Zack Snyder on The Last Photograph, TIFF criticism and 300 in Variety interview
In brief
- Zack Snyder responds in a Variety interview to criticism of The Last Photograph, screened at TIFF and rated 4/10 by IGN.
- According to IGN, Snyder responded to the online backlash around the film and said the TIFF screening might be the only time audiences see it on the big screen.
- The same coverage also revisited his comment about 300, which IGN described as “the gayest movie ever made.”
What happened
Zack Snyder was the focus of a Variety interview on 15 September, where he spoke about The Last Photograph, his new film that was screened around the Toronto International Film Festival. According to the available sources, the movie received a special screening at TIFF, and the first reactions were described in coverage as harsh or “brutal.”
IGN reported that Snyder also addressed the online criticism that often follows his work. According to that coverage, he said social media users had called him “fascist” and “homophobe” in response to the backlash. Snyder also reportedly joked that the TIFF audience might be the only people who ever see The Last Photograph on the big screen.
In addition, IGN quoted Snyder on 300, saying he described the film as “the gayest movie ever made.” The available excerpt does not provide the full context for the remark, but the quote was tied to the same interview round in which he defended his new film.
IGN gave The Last Photograph a score of 4/10. The reporting once again places Snyder at the center of a heated online debate, although the full scope of reactions beyond the quoted examples remains unclear from the provided sources.
Timeline
13 September 2026: TIFF hosts a special or world-premiere screening of The Last Photograph in Toronto.
15 September 2026: Variety publishes an interview with Zack Snyder about The Last Photograph and his wider career.
15 September 2026: IGN publishes an article about Snyder’s comments on 300 and his defense of The Last Photograph.
Background
The Last Photograph is described in the provided sources as Snyder’s new film and a project shown at TIFF. The reporting context is that Snyder’s work often draws strongly polarizing reactions online, something both Variety and IGN reference in their coverage.
The sources also note that Snyder reflected on earlier work and on the way social media responds to him during the interview. The exact scope of those reactions is not confirmed in the excerpts, but the articles clearly frame the discussion around the TIFF screening.
Sources
- IGN: article on Snyder’s comments about 300 and the backlash around The Last Photograph
- Variety: 15 September 2026 interview with Zack Snyder about The Last Photograph
- Deadline / Hollywood Reporter: background on the TIFF screening of The Last Photograph