James Gunn discusses the new Superman film and his candid thoughts on DC Studios' future.

James Gunn's office is quite easy to find on the Warner Bros. lot. A massive bright Superman "S" sign beams from an entryway wall. It is visible from a distance through a glass door. Gunn, 58, is now in his third year as co-CEO of the newly formed DC Studios. He shares the title and office with Peter Safran, who manages the business side of things. Together, they are creating a new superhero world based on some very old ones. They want Superman and his friends and family to fully compete with Marvel's Cinematic Universe, which is currently unsteady.

Gunn transitioned from another superhero universe. He wrote and directed his final Marvel film, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, in 2023. His Superman movie is set to be released on July 11. It's the first film in the new DCU. Some believe it is one of the most high-stakes films ever created. Gunn dislikes it when people say that. He isn't your usual studio boss. He spent his early years exploring many creative mediums. He fronted bands, wrote funny cartoons, acted, and delivered monologues in small venues. He also earned an MFA from Columbia and published The Toy Collector, his direct first novel. He discovered his true passion when Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Entertainment paid him a tiny fee to develop a movie script.

He soon began composing big-budget films ranging from Scooby-Doo to Dawn of the Dead. He also made his own offbeat flicks. One of these caught Marvel's eye. This lead him to appear in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film in 2014. He rose to prominence as a director after making that film. He created a blockbuster with a highly personal combination of quirky comedy, artistic talent, and a great affection for eccentric individuals. All of this was set to an excellent music mix. After the second film, in 2017, some trolls discovered old internet posts from him. Marvel Fired him. They quickly altered their minds. This brief absence allowed him to direct his first DC film, Suicide Squad, which led to his current position.

James Gunn's Views on the Film Industry and His Rule for Finished Scripts

The DC Studios co-CEO has strong opinions on why films fail before they even begin.

James Gunn believes he has identified the root cause of the film industry's problems. He does not believe it is because people do not want to see Movies. He also believes it is not due to the improved quality of home watching screens. Instead, he believes the major issue is that individuals make films without a completed plot. This is a powerful remark from someone who is now in command of a major film studio.

When Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, they made it plain that superhero films under their direction would not begin production until the scripts were finalized. He even said that they "just killed a project" because of this regulation. He indicated that everyone wanted to make the film. It had been approved and was ready to go. However, the script was not ready. Gunn stated that he could not make a movie unless the script was good. He believes they have been lucky thus far. The scripts for Supergirl Lanterns and Clayface have all been excellent from the beginning. He believes this is due to luck, wise decision-making, or both.

Gunn also stated that not having a rule from Warner Bros. requiring a particular amount of DC projects has been beneficial. He argues that Disney's previous rule of producing more Marvel films and television shows "killed them." Disney CEO Bob Iger has recently stated that Marvel will henceforth prioritize quality above quantity when producing products. Gunn said that they should approach each project as if they were really fortunate to be able to complete it. DC Studios does not have a guideline that requires them to release a particular number of movies and television episodes each year. He stated that they will only distribute what they believe is of the highest quality. He is aware that they will produce both good and bad movies. However, he hopes that everything will be of the highest quality conceivable. Nothing starts until he is personally satisfied with the script.

How James Gunn's Personal Growth Affected His Approach to Superman

From provoking audiences to adopting a more pure heroic tone in his filmmaking.

Gunn believes that his personal life and work have evolved over time. He believes he has gotten softer around the edges. He used to enjoy to provoke others. Even while he still does it on occasion, he no longer enjoys it. In his heart, he is incredibly sentimental. He believes in fundamental human decency. He sees Guardians of the Galaxy as a fantastic beginning point for this transformation. Despite their quirkiness and keen humor, those films possessed a lot of heart. However, Superman is different. Superman is not like Star-Lord or Rocket, who may be angry or suppress their emotions. Superman is a clean figure who believes in what is good, sometimes to an extreme. Gunn had a long road to get to the point where he could write characters like these.

