Star Wars

Snyder watched George Lucas' 1977 hitA New Hope13 times in the theater.

I was obsessed and it changed the course of my life."

“I read this book over and over.

Justice League

Credit: Clay Enos/Warner Bros.

If you want to talk about anything being possible, read [it].”

But it’s what you dream of when you think of knights and quests and chivalry.

He surfed popular culture and purely provoked.

Meet Your Maker: Zack Snyder

Matthew Naythons/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images

He couldn’t exist today."

Heavy Metalmagazine

The sci-fi and fantasy mag was famous for its explicit content and stunningly creative visuals.

“My mother bought me a subscription with out realizing it was an adult magazine.

Star Wars: A New Hope Episode IV

Lucasfilm

It’s also just rad.”

A version of this story appears in the April issue ofEntertainment Weekly, on newsstands Friday and availablehere.

Meet Your Maker: Zack Snyder

Gardners Books

Meet Your Maker: Zack Snyder

Everett Collection

Meet Your Maker: Zack Snyder

Andy Paradise/The Independent/Shutterstock

Heavy Metal Magazine

Heavy Metal