“The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all-consuming. And in the last two months, I’ve come to the realisation … I’ve decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me. They are all having a hard time. I’m having a hard time,” he said.

Zack Snyder with his wife Deborah. Picture: Jeff Spicer

The family originally kept their daughter’s death private but Snyder decided to go public with her suicide to stop people from speculating.

“Here’s the thing, I never planned to make this public,” he said.

“I thought it would just be in the family, a private matter, our private sorrow that we would deal with. When it became obvious that I need to take a break, I knew there would be narratives created on the internet. They’ll do what they do. The truth is … I’m past caring about that kind of thing now,” he added.

Warner Brothers have also backed Zack and Deborah’s decision to take the time off.

“What they are going through is unimaginable, and my heart — our hearts — go out to them,” Warner Bros Pictures president Tony Emmerich told THR.

Deborah and Zack first met in 1996 and married in 2004.

The Batman vs Superman director has eight children. Four from his first marriage to Denise Weber, two from another relationship with his line producer Kirsten Elin and, while making Man of Steel, Zack and Deborah adopted two more children.

The cast for 2017’s Justice League.

The movie, which is already in post-production, will now be overseen by The Avengers writer and director Joss Whedon.

Justice League will see Ben Affleck as Batman and Gal Gadot play Wonder Woman as they attempt to recruit a team of superheroes to save the earth.

Jason Momoa will star as Aquaman with Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Amber Heard as Mera and Ezra Miller as the Flash.

With Whedon overseeing the project, it is still on track to hit its November 17 release date.

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Originally published as Justice League director Zack Snyder steps down due to family tragedy