Zack Snyder Teases ‘Justice League’ Return as James Gunn’s DCU Faces Setback
Zack Snyder is stirring up the DC fanbase once again.
Last year, Snyder began teasing fans on Instagram with a series of seemingly cryptic posts celebrating his Justice League saga, AKA the Snyderverse, which consists of Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League (2021).
While those films form part of the wider DC Extended Universe (DCEU), many fans view the Snyderverse as an entity in its own right.
Zack Snyder’s Cryptic Social Media Reveals
Among the posts was a picture of Henry Cavill as Superman, with the caption, “Henry Cavill is Superman,” which reignited speculation about whether the saga might continue.
Now, ahead of his 2021 Justice League film’s five-year anniversary on March 18, Snyder has shared a striking collage of the iconic DC heroes (among other individual posts relating to the milestone), accompanied by the caption: “Each member of the Justice League facing the burden of responsibility with honor… looking toward what comes next.”
Exactly what he means by “looking toward what comes next” is unclear, but his social media activity and commentary have fueled a resurgence of online discussion under the hashtag #RestoretheSnyderVerse.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) became a landmark moment for the Snyderverse after the huge fan campaign #RestoreTheSnyderCut ultimately led to the four-hour cut in 2021.
Since then, fans have been eager to see a continuation of Snyder’s film trilogy; however, the DCEU moved forward with other standalone projects. Now, that franchise has been rendered defunct by James Gunn and Peter Safran’s newly established DC Universe (DCU).
James Gunn’s DC Universe Faces Challenges
However, the DCU has been facing challenges since the get-go. Superman (2025) launched the new slate last summer but saw mixed reactions from audiences, and the trailer for Supergirl (2026), which releases later this year, has generated minimal hype.
Most recently, the trailer for HBO’s Lanterns (2026) drew backlash from fans over its muted costumes and detective-show tone, leaving the franchise continuity feeling messy and audiences frustrated.
And then there are Gunn’s continuity choices — keeping characters like John Cena’s Peacemaker, Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle from the otherwise defunct DCEU have also divided fans expecting a clean reboot.
Related: James Gunn’s DCU Faces Trouble Despite ‘Superman’ (2025) Success
Will the Snyderverse Return?
For now, the DCU is set to continue. But whether the Snyderverse will remains to be seen.
Snyder reflected on that possibility in a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, saying, “I would never say that there’s no way,” later adding, “We live in a world where all that is possible,” leaving the door open for sequels or spin-offs in any medium.
The contrast between Snyder’s growing social media campaign and the tepid reception of Gunn’s DCU projects highlights the enduring power of the Snyderverse among fans.
For fans, the question remains: can the Snyderverse coexist with Gunn’s DCU? Or is there only room for one vision to dominate the next era of DC storytelling? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
