According to Matt McGloin of Cosmic Book News, James Gunn may soon step down as co-CEO of DC Studios. That possibility casts into doubt the future of the DC Universe (DCU), which Gunn has been leading since parent studio Warner Bros. shuttered the previous DC Expanded Universe (DCEU).
James Gunn and David Corenswet sit for an interview about Superman – YouTube, Fandango
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Gunn is also currently in pre-production on Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to last summer’s Superman only the third feature film planned for the DCU so far. In his recent interview with Variety, Gunn compared himself to Superman and Lex Luthor, but admitted that being a studio head and director is taxing. He referred to his dual roles as “an experiment,” which Cosmic Book News called “alarming” and said “obviously implies things aren’t set in stone.”
With Warner Bros. set to be sold to Netflix — or Paramount, if it’s successful in its ongoing battle for the studio — very few things in the industry are certain right now.
Questions of Sustainability
Gunn told Variety that he initially turned down co-CEO position, saying that he “didn’t want to do what [President of Marvel Studios] Kevin Feige does.” He only accepted the position when he learned he would be sharing the responsibility with Peter Safran. But he added, “I still don’t know if it’s sustainable long-term. It’s a lot. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.”
James Gunn sits for an interview – YouTube, GQ
Cosmic Book News suggests that Gunn will use the overwhelming workload as his excuse to step down. It may be that the director would prefer to focus all of his energy on making movies, rather than also co-running a studio.
The Kind of Movies Gunn Likes to Make
Gunn said he likes to make unconventional spectacles, adding that he’s not really concerned about ever being nominated for Best Director. “I like making the kind of movies that I make,” he said, adding, “and I like making pop cinema, for lack of a better term.”
Superman wounded in the snow in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
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Audience response to his films has been mixed. Forbes showed that Superman lost money at the box office. The next entry in the DCU, the HBO limited series Peacemaker, failed to appear on the Nielsen charts. Finally, this summer’s Supergirl is raising industry red flags. While the movie was written by Ana Nogueira (based on a story by Tom King), and directed by Craig Gillespie, Gunn’s influence is pronounced — as is the backlash for the first trailer.
The DCU appears to many to still be finding its feet. But with a leadership change at Warner Bros. on the horizon, the window may be closing.
A Career Safety Net
Man of Tomorrow will arrive in theaters July 9, 2027. By that time, the purchase of Warner Bros. will likely be settled. That film’s performance may determine Gunn’s future with the DCU, more than the stress of his dual responsibilities or artistic ambitions. Cosmic Book News has reported since October that insiders are saying if Paramount successfully purchases Warner Bros., Gunn is out regardless.
Superman and Lex Luthor in a Jim Lee-Created teaser image for the Superman Sequel Man of Tomorrow – X, @JamesGunn
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In an industry where image is everything and the talent is only as good as their last project, Gunn may be laying out a safety net for his career. The director seems unsure of his future with Warner Bros. and the DCU. Only time will tell if Cosmic Book News has read the signs correctly and Gunn decides to step down. Ultimately, the next two years may determine whether Gunn remains the architect of the DCU—or becomes another transitional figure in Warner Bros.’ long history of resets
Do you think James Gunn is preparing to step down from the DCU? Let us know in the comments!
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His baby hands are way too tiny for even the most “modest” of Whoppers from BK.
How’d he ever grab a film camera with them hamster paws?
He’s in way over his head, and the promise of underage lovers was never fulfilled by Zaslav.
This can’t be a coincidence. Versant–the spin-off of WBD/Comcast’s cable assets–is losing value on the market each day and just confirming PSKY’s arguments that Netflix can’t match their offer because Versant’s stock might never reach $3 per share and ruin their bid. PSKY has also made it clear Goon’s out if they win.
I’d guess Goon is cognizant enough to know Netflix will lose and he’s desperate for a soft landing. Problem is, he might not have any time left. Versant’s only been on the market two days and it’s already down 22% because *no one* is interested in TNT, CNN, and Discovery outside of PSKY.
Gunns’ leadership has been disastrous. Revelations reveal that he stole most of the ideas that made Gardians such a fun movie. The sequels failed to capture that magic. Nor did anything else he made. He gets worse and worse, abusing our White heroes and heroines.
Of all the gorgeous white women out there, he decides to cast a mong-looking weirdo as Supergirl. Way to go. Removing sex-appeal from movies is not the way to go. No one wants to watch an alcoholic slut who keeps her clothes on, go around beating up men.