Which Actors Have Worked With Zack Snyder the Most?
After getting his start with an extensive resume of directing commercials, writer/director/producer Zack Snyder moved to Hollywood feature films with his feature length debut Dawn of the Dead in 2004. The James Gunn-scripted remake of the George Romero classic quickly put Snyder on track to directing several high-profile comic book adaptations, including Frank Miller’s 300 (2006), Alan Moore + Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen (2009), and a trilogy (or is that a tetralogy?) of DC superhero films starting with Man of Steel in 2013.
In addition to these films, his works in the sci-fi and horror genres have made him a divisive figure in contemporary Hollywood, with frequent usage of slo-mo and CGI, heavy handed religious metaphors and imagery, and a rabid online fanbase that has been known to occasionally target studio execs, actors and other filmmakers with aggressive attacks on social media. Whatever you make of Snyder, it’s impossible to argue with the fact that he has been one of the most distinctive mainstream filmmakers of the 21st century. Let’s take a closer look at who he likes to collaborate with!
Author’s Note: Due to a combination of personal tragedy and studio interference, Zack Snyder famously left the role of director for 2017’s Justice League, leaving the film to be completed by Avengers director Joss Whedon. However, the completed film (which Snyder claims he has never seen) was still released with him credited as its director. In 2021, HBO Max finally released Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a four-hour extended cut featuring only the footage Snyder had filmed, with a bit of extra footage and some polished-up special effects. Although almost all of the footage in both versions was shot as part of the same production, they are two very different films (both credited with the same director), so they are counted as two films here.
Rules for Inclusion
We’re only looking at actors who have appeared in two or more films. I’m only including films that Snyder has directed, not produced — although there are a few special mentions in specific cases. During his tenure DC tenure starting with Man of Steel, he produced several superhero movies that took place in the universe he created, including Suicide Squad (2016), Wonder Woman (2016), Aquaman (2018) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). His final DC film he produced was The Suicide Squad (2021), directed by his old friend James Gunn.
Every actor is listed in alphabetical order (by first name) within their respective sections, to keep it consistent with the data visualizations below. The names of each actor are links to their page on IMDB. In the future, In the future, whenever Zack Snyder releases another feature-length film (which is sure to have some returning players), I will update the list and visualizations in this article. As always, if I’ve missed anyone, please let me know in the comments!
Five Films
Carla Gugino — On-screen in Watchmen (2009) and Sucker Punch (2011). Voice of “Kelor/Ship Computer” in Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Ray Fisher — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Four Films
Amy Adams — Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Diane Lane— Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Henry Cavill — Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Ingvar Sigurdsson — Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Three Films
Ben Affleck — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021). Affleck was at one point set to direct and star in his own Batman movie but it never came to fruition. His only non-Snyder Batman appearances were in 2016’s Suicide Squad and 2023’s The Flash. He had filmed another Batman cameo for Aquaman 2 but it was cut after Warner Bros. founded DC Studios.
Ezra Miller — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021).
Gal Gadot — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Harry Lennox — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021). Harry Lennox, perhaps otherwise best known for his role in the 2003 Matrix sequels, has the unusual distinction of being maybe the only major actor who shot footage for Justice League, only to be edited out of the Joss Whedon theatrical cut. It’s revealed in Snyder’s cut that he was being set up to be Martian Manhunter in future films, who fans of the comics or early 2000’s animated tv shows will know as a major member of the League.
Jason Momoa — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Jesse Eisenberg — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Two Films
Abbie Cornish — Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010), Sucker Punch (2011)
Alfonso Herrera — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Anthony Hopkins — voice in Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Cary Elwes — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Cleopatra Coleman — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
David Wenham — 300 (2007), Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010). Wenham reprised his 300 role as Dilios in the prequel/sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, alongside returning cast members Lena Headey and Rodrigo Santoro. Snyder didn’t return to direct the film, but he did produce and help write it alongside original comic creator Frank Miller.
Doona Bae (sometimes credited as Bae Doona) — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Djimon Hounsou — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024). Celebrated character actor Djimon Hounsou also appears as the voice of King Ricou in Aquaman (2019), which was executive produced by Snyder. The sea creature king is not the only character he plays in the Zack Snyder DC Universe though, as he also appeared that same year as the wizard in Shazam!, and reprised the role again in Black Adam (2022) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
Ed Skrein — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Fra Fee — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
J.K. Simmons — Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021). Academy-Award winning actor J.K. Simmons was set to reprise his role as Comissioner Gordon in the since-cancelled Batgirl film that was being developed for HBO Max. You can read more about the circumstances that led to that film’s cancellation here.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan — Watchmen (2009), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Jena Malone —Sucker Punch (2011), Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023). Malone also appears in the extended “Ultimate Edition” of Batman v Superman, but her role was cut from the theatrical version. If you included her role in the director’s cut of BvS, that would make three films total.
Kevin Costner — Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Michael Kelly — Dawn of the Dead (2004), Man of Steel (2013)
Michiel Huisman — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Patrick Wilson: Watchmen (2009), voice cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Wilson technically appears in the Snyder DC Universe as two different characters, a voice cameo as the US President in Batman v Superman, and then later as the villainous Orm in the Aquaman films, the first of which was executive produced by Snyder.
Sofia Boutella — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Stuart Martin — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024). Martin also appeared in the Netflix movie Army of Thieves (2021), the spinoff of Snyder’s Army of the Dead, released on the streaming platform earlier that same year. Snyder produced and wrote the story for Thieves, which was directed by Army of the Dead star Matthias Schweighöfer.
Staz Nair — Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (2023), Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Special Mentions
Corey Stoll — Golden-Globe nominated House of Cards and Midnight in Paris star Corey Stoll only appears in the first Rebel Moon film, but he is also slated to appear in the upcoming Netflix animated Norse mythology show Twilight of the Gods, alongside Walking Dead star Lauren Cohen, who appeared briefly as Martha Wayne in Batman v Superman. Stoll also voiced Lex Luthor (played by Jesse Eisenberg in Batman v Superman) in the recent animated adaptation of the DC comics event Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Other Frequent Collaborators
Deborah Snyder — Zack’s wife Deborah has produced every one of his films after Dawn of the Dead (2004), as well as all of the other films he has produced but not directed since then.
Larry Fong — Fong served as director of photography on four Snyder films, 300 (2006), Watchmen (2009), Sucker Punch (2011), and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).
James Gunn — Despite occasionally still being attacked on social media by Snyder fans who are upset with Gunn taking over the future of DC comics film and TV assets, James Gunn and Zack Snyder have a long working relationship, going back to Gunn writing the screenplay for Snyder’s directorial debut, Dawn of the Dead (2004). More recently, Snyder served as producer on Gunn’s 2021 DC directorial debut The Suicide Squad.
Kurt Johnstad — Johnstad worked on the script for the original 300, as well as its Snyder-produced 2014 prequel/sequel Rise of an Empire. Johstad also worked on the screenplay and served as an executive producer for both of Snyder’s Rebel Moon films.
Shay Hatten — Hatten has worked on the script for Snyder’s last three films, all of which were developed for Netflix. In addition to writing the Army of the Dead screenplay, he also wrote the screenplay for Snyder-produced spinoff film Army of Thieves.
Tyler Bates — In addition to doing the score for Snyder’s first two films, Bates has composed the score for many of James Gunn’s films. He also composed the score for John Wick 3: Parabellum, which was co-written by Snyder collaborator Shay Hatten.
Up Next
What’s your favorite performance in a Zack Snyder film? Sound off in the comments.
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