Those ‘Justice League’ Reshoots Are Reportedly Very Extensive and Super Expensive
Rumors began circulating earlier this year about “extensive” reshoots on Justice League, which are now being overseen by Joss Whedon following Zack Snyder’s recent exit. Although reshoots are fairly typical and often factored into the post-production schedule, particularly on big budget blockbusters such as this, the film’s cast downplayed the matter at Comic-Con over the weekend. But a new report doubles down on earlier rumors and reveals just how complicated things have become for Justice League in the final stretch.
Per Variety, Warner Bros. is spending “approximately $25 million on extensive reshoots that have dragged on for roughly two months in London and Los Angeles.” That’s a pretty hefty amount of cash, considering that reshoots usually cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 to $10 million. Justice League’s post-production is being likened to that of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which underwent significant, highly-publicized reshoots under Tony Gilroy.
Justice League’s reshoots are said to be a bit more complex than other productions given the size of the main cast and their respective commitments to other projects. Some, like Gal Gadot and Ben Affleck, are more available than others, like Henry Cavill, who is currently filming Mission: Impossible 6. According to the report, the mustache Cavill grew for his role in the Tom Cruise sequel will have to be digitally removed from the additional scenes he’s filming for Justice League.
It was previously reported that Justice League had basically been remade twice over in reshoots. Variety notes that Snyder left behind plenty of “usable” sequences and that Whedon’s primary focus is, unsurprisingly, with character dialogue and “connective tissue.” (It’s worth pointing out that the Rogue One reshoots were described in very similar terms.)
Whedon’s takeover has, like the recent Han Solo shakeup, raised questions over how he will ultimately be credit for his work on Justice League. Per Variety, Whedon will not receive co-directing credit; instead, he’ll most likely wind up receiving a producer or screenplay credit.
Justice League hits theaters on November 17.