What I don’t get is why go through all the director’s cut stuff, when they could’ve set expectations before production on what they want to see, so the director doesn’t waste their time making a film that will be cut down because it doesn’t meet the rating the production company wants? In the end they all look like losers because the theatrical cut is terrible, then Snyder releases a director’s cut that turns out to be meh at best.

Take Denis Villenueve for example. All his films have no director’s cut, because for him, the theatrical cut IS the director’s cut and his vision of the film. Snyder isn’t some small name director, so I’m pretty sure he can do an R-18 movie if he wants to.

If studios are intentionally screwing up his films to get a second go as OP suggested, then why would Snyder agree to tarnish his name by agreeing to make a film only to have it cut down? I guess it’s all $$$? Because he earns more for a second release?