'My family really needs me': Justice League director Zack Snyder steps down following shock suicide of daughter Autumn, 20
Zack Snyder is stepping down as director of Justice League to spend time with his family following the suicide of daughter Autumn.
The 20-year-old took her own life in March and the superhero movie went into hiatus for two weeks as the filmmaker tried to recover from the devastating loss.
The 51-year-old then flew to London to reshoot some scenes but he found it impossible to work, he told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview posted on Monday.
Tragic: Zack Snyder is stepping down as director of Justice League to spend time with his family following the suicide of daughter Autumn (seen here with current wife Deborah in March last year)
'In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was way through it,' Zack said.
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'The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all-consuming. And in the last two months, I’ve come to the realization…I’ve decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me.
'They are all having a hard time. I’m having a hard time.'
Taking time off: The 51-year-old then flew to London to reshoot some scenes but he found it impossible to work (seen here in July 2015)
Autumn was one of four children Zack shared with his first wife, Denise Weber. He also has two kids from a relationship with Kirsten Elin.
He and his current wife Deborah have adopted two children. Deborah, a producer on the film, is also stepping back from the project.
Joss Whedon will step in as director to shoot some additional scenes and shepherd the movie through post.
Because of this, the movie is still on track for its November 17 release date.
Warner Bros. production president Toby Emmerich told THR the studio was fully behind Zach's decision.
'The directing is minimal, and it has to adhere to the style and tone and the template that Zack set,' Toby said.
'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.'
Still on track: Joss Whedon will step in as director to shoot some additional scenes and shepherd the movie through post
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