Zack Snyder is advocating for a film adaptation of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, depicting an ageing Batman returning from retirement in a dystopian Gotham. The proposal is unlikely because DC Studios is already developing two separate Batman films and has moved away from Snyder’s previous vision of the franchise.

Snyder argues that pairing The Dark Knight Returns with his adaptation of Watchmen would represent the superhero genre’s complete cycle. However, his past success in mobilising fans, including the eventual release of his four-hour Justice League cut, means the idea cannot be dismissed entirely; a possible Warner Bros Discovery takeover could also reshape DC’s leadership and strategy.