Nanaimo-raised singer Allison Crowe has recorded a cover of Leonard Cohen鈥檚 Hallelujah for the upcoming Justice League film and she said it鈥檚 a moment 14 years in the making.

Crowe, who now lives in Newfoundland and Labrador, said it was back in 2007 when director Zack Snyder first discovered her version of the Cohen classic on YouTube and asked if he could use it in his film Watchmen.

As a fan of Snyder鈥檚 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, Crowe said she 鈥渁bsolutely freaked out鈥� at the opportunity. Although the Cohen version was ultimately used in the film, Crowe and Snyder stayed in touch and she鈥檚 since become a family friend.

鈥淭he thing about the Snyders is they鈥檙e such kind, genuine human beings and he really did keep trying to put my music into movies and that funny back and forth over the years I guess kind of formed a friendship,鈥� Crowe said.

Crowe got a chance to finally meet Snyder in person on the set of Man of Steel in 2011. She appears in the film, performing Johnny Cash鈥檚 Ring of Fire in a scene shot at the Cassidy Inn pub, which stood south of Nanaimo for over 100 years before it was destroyed by fire in 2016.

鈥淚 honestly think that over the years he tried to get my music in things so many times I think eventually he just went, 鈥榊ou know what? We鈥檙e just going to put her in the movie,鈥欌�� Crowe said.

She also got to attend the film鈥檚 premiere in New York City, and although the event was 鈥渁 crazy, big, cool thing,鈥� spending time with the Snyders was like meeting up with old friends.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e such genuine, lovely people it just feels like you鈥檙e hanging out with friends or even family,鈥� Crowe said. 鈥淎nd all the people around them are the same. It鈥檚 just a good crowd of folks.鈥�

On March 18, Crowe will finally be heard singing Hallelujah in one of Snyder鈥檚 films as the director again approached her to record a new version of the song to close out his director鈥檚 cut of Justice League, called the Snyder Cut by fans.

Snyder originally left production of the film in 2017 after his 20-year-old daughter Autumn died by suicide. Hallelujah was her favourite song and Snyder asked Crowe to perform it at Autumn鈥檚 funeral.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of these things where I鈥檓 a singer, it鈥檚 what I do. So if I can offer some sort of comfort when someone is devastated and hurting, if I can do that, I will do that,鈥� Crowe said.

Crowe said she鈥檒l be tuning in to the film when it comes out, although this time the premiere may be a little less glamourous than the one she attended for Man of Steel.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to be having a little movie premiere in my house. An isolation premiere,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 considering dressing up. Chances are good that I will be wearing my jogging pants because 鈥� I have gotten very accustomed to comfortable clothes this year.鈥�

Zack Snyder鈥檚 Justice League debuts on HBO Max on March 18.

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