Reshoots on a film are usually seen by the public as a bad thing. People think it means that the entire movie is being remade in a short span of time, very rarely is that the case. It’s done to get some better takes, shots, and to spruce up some scenes and insert changes where needed. Usually, they take about a week or two to finish and can cost up to $10 million but with Justice League… that may be different.
Variety, one of Hollywood’s leading sources for movie news, is reporting that Justice League’s reshoots are pretty extensive and will cost the studio up to $25 million. On top of that, they have taken two months to film and are still ongoing. One of the reasons for this is due to the fact that several stars for the film were scheduled to shoot their next projects. Henry Cavill who plays the Man of Steel is currently filming Mission Impossible 6 and Ezra Miller who plays The Flash is doing the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Being able to get both stars on top of everyone else on the same day has been a bit tricky. Since Fantastic Beasts is a Warner Bros. property, they’ve been able to get Miller the time he needs for Justice League but it’s not that easy for Cavill. The reshoots are taking place in London and Los Angeles so getting Cavill in to various countries while he also needs to shoot another movie is likely a nightmare Cavill has also grown a very noticeable mustache for the production of MI6 and Paramount Pictures told WB they can’t have him shave it so they will have to digitally remove it using CGI once reshoots are wrapped… yeah, it sounds like quite the headache.
Despite the drama, it’s not to say that this is a bad thing at all. It’s obvious WB wants to get a streak of good films going after the success of Wonder Woman which marked the first universally praised film in the DCEU. They’re taking many large steps in order for that to happen, it’s just hard to say if they can pull it off.
As for what’s being changed, director Joss Whedon who has stepped in for Zack Snyder who publicly exited the project after a family tragedy is reportedly just adding some more memorable dialogue and adding scenes that help link the story together in a way that flows better. Whedon previously helmed the first two Avengers flicks which are known for their quotable dialogue and great action.
While obviously none of this ideal, movies like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story had reshoots and while some people aren’t particularly fond of that movie, it is a serviceable film that doesn’t have any major sins. Warner Bros. has allegedly begun working in additional shooting dates and budget into movies prior to shooting as to prevent these logistical nightmares from happening again.
Justice League hits theaters on November 17th, 2017. You can click here to view a brand new trailer.
