Zack Snyder quits Justice League after daughter's suicide

Zack Snyder has quit upcoming superhero film Justice League following the suicide of his 20-year-old daughter.

The director of hit DC Comics movies Man Of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice has spoken about his loss for the first time.

"In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was the way through it," he told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday.

Autumn Snyder killed herself in March - something Snyder "never planned to make public".

"I thought it would just be in the family, a private matter, our private sorrow that we would deal with," he said.

"When it became obvious that I need to take a break, I knew there would be narratives created on the internet.

"They'll do what they do. The truth is I'm past caring about that kind of thing now."

He added: "The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all-consuming.

"And in the last two months, I've decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me.

"They are all having a hard time. I'm having a hard time."

Snyder will be replaced in the Justice League director's chair by Marvel competitor Joss Whedon.

Whedon is the man behind The Avengers and one of the precursors of the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"He's handing the baton to Joss, but the course has really been set by Zack," said Warner Brothers' Toby Emmerich.

"The directing is minimal and it has to adhere to the style and tone and the template that Zack set.

"We're not introducing any new characters, it's the same characters in some new scenes."

Justice League is still set for its original release date of 17 November.

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK.