The Hollywood Reporter has shared more intel on Justice League's reshoots, including the apparent controversy surrounding Ray Fisher saying Cyborg's "Booyah!" line in the version of the movie Joss Whedon was in charge of.
That line originated in Cyborg's animated adventures with the Teen Titans, and was never said in the comic books or in Chris Terrio's screenplay (which he wrote with Zack Snyder). Geoff Johns pushed for Snyder to add the dialogue, but the filmmaker didn't want catchphrases, and instead agreed to include it on billboards as a middle ground.
Fisher tells the trade that he never had an issue with the word itself, but did have concerns with how it came across in live-action, particularly in regards to Black characters in pop culture being given catchphrases. The actor simply felt that "It seemed weird to have the only Black character say that."
When the reshoots were taking place, Whedon brought the idea up after apparent prompting by Johns, and when producer Jon Berg took Fisher out for dinner, he also pushed for it.
"This is one of the most expensive movies Warners has ever made," Berg reportedly said. "What if the CEO of AT&T has a son or daughter, and that son or daughter wants Cyborg to say 'booyah' in the movie and we don't have a take of that? I could lose my job."
Fisher wasn't convinced that the fate of the movie hinged on the catchphrase, but Whedon seemed to take great delight in having the actor say it.
Stretching his arms out in a comical fashion, Whedon quoted a line from Hamlet in a mocking tone and said, "Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you." Fisher replied, "Joss - don't. I'm not in the mood." As he left the set after saying the phrase, Whedon called out, "Nice work, Ray."
Needless to say, it's beginning to make more and more sense why Fisher has been so intent on making his voice heard following what happened on the set of Justice League.