Zack Snyder interview about this film in French language popcorn magazine that I have ran through Google translate (Only BvS portions)
Your next rope as a director will be the highly anticipated Batman vs. Superman. What prompted you to bring these two superheroes on the screen?
It was a nice challenge. We must admit that show Superman and Batman face to face goes beyond mythology: they are the two greatest superheroes in the world. What is fun with the concept of Batman Vs. Superman is that we will be able to have fun with their relationship. They fought before becoming friends, or friends and they are doomed to clash ... Obviously, there will be a physical confrontation between the two.
Is it an adaptation of lhe Dark Knight Retums?
No, but the comic book will influence the history of Batman Vs. Superman, on which the writer David S. Goyer and myself will work.
The announcement of Ben Ajjleck in the role of Batman has not really appealed to fans ... What led you to make this choice?
Ben brings an interesting counterweight to the performance of Henry in the role of Superman. He has the experience necessary to provide a picture of an older and wiser than Clark Kent man who bears the scars of a seasoned vigilante while retaining the charm that Bruce Wayne when deploying this world. I look forward to working with him.
To return to the reinterpretation of the Superman legend, how does one approach a character who is so deeply rooted in the American identity?
I deeply venerated all this mythology. I think in our collective unconscious, Superman occupies a rather unique place. I really wanted to do justice to the legend, and also the experience is to witness the birth of Superman. It was fun to see Jor-El put his son in a basket to let metaphorically sail along the
River. Henry Cavill was also part of the process of reinvention of Superman.
Have you considered Superman as being different from other superheroes, and you designed your movie as distinct from those who had previously been devoted to character?
From the outset, our approach for Man of Steel was acting as if no other Superman movie had never been made. Superman is the first superhero. That's why I wanted to do this film. I am interested in Superman, because he is the father of all others. This is an amazing ambassador for all superheroes. We wanted to show that, with him, had pushed the popular culture to seize this mythology. Man of Steel is not that screening this aspect, the film also tells a great adventure. For me, as a fan of comics, Superman is somehow the Rosetta Stone of all superheroes. I wanted to make the film treated him with respect.
You described the legend of Superman as "an immigrant story." Can you elaborate?
One of the two creators of the character, Joe Shuster, was himself an immigrant. I found it fascinating that Superman, this child came from a distant planet, is found in Kansas, which is the place of the United States as central as one can imagine. For me, Clark Kent represents a dichotomy: it is an absolute intruder, a stranger in the proper sense, but tries to integrate and perform in Kansas. It shows us a picture of ourselves. At many levels, the questions Clark Kent are American questions. No matter where we come from, we all have this strong desire to be accepted. When young, Clark strives above all to resemble the other. The fact that he is different from them and always will be, is very difficult to accept him. And it is adopted, which is always hard for a kid. I have four adopted children, I know what it is. It feels different, but is also very attached to the land where he grew up. His sense of morality comes directly from its roots in the Midwest, although, of course, his journey did not begin there. But it has a sense of universal justice that makes an exemplary figure. However, it also has its dark side, which allows us to have an exciting drama.
What was your reaction when Christopher Nolan and DC Comics have come to offer you realize Man of Steel?
My first reaction was to say no. But when I realized they were serious, I thought: "Wow. Okay. Uh, are you sure? "(Laughter.) Superman is a character who is not only an icon, I'm also a big fan of him. So I had an overwhelming responsibility ... I took it seriously, as each project on which I worked. I was nervous about making this film. This is Superman. If one pulls it off, it's a character that transcends everything. The Superman symbol is the second most recognized on Earth, behind the Cross Christian symbol! The error is not allowed (laughs)!
Did you fear comparisons from fans superhero movies, with the Dark Knight trilogy Christopher Nolan?
Of course! I like films that Chris has done, but this is a project quite different: the SF side, the way we filmed, the character ... All at once. Strangely, this is a much more optimistic movie, simply because it is Superman. That Chris brought to the beginning of the project, it is this ability to be able to take all the mythology seriously. Not to apologize to present these concepts, but also push us to expose them to the public as they are, without any second degree.
When you find yourself at the head of a project that costs around $ 200 million is what you tell yourself that failure could mean the end of your career?
(Laughs) You can not think about that when working on a project on the scale of Man of Steel, you become crazy. I compare filmmaking to an architect. It cannait budget, we know what is at stake, but we are fully focused on giving life to his vision, through the actors and technicians working on the project on the shelf, or on-site if we want to push the analogy. We do not know how things will end once the job is started. It will also have to make many compromises because of the constraints of time and cost, and there will always be cases where the original vision will be impaired, certain aspects need to be sacrificed so that the film can be, that the building could be completed.
