The state of the DC franchise shifted yet again after Zack Snyder launched his Instagram account and immediately used it to highlight familiar faces.
But what caught fans off guard wasn’t the arrival of the account itself, but the subjects of Snyder’s photographs: Henry Cavill in his full Superman costume, followed soon after by Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke, Jared Leto’s Joker, and Ben Affleck’s Batman.
These images reopened debates that have lingered since the transition from the DCEU to the James Gunn–Peter Safran DCU. Snyder’s trilogy — Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) — still maintains a strong and vocal support base that often clashes with fans ready to move on. Gunn’s new continuity officially began with Superman (2025) earlier this year, however, the film’s comedic tone and uneven reception have kept the fandom split.
Superman earned $616.7 million worldwide, respectable but not enough to shift sentiment among those who already felt disconnected from the reboot. Grievances extend beyond tone; a number of viewers point to Gunn using select DCEU elements after promising a brand-new universe, leaving the DCU’s larger direction uncertain.
Related: Zack Snyder Celebrates Major DC ‘Superman' Movie Confirmation : Disney Fanatic
And it seems that uncertainty has helped Snyder’s posts to gain traction. Each photo adds fuel to ongoing conversation, especially when Ben Affleck’s Batman appeared again in a monochrome portrait. Snyder thanked followers for helping him reach 300,000 and said he was “just getting started” while promising that there's “more to come”. More photos presumably, but who really knows.
Whether intentional or not, his timing intersected with turbulence at Warner Bros. Reports indicated that Warner Bros. Discovery had received unsolicited acquisition interest, leading some to wonder if leadership — including Gunn and Safran — could shift. Fans who want the “Snyderverse” back have taken the news as a potential opportunity.
None of this means Snyder is preparing a return. He’s known for extensive behind-the-scenes photography, and his posts could be nothing more than a curated look at his archive. But ignoring the precedent would be difficult. After all, Zack Snyder’s Justice League only materialized because fans launched a years-long social campaign, which ultimately convinced the studio to fund and release his version on HBO Max in 2021.
Until anything official changes, David Corenswet carries the mantle as Superman in the DCU, and the studio continues its search for a new Batman for the upcoming reboot The Brave and the Bold.
What are your thoughts on all of this? Would you like to see Cavill and Affleck return, or is it time to move on? Sound off in the comments below!
