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Zack Snyder has decided to leave 'Justice League' to be with his family after the tragic death of his late daughter, Autumn, last March.
"Ive decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me," Snyder told The Hollywood Reporter.
Autumn Snyder took her own life at age 20. The news has been kept from publicity and only a small inner circle was aware of the incident.
Warner Bros once offered to put delay on the movie release date, yet Snyder chose to be against the decision. Completing 'Justice League' was initially his decision to overcomethe tragedy. But, even Snyder's wife, Deborah Snyder, also a movie producer, is taking a similar step to his husband's now.
Snyder, who has been the DC Comics' directorial visionary, has called in Joss Whedon to take over the job. Whedon, the 'Avengers' filmmaker and creator of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' was initially appointed to write some additional scenes after watching rough cut of the movie; now, he will direct and finish those scenes in order to keep it on track for its November 17 release date.
Warner Bros. Pictures President Toby Emmerich however, assured that everything will still very much of Snyder's movie, even with Whedon taking over the project.
"The directing is minimal and it has to adhere to the style and tone and the template that Zack set," clarified Emmerich. "We're not introducing any new characters. It's the same characters in some new scenes. He's handing a baton to Joss but the course has really been set by Zack. I still believe that despite this tragedy, we'll still end up with a great movie."
(brl/red)