He admitted that in the past, he may have poked fun of the persona. He doesn't believe that is what he does now. He's less terrified now. He allows himself to be more imaginative than he used to. He used to believe he was being totally creative. However, most of the time it was simply his wrath manifesting itself in a different form. He's less hesitant to be foolish, emotional, straightforward, or direct today. This transformation could be the result of a difficult time he experienced. After being briefly dismissed from Marvel due to some past online postings, he stated that numerous friends contacted him. He experienced true love for the first time in his life. He believes that without that experience, he would not have written the Superman he did. He may not be doing his current job if he hadn't been dismissed.

Gunn also experienced a significant moment of clarity, which he refers to as a "spiritual awakening." This occurred as he was working on a book for Lloyd Kaufman. He wanted to stop because it was extremely difficult for him. He felt he wasn't receiving enough respect. He was upset about ghostwriting something he felt was humorous. Then he realized, "Finish what you start." He stated that his life transformed within weeks of it. He went back and finished the book, despite how much he disliked it. This strong belief in completing what he begins is an important element of who he is now. He believes that it is not his responsibility to know how others see his work. His job is simply to do what he does.

New Characters and Future Plans For the DC Universe Under James Gunn

From Clayface Casting To The Challenges Of Batman And Wonder Woman's Next Story

When it came to casting the lead in DC Studios' next big movie, Clayface, the studio went with a fresh face. Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries landed the role. Harries is most recognized for his work on the Apple TV series Suspicion and in films such as The Return and Kandahar. He also appears in Guy Ritchie's film The Gentlemen. He beat out a number of British actors for the job. After next summer's Supergirl, James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Studios will go on to the next big project, directed by James Watkins of Speak No Evil. Clayface will film at Warner Bros' Leavesden studio in the United Kingdom.

Clayface is a villain from the Batman comic books who can shift shape. The original version had an actor who turned to crime. His body appears to be composed of clay. Over the years, he has appeared in several films, television shows, animated works, and videogames. Clayface is being produced by Gunn and Safran, as well as The Batman filmmakers Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris. Mike Flanagan wrote the initial draft of Clayface. Later drafts were authored by Hossein Amini. At San Diego Comic-Con, DC Studios will debut Gunn's second season of Peacemaker. Gunn's Superman film is planned to premiere on July 11 and is predicted to perform well at the box office.

Gunn also discussed the next stages for several of DC's biggest characters. He stated that Batman is his biggest issue in all of DC right now. He's not scripting Batman himself. But he's working with the writer to make sure it's proper. He feels Batman is as vital to DC as Wonder Woman. Outside of his present efforts, his two main aspirations are to complete the Wonder Woman and Batman scripts. He wants Batman to have a justification for being in the DCU. He does not want a ridiculous Batman, nor does he want one like Matt Reeves' Batman. He thinks he knows how to make it work. For Wonder Woman, he believes it is simpler. She hasn't been portrayed in as many different ways as Batman has.

addressing fan concerns and the reality of being a studio head.

James Gunn discusses fan backlash and the need of authenticity in storytelling.

Gunn is aware that some people actively oppose him. These are often fans of older Superman and DC films, such as Zack Snyder's. He doesn't mind it. He thinks it's good. He believes you do not want everyone to cheer for you. He cited an actor from Superman who reads everything online. This actor is very offended by what others say. Gunn informed him that the trailer received nearly exclusively good feedback. He also advised him that critics are actually helpful because you don't want everything to appear completely positive. It is acceptable to hear conflicting viewpoints on occasion.

Gunn examined Lex Luthor's character. He feels he understands Lex better than he wants he did. He sees Lex looking at Superman in the same way that artists look at artificial intelligence. Lex is a tremendously intelligent man who has accomplished many remarkable things. Then this guy walks in, who has done nothing to earn his powers. He can fly and destroy structures. He is also incredibly attractive. Suddenly, everyone is discussing Superman. Lex is motivated by the fear of being replaced or that his or her talents would be overlooked. Gunn thinks he can relate to whatever Lex does. Lex is simply meaner than he is.

When asked if Matt Reeves' Batman could join his reality, Gunn replied, "Never say zero." However, he also stated, "it's not likely. It is not likely at all. He also clarified that Batman Part II has not been canceled. He hears that all the time. He said Matt Reeves takes his time and that people should let him do his thing without being so critical. Gunn does not care how he is remembered for his work. He cares that he was kind to his family and that his family and friends loved him. He thinks about how people are remembered at funerals. He wants people to cry at his funeral because he was good to them.