History of Zack Snyder in Timeline

Zack Snyder is an American filmmaker known for his work on comic book and superhero films. He made his directorial debut in 2004 with a remake of "Dawn of the Dead" and has since directed and produced major films such as "300," "Watchmen," "Man of Steel," "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," and "Justice League." He is also known for directing "Sucker Punch," "Army of the Dead," and "Rebel Moon." Snyder's films often feature stylized visuals, slow-motion action sequences, and epic storytelling.

1989: Snyder Graduates Art Center College of Design

Snyder graduated with a BFA in film from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California in 1989.

1996: Snyder Meets Deborah Johnson

Zack Snyder and Deborah Johnson first met in 1996.

February 2002: "Respect" Budweiser Commercial

Snyder directed the "Respect" Budweiser commercial, depicting horses paying respects to the victims of 9/11, which aired in February 2002.

2002: Snyder Begins Dating Deborah Johnson

Snyder and Johnson began dating in 2002.

September 25, 2004: Snyder Marries Deborah Johnson

Snyder married Deborah Johnson on September 25, 2004, at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Manhattan, New York.

2004: Dawn of the Dead Release

Snyder's remake of the horror film, Dawn of the Dead, marked his directorial debut and was released in 2004.

2004: The Stone Quarry Founded

Snyder, alongside his wife Deborah Snyder and producing partner Wesley Coller, founded the production company The Stone Quarry, originally called Cruel and Unusual Films, in 2004.

2006: 300 Release

Snyder directed the fantasy war film 300, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name, which became a box office success upon its release in 2006.

March 6, 2009: Watchmen Release

Snyder's film adaptation of the graphic novel Watchmen premiered on March 6, 2009, and went on to gross over $185 million worldwide.

2009: Snyder's Favorite Films

Snyder shared his five favorite films in 2009: Excalibur, Mad Max 2, A Clockwork Orange, Blue Velvet, and RoboCop.

September 24, 2010: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Release

Snyder's animated film, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, premiered on September 24, 2010.

2010: Marsha Manley, Snyder's mother, Passes Away

Zack Snyder's mother, Marsha Manley, an artist and teacher, passed away in 2010.

March 25, 2011: Sucker Punch Release

Snyder's film, Sucker Punch, which he directed, produced, and co-wrote, was released on March 25, 2011.

2011: Horse Latitudes in Development

Development on Snyder's film about two war photographers, Horse Latitudes, began in 2011, but the project was put on hold as of 2024.

2013: Batman v Superman Announced

Snyder announced at Comic Con 2013 that his next DCEU film would feature both Batman and Superman.

2013: Man of Steel

Zack Snyder directed the Superman reboot, Man of Steel, released in 2013, marking the start of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

2014: 300: Rise of an Empire

Snyder produced 300: Rise of an Empire, a prequel/sequel to 300, released in 2014.

2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Released

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, directed by Snyder, was released in 2016.

May 2017: Snyder Steps Away from Justice League

Following the tragic suicide of his daughter, Autumn, Snyder withdrew from post-production work on Justice League in May 2017 to be with his family.

2017: Justice League Production and Release

Snyder stepped down from directing Justice League in 2017 following a personal tragedy, with Joss Whedon taking over.

2018: Snyder directed PSAs for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

In 2018, Zack Snyder directed two public service announcements for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, showcasing his support for charitable causes.

January 29, 2019: Army of the Dead Announced

Snyder announced his zombie heist film, Army of the Dead, for Netflix on January 29, 2019.

May 20, 2020: Zack Snyder's Justice League Announced

It was announced on May 20, 2020, that Zack Snyder's Justice League would be released on HBO Max.

2020: Snyder endorses Joe Biden in 2020 election

In 2020, Zack Snyder publicly endorsed Joe Biden in the presidential election, aligning with the Democratic Party, despite critiques of his films carrying 'right-wing' messages.

March 18, 2021: Zack Snyder's Justice League Released

Zack Snyder's Justice League was released on HBO Max on March 18, 2021.

May 2021: Snyder's Philanthropic Efforts Raise $750,000

By May 2021, Snyder's philanthropic efforts, which included selling merchandise related to the "Snyder Cut," had raised over $750,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

July 2021: Rebel Moon Announced

Zack Snyder was officially announced as the director of the Netflix film, Rebel Moon, in July 2021.

2021: Army of Thieves Released

A prequel to Snyder's Army of the Dead, Army of Thieves, was released in 2021.

2021: Snyder partners with Save the Children for COVID-19 relief

In 2021, Zack Snyder collaborated with Save the Children to establish a 100-bed temporary hospital facility in New Delhi, aiding the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

2021: Snyder discusses political views in The Guardian interview

In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, Zack Snyder reaffirmed his political stance as a Democrat, despite previous critiques about the perceived political messages in his films.

April 2022: Rebel Moon Begins Filming

Filming for Rebel Moon, a two-part film, commenced in April 2022 and concluded in November of the same year.

2022: Interest in Rick and Morty Film

Snyder expressed interest in directing a science fiction film adaptation of the animated series Rick and Morty in 2022.

November 2023: Snyder Comments on DC Future

In November 2023, Snyder said he would only consider returning to the DC Universe to direct a faithful adaptation of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns if invited by DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn.