James Gunn prioritizes screenplay quality at DC Studios, recently stopping a greenlit film to ensure only complete and satisfactory scripts go before cameras. This decision marks the latest move in DC Studios’ new approach, led by Gunn and Peter Safran, where strong scripts determine the fate and timing of both movies and series.
DC Studios’ New Direction Centers on Script Readiness
As co-chairman and CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn made it clear that production will no longer begin on any film or television project until screenplays have reached a level he considers ready. Gunn stated last year:
“The one thing that we’re gonna do at DC is — no matter what — we’re going to wait until the screenplays and the teleplays are ready before we shoot them,”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios. Highlighting his hands-on approach and the studio’s growing selectivity, Gunn added,
“And I’m not going to shoot anything until I’m happy with it.”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios.
This philosophy directly influenced the cancellation of a DC Studios project, which, despite being greenlit and fully prepared to enter production, was stopped due to the script not meeting Gunn’s standards. Gunn elaborated on this process, saying,
“We just killed a project. Everybody wanted to make the movie. It was greenlit, ready to go. The screenplay wasn’t ready,”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios, as told to Rolling Stone. He emphasized the importance of the quality threshold:
“And I couldn’t do a movie where the screenplay’s not good.”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios.
Stalled Projects and Shifts in the DC Studios Slate
The specific title of the halted project remains undisclosed by Gunn, but reports widely point to the Sgt. Rock film. The movie, which was under development with director Luca Guadagnino, was expected to begin shooting in the summer, but insiders revealed that production could not proceed due to script delays. Sources indicate the team is now exploring a potential production start for Sgt. Rock in 2026, reflecting the studio’s willingness to delay even large projects for the sake of script quality.
Other major films remain central to DC Studios’ lineup, with Superman—written by Gunn—leading the way for the upcoming slate. Additional projects include Supergirl, with Ana Nogueira as the writer, Clayface, scripted by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, and a sequel to The Batman, co-written by Matt Reeves and Mattson Tomlin. On the television front, Peacemaker’s second season, scripted by Gunn, and Lanterns, developed with scripts by Tom King, Damon Lindelof, and Chris Mundy, are notable forthcoming entries. Gunn expressed his satisfaction with progress on these scripts, stating,
“We’ve been really lucky so far, because Supergirl’s script was so f—ing good off the bat. And then Lanterns came in, and the script was so f—ing good. Clayface, same thing. So f—ing good,”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios. He continued,
“So we have these scripts that we’ve been really lucky with or wise in our choices or whatever the combination is.”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios.
Unannounced and Stalled Projects in the New DC Universe
Alongside the confirmed films and shows, Ana Nogueira is attached to write a live-action Teen Titans movie, a project not included in the original unveiling of the new DC Universe phase by Gunn and Safran in 2023. Several announced titles have stalled, such as TV shows Booster Gold, Paradise Lost, and Waller, as well as movies like The Authority and Swamp Thing. Gunn described the status of some series in plain terms:
“not quite where I want them to be yet,”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios, as noted from December.
Major feature films continue development: Andy Muschietti is signed on to direct The Brave and the Bold, a Batman and Robin-focused film based on a script by an unannounced writer. In addition, Gunn has revealed that a new Wonder Woman movie is currently in the scripting phase, even though no screenwriter has been named publicly.
Commitment to Quality Over Speed Takes Center Stage
James Gunn has firmly established that DC Studios will not begin production or casting on any project until a quality, completed script is in place. He explained these standards succinctly:
“We won’t green light a film until we have a finished script we’re happy with and, in general, we won’t cast a film until the script is finished,”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios, via Threads. Gunn also clarified why development timelines differ across various projects:
“This is why some projects are moving faster than anticipated and others more slowly. It’s always gonna be quality first no matter what.”
—James Gunn, writer-director, CEO of DC Studios.
The studio’s rigorous approach applies across both film and television. The room developing scripts for the new DC Universe includes acclaimed writers like Tom King, Drew Goddard, Jeremy Slater, Christal Henry, and Christina Hodson, who bring diverse experiences from works such as Marvel’s Daredevil, Moon Knight, Watchmen, and Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey. The commitment to evaluate every project through a demanding script development process demonstrates DC Studios’ evolving philosophy under Gunn’s direction.
Significance of Gunn’s Strategy for the DC Universe
James Gunn’s unwavering focus on script development marks a significant shift for DC Studios, placing screenplay quality above production timelines and preemptive announcements. By halting even highly anticipated, already greenlit projects when scripts fall short, Gunn aims to build a more robust, critically acclaimed DC Universe. This new standard is likely to affect not just flagship titles like Superman, Batman, and Supergirl, but also newer developments like Teen Titans, The Authority, and Lanterns. As the studio continues to reshape its slate, the impact of this strategy may lead to longer waits between releases, but with the goal of delivering stronger, more cohesive stories.
With prominent figures such as Peter Safran, Ana Nogueira, Matt Reeves, and Andy Muschietti contributing to this evolving universe, and writers from across comics and film shaping the direction, DC Studios is poised to redefine its cinematic and television legacy. Gunn’s approach—rooted in a clear prioritization of screenplay strength—signals both a creative reset and a message to audiences that narrative quality is now the studio’s guiding principle.
