There has rarely been a movie so highly anticipated as Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the result of several years of petitioning from passionate fans using #releasethesnydercut.

Now, as the release date looms, fans in the Philippines can finally catch the “Snyder Cut” with the rest of the world on Thursday, March 18, at 3.01 p.m., premiering same time as the U.S. on HBO GO!

Here’s a look at why this movie has fans in a frenzy!

1. The running time is 4 hours and 2 minutes!

Unlike most cinematic releases that come in under 2 hours, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is twice as long. You might wonder, what could director, Zack Snyder, possibly add to this epic tale that would account for an additional two hours? The answer is: plenty!

In this version, fans get a deeper look into each member of the Justice League – Superman / Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), Batman / Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman / Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), The Flash / Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), Aquaman / Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), and Cyborg / Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) – backstory, and their past experiences that motivate them today.

Diving into the complexities of their lives, Snyder introduces viewers to Victor Stone’s mother Elinore (Karen Bryson) and Barry Allen’s love interest Iris West (Kiersey Clemons). This movie has a more emotional story arc for Lois Lane (Amy Adams), greater context for Aquaman’s past courtesy of Vulko (Willen Dafoe), and the full range of Silas Stone’s (Joe Morton) love for his son Cyborg.

2. 'Zack Snyder’s Justice League' is practically a brand-new movie.

Using all the footage he had previously shot (and never released), this epic movie also includes:

• Never-before-seen footage!
New footage with Deathstroke (Joe Manganiello), Martian Manhunter / Calvin Swanwick (Harry Lennix) and Ryan Choi (Zheng Kai) to round out the mythology, and the first appearance of New God Darkseid (Ray Porter), contribute to the 4-hour running time. It even has a freshly-shot finale and a new after credits scene.

• New scenes involving The Flash and The Joker
With Ezra Miller shooting Fantastic Beasts in the UK, Snyder had to direct a fresh scene with him via video conferencing on Zoom. At the same time, he was able to address his regret that Batman and the Joker were never brought face-to-face so he brought Jared Leto on board just for one scene.

• Thousands of new VFX shots
Production continued through the height of the pandemic, with international VFX teams working remotely to complete or redo thousands of shots.

• New music score
Original composer Junkie XL, also known as Tom Holkenborg, returned to the project, writing an entirely new score that captured the character and struggle of each character.

3. The film is divided into 6 parts.

Fans can choose to watch the epic in one sitting, or they may ease into the viewing experience by watching it in its separate parts.

Part 1: "Don't Count On It, Batman"
Part 2: "Age of Heroes"
Part 3: "Beloved Mother, Beloved Son"
Part 4: "Change Machine"
Part 5: "All The King's Horses"
Part 6: "Something Darker."
Epilogue

Naturally, this is a major advantage of watching it on a streaming service like HBO GO!

4. More ‘authentic’ battle-damaged costumes

While superhero costumes often appear pristine, in real life, latex doesn’t last that long! After four years, Batman’s cowl disintegrated when Ben Affleck tried to put it on. With time in short supply, they went ahead with its damaged appearance, lending more authenticity to the post-apocalyptic setting.

5. Never underestimate the power of superfans!

This special release was made possible because a group of dedicated initiated the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign. In the process, they bombarded Warner Bros. with high-profile gestures that included billboard advertisements, social media campaigns, and – at one point – even sending airplanes to fly over the studio.

6. Best to watch Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is the third movie of the Snyderverse beginning from the Man of Steel to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The best way to experience the Snyderverse? Why not watch Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice first? These titles are all available in HBO GO.

Additionally, get to enjoy more DC movies connected to the Snyder Cut from Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Suicide Squad!

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is rated 16 across Asia.