Justice League cinematographer Fabian Wagner confirms that he shot scenes with Darkseid as part of Zack Snyder’s version of the film. Its been almost two years since Warner Bros. released Justice League into theaters, but the movie that fans got was not the same as it was originally intended for audiences. Director Zack Snyder had to make changes to his script early on after the reception to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but some of the biggest differences in the film came further along in the process after the director had exited the project in early 2017.
Among the many differences between Snyder’s cut of the film and the one that hit theaters - which was overseen and reshot by Joss Whedon - Darkseid’s role, or lack thereof, is arguably the biggest. Snyder planned to feature the ruler of Apokolips (whom Steppenwolf answers to) throughout Justice League, but he is nowhere to be found in the theatrical version. Snyder is known for shooting everything that he storyboards and finished 100% of principal photography on Justice League. This gave most fans confidence that his scenes were filmed after storyboards with Darkseid were released online.
Over time, details on Darkseid’s intended role have come out, but some have still debated whether or not any of his scenes were filmed. In a new interview with ComicBook Debate, cinematographer Fabian Wagner helped set the record straight. Wagner has confirmed that they did shoot scenes with Darkseid using an actor in a motion-capture suit. When asked if the actor in the suit was Ray Porter, who was reportedly chosen to voice Darkseid, Wagner said, “No, he wasn’t the guy in the suit as far as I remember.”
Now that Wagner has confirmed Darkseid’s scenes were shot, it also confirms some other details about production under Snyder. The history lesson scene originally had the young version of Darkseid known as Uxas fighting on Earth thousands of years ago. This action sequence included a fight between Ares and Darkseid, which Screen Rant previously revealed was ultimately cut down and altered to the Steppenwolf version that is in the final cut. Wagner’s confirmation that Darkseid’s scenes were filmed further backs up that this original scene and others with Darkseid were shot.
As for Porter’s involvement though, Screen Rant has also previously confirmed that the actor did motion-capture, performance-capture, and ADR for the role. Since Wagner says Porter was not the one present for these scenes, it could mean that second unit DP Jean-Philippe Gossart was responsible for shooting the scenes with Porter instead of Wagner. If that is the case, then a stunt performer could have been on set to film the Darkseid scenes that Wagner was involved with. Beyond the comfort that some fans will get from knowing Darkseid’s scenes in Justice League were filmed, they may never see the light of day unless the Snyder Cut is eventually released.
MORE: Justice League: What Hasn’t Been Revealed About The Snyder Cut Yet?
Source: ComicBook Debate
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