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A striking portrait and the story behind it
Zack Snyder recently shared a haunting black-and-white portrait of Ben Affleck as Batman — a shot he calls one of his favorites from the Snyder Cut era. Posted to Instagram after Snyder reactivated his account, the image shows Affleck in the Knightmare suit, shot on a Leica Monochrom that gives the portrait a grainy, timeless quality. Snyder added that the production actually built a small set specifically for these character portraits, underscoring how much care went into the visuals even for promotional material.
Snyder’s post quickly circulated across fan communities and industry sites, reminding audiences how the director’s aesthetic shaped his DC trilogy: Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Those three films — frequently grouped by fans as Snyder’s DC trilogy — emphasize a moody, operatic tone that contrasts with the brighter, more colorful direction Warner Bros. is now taking with the newly relaunched DC Universe.
Context: Knightmare, the Snyder Cut, and fan devotion
The Knightmare outfit itself plays a small but memorable role in Justice League, appearing most clearly in Bruce Wayne’s apocalyptic dream sequence. Though brief, the Knightmare scene became emblematic for many fans who campaigned loudly for the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement. When HBO Max released Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 2021, those portraits were used heavily in promotion — a reminder that Snyder’s world-building and visual motifs often extend beyond the screen.
This portrait also highlights differences between Snyder’s approach and recent DC plans. Warner Bros. and DC Studios have rebooted their strategy with a lighter palette and a new Superman actor, David Corenswet — signaling a fresh creative path. Meanwhile, Snyder has shifted toward filmmaking with Netflix, directing zombie heist Army of the Dead, the sci-fi Rebel Moon duology, and now the wartime drama The Last Photograph.
Comparisons are inevitable: Snyder’s noir, mythic visuals versus the more optimistic tone of the incoming DC Universe. Fans and critics alike debate which direction is better for mainstream comic-book cinema — and images like this portrait keep that conversation alive.
Trivia: Snyder shot the portrait on a Leica Monochrom — a camera prized for its pure black-and-white output — and reportedly staged a dedicated set to achieve the portrait’s cinematic lighting.
Whether you came for the Snyder Cut or the ongoing DC reinvention, this photo is a reminder of how a single image can capture a director’s vision. It’s a small artifact of a larger creative chapter in superhero cinema.
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