DC fans have been waiting for Zack Snyder’s Justice League for a long time. After years of campaigning for the film, some lucky fans got to preview the film a week before its intended release on HBO Max, but it was a mistake. The movie accidentally debuted in the US prior to its release date. 

"Zack Snyder’s Justice League was temporarily available on HBO Max and the error was addressed within minutes," the streaming service said in a statement. However, a few HBO Max users in the US were claiming to be able to watch up to an hour of the Snyder Cut when they tried to watch Warner Group’s recently released Tom and Jerry, the CGI/live-action hybrid film based on the popular cartoon of the same name.

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Ever since the release date for Zack Snyder’s Justice League was announced, fans have been counting down to the days till it finally streams. Not just that, Snyder himself has been posting various teasers and images, counting down to the release date. The film, which releases on HBO Max on March 18, has been one that fans of the series have been waiting to watch since Joss Whedon’s theatrical cut of Justice League was released in 2017. Whedon brought down the axe on several scenes and plot lines that Snyder had planned, leaving fans asking to see Snyder’s version of events with the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign.

So, when Snyder Cut started playing on HBO Max accidentally, many fans were pleasantly surprised. Many users posted images and videos of their screens on social media, expressing their excitement at finally being able to watch the film. There were many others, though, who weren’t too pleased with having to watch an R-rated film with their children, as they were trying to watch the PG-rated Tom and Jerry. 

Many fans are now wondering whether the mistake was meant as a final push for the film’s marketing. The leak wasn’t similar to the ones that have happened for big releases in the past. The film was accidentally categorized under the incorrect label, which has some questioning whether it was truly a mistake or a planned move. Over the past few days, Snyder has been releasing character-centric teasers and posters, with the latest one focusing on Cyborg’s back story. There was also a 30-second ad on Twitch that featured new footage of the film’s main villain, Darkseid. 

Whether it was a mistake or not, the expectations for the Snyder Cut are obviously quite high. It remains to be seen whether it will meet up to fans’ expectations when it does officially release next week. 

Zack Snyder’s Justice League will premiere on HBO Max on March 18, 2021.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter