Snyder had already completed the majority of filming on the highly anticipated DC superhero tentpole, which is still slated to be released on Nov. 17, but will hand the reins over to Whedon for shooting additional scenes and post-production.

“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,” Snyder told The Hollywood Reporter in an emotional interview with his wife and “Justice League” producer Deborah Snyder.

“The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all-consuming. And in the last two months, I’ve come to the realization,” he continued. “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.”

Autumn, the director’s daughter from his first marriage to Denise Snyder, was attending Sarah Lawrence college at the time of her death. According to his wife, Deborah, Autumn loved “to write, to write, to write” and had recently completed a sci-fi novel, which they hope will one day be published.

Snyder, who is also father to seven other children and step-kids, never intended on sharing the news of his daughter’s death, but due to the high-profile nature of his job, he had no choice.