Nine years after the death of his daughter Autumn, director Zack Snyder is asking fans to support a suicide prevention walk in her memory.
In an Instagram post, the "Man of Steel" director shared a photo of Autumn standing beside Henry Cavill in his Superman suit. She was 20 when she died by suicide in March 2017.
"A father's love for his daughter never ends, even when her time here does," Snyder wrote. "There are no words to describe the heartbreak of losing a child or the emptiness that lasts a lifetime. The years may pass, but the love, the memories, and the longing to have her here with us never fade."
The Snyders will walk as Team Ironwill at the American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention's Out of the Darkness walk on Nov. 7 in Pasadena, California. Snyder directed followers to a donation link in his Instagram bio, writing that even small gifts help fund research, suicide prevention education and support for grieving families.
"Although years have passed, Autumn's absence is something we feel and carry on a daily basis," read the team's donation page. "We walk not only to honor her life and the love she left behind, but also in hopes to helping other families avoid the heartbreak and pain of losing a loved one to suicide. Through these walks, we hope to raise awareness and help end the stigma surrounding mental health. We walk for Autumn. We walk for us. We walk for anyone silently struggling."
As of Thursday morning, the team has raised almost $9,000, significantly more than its original $500 goal.
How Zack Snyder honored Autumn in 'Justice League'
Autumn studied writing at Sarah Lawrence College and shared her father's love of superheroes. During a 2021 interview with Vanity Fair, Snyder pulled up a selfie she had taken in the letterman jacket Ray Fisher wore as Cyborg in "Justice League."
In May 2017, Snyder and his wife, producer Deborah Snyder, stepped away from the film to be with their children after Autumn's death. At the time, the director told The Hollywood Reporter he initially tried to "bury" himself in his work after the family tragedy but ultimately decided to "take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me."
After Snyder's exit, Joss Whedon was brought on board to reshoot a substantial amount of the film and finish the version Warner Bros. released in theaters that November. Though Snyder was still credited as director, the movie differed drastically from his original vision and was poorly received. Snyder has said he has never watched the 2017 theatrical version of the movie.
Fans rallied behind the hashtag #ReleaseTheSnyderCut, calling on Warner Bros. to let Snyder finish his version.
The campaign was a success, and Snyder's four-hour cut of the movie, known as "Zack Snyder's Justice League," debuted on HBO Max in March 2021. Its dedication read "For Autumn." Over the credits, family friend Allison Crowe sang Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," Autumn's favorite song. Crowe had also sung it at her funeral.
The fans who campaigned for the film also raised money for suicide prevention. In its 2023 annual report, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention credited the Snyders and their fans with raising more than $1 million in Autumn's honor.
"Autumn will always be my daughter, our heroic archer. She will always be loved and always be a part of everything I do," Snyder wrote signing off his Instagram tribute.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
Contributing: Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zack Snyder honors daughter Autumn Snyder 9 years after her death
