Kevin Smith recently revealed some information about Zack Snyder's original Justice League trilogy plans, and some of the information is correct, but there also a few major inaccuracies.
Speaking on his podcast, Star Wars: Episode IX, and since Justice League was also filmed there, he said he got to speak to some individuals who worked on "both versions" of Justice League. Zack Snyder's version, and Joss Whedon's version (or "Josstice League" as he says they called it).
Related: Justice League: Every Confirmed Change to Zack Snyder's Version
Seeing as how he's relaying first-hand s, the information surely has validity, a lot of it matches up with what we've been writing about since Justice League's release, but some other information may have been confused or lost in translation because there are a few contradictions that we know are inaccurate (yet still close to the truth).
Jim Lee Breakdown Boards For 3 Justice League Movies
Smith's first claim is that Zack Snyder planned a Justice League trilogy and Jim Lee had drawn breakdowns for the whole thing. This is true as far as we know. We already know Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Jim Lee drew art for them.
Justice League Ended in a Darkseid Cliffhanger
"The first movie was kind of what we saw. Fighting Steppenwolf. Beating Steppenwolf. Then, like, a fucking boom tube opened up, and they saw Darkseid, and Darkseid saw them. There was a mini scuffle or not, depending on who you're talking to. Boom tube closes, and that’s the end of the fucking movie. With them all knowing there’s something out there, and we have to go.”
Related: Zack Snyder's Original Justice League Plans Revealed in Cryptic Puzzle
This is a mostly correct description of Snyder's plan, but it overstates slightly. We've covered extensively how narrated by a recording by a deceased Silas Stone, including the shot of Superman tearing open his shirt, which we've seen Snyder shoot in behind the scenes footage.
Green Lantern Introduction
Kevin Smith's information about the Green Lantern tease was also partially inaccurate. The scene he describes where they used a green flashing light is a scene that was shot by Snyder with the intent to use for a CGI mustache removal), meaning that's the way Snyder originally shot it. Snyder also didn't plan on actually using the scene after all, so even if the Snyder Cut is released, it won't be a part of the story and the Green Lantern introduction would be solely in the history lesson.
Related: How A Mark Wahlberg Green Lantern Fit in Snyder's Justice League Plans
Justice League 2 Was Going Cosmic
“Justice League 2 was going cosmic as they take the fight to Apokolips - and New Genesis, presumably, but we know Apokolips - and the Lantern Corps was involved.”
This is another half-truth. Zack Snyder was planning to incorporate the Green Lantern Corps into Charles Roven wanted to cast Mark Wahlberg - but it's an overstatement to say the movie was "going cosmic." There's obviously an element of DC cosmic involved because it's incorporating more Darkseid, and maybe the Green Lantern Corps would get some dedicated flashback history lessons, but the Justice League wasn't going to Apokalips to take the fight to Darkseid.
Related: Snyder's Justice League Plans Were Derailed By The Avengers' Success
Justice League 2 was set to take more inspiration from Grant Morrison's Final Crisis comic event where Darkseid comes to Earth with the Anti-Life Equation and Batman sacrifices himself, likely to save Lois.
They Lose and Justice League 3 is All About The Knightmare
Smith says Justice League 2 ended poorly, like The Empire Strikes Back or heavily dealt with the Knightmare continuity.
Given, the Knightmare that we see in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has all the markings of an alternate timeline, and we know Batman sacrifices himself instead of being killed by an evil Superman as he is there, so there's clearly some more nuance to the exact nature of the movie than that, but Smith's description as the "heroes last stand against Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips" is as good of a description as we've heard so far.
Unfortunately, we'll likely never see most of this vision. As Smith notes, it sounds hardcore and "metal," but with Zack Snyder moving on to new projects, the Snyder Cut is still an eventuality, and something completed for a different medium.
