Zack Snyder Picked Hallelujah For His Justice League Trailer 2 Years Ago
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" had been selected for the trailer for the Justice League Snyder Cut two years ago. After the failure of its theatrical version of Justice League, a long, determined fan campaign would swiftly rise for Snyder's original cut of the film to see the light of day. This past May, that campaign finally crossed the finish line when it was officially announced that the Snyder Cut will finally be released on HBO Max in 2021.
In the aftermath of Snyder's departure from Justice League, the movie's massive retooling would result in the version released into theaters being essentially a different film altogether from the one directed by Snyder. Though there was consistent doubt that the Snyder Cut would ever actually be released, the fact that it is indeed coming to pass is a truly historic development. With the Snyder Cut's trailer including "Hallelujah", the song is a decidedly fitting soundtrack to celebrate the film's coming debut with.
During an appearance on The Reel in Motion podcast, for which Screen Rant's Stephen Colbert was also present, Zack Snyder revealed "Hallelujah" was the chosen song for the trailer for quite a long time, stating "It was on two years ago." Snyder further elaborated that "It's something that I just felt like, you know, was right for this", while also stating that "It has significance beyond just the movie." Looking deeper than the song being a celebration of the fact of the Snyder Cut's release itself, it is easy to understand the affinity that Snyder holds for it.
"Hallelujah" was also included in Snyder's 2009 superhero movie Watchmen, so his decision to bring it back to the marketing for his cut of Justice League feels emblematic of Snyder's career as a superhero filmmaker coming full circle. Additionally, the lyrics of the song are rife with Biblical references that also curiously parallel Snyder's experiences in the DCEU with Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. By including "Hallelujah" in the Snyder Cut's first proper trailer, Snyder is also presenting a symbolic picture of the long road his version of Justice League has taken to finally being given the greenlight.
Between the Snyder Cut trailer's debut and the all-around bonanza of DC FanDome (which still has a second day set for September 12th), this weekend has clearly been a quite exhilarating one for DC fans. Full details on the Snyder Cut's release have still not been publicly revealed, such as its exact release date next year, though it is now known that it will be released in four parts. In any case, Snyder's reveal that "Hallelujah" was his song of choice for the trailer for the Justice League Snyder Cut for two years only goes to show what an arduous journey the film has taken to be released at last, along with just how close the song itself is to Snyder's heart.
Source: The Reel in Motion Podcast