Rick and Morty’s Season 8, Episode 7, titled Ricker Than Fiction, which premiered on July 6, 2025, features surprising cameos from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn and director Zack Snyder. Executive producer Scott Marder recently detailed how these two notable filmmakers played exaggerated versions of themselves, blending humor and insight into their differing perspectives on Superman, making the episode stand out for fans and Hollywood alike.
Inside the Making of Gunn and Snyder’s Roles
Scott Marder revealed to Variety that both James Gunn and Zack Snyder eagerly embraced their roles.
“They laughed at anything we threw at them… All they did was laugh it off,”
he said, highlighting their good-natured participation. In the episode, Gunn’s character is portrayed as a villain and director of the fictional movie franchise Maximum Velocitree, which motivates Rick and Morty to intervene using a device called the Movie-lizer.
Memorable Moments Between Snyder and Gunn
A key scene unfolds on the Warner Bros. lot, where Gunn’s character meets a muscular Zack Snyder. Snyder jokes,
Just saw your new cut of ‘Superman,’ and word of advice, he’s the ‘Man of Steel,’ not the ‘Man of Conversation.’
He then offers reassurance, calling Rick
just the smartest man in the universe,
adding,
Don’t sweat it. He can’t do what we do. Probably.
This exchange humorously contrasts their creative styles while tipping fans into deeper insight on their Superman takes.
Rick and Morty’s Movie Rewrite and Its Impact
The episode sees Rick and Morty becoming villains themselves after redesigning the fictional franchise’s movie, much to Gunn’s surprise. Gunn’s character praises their work, exclaiming he was outdone: “They out-done the Gunn!” He then presents the revised version to Warner Bros., declaring that
This won’t just put butts in seats… it could save Hollywood, it could change everything,
right before an unexpectedly comedic end involving a gun named Sundae.
The Creative Collaboration Behind the Cameos
The concept of the Movie-lizer evolved from an earlier idea called the Book-alizer, giving the team a vehicle to lampoon Hollywood culture. Writer Rob Schrab played a key role in approaching James Gunn, who promptly agreed to participate, recording his lines just after finishing his work on Superman. Similarly, Zack Snyder expressed strong enthusiasm for the project.
Ensuring Authenticity with Dan Harmon’s Contribution
Dan Harmon, series co-creator, wrote the Superman-related dialogue and shaped the overall cameo script. Scott Marder noted that Harmon “cracked his knuckles” to ensure the writing matched the status of both directors. While a behind-the-scenes image of Snyder and Gunn recording went viral beforehand, their appearances were kept a secret until the episode’s release.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and has shared that prayer is still significant to him. However, he also describes himself as somewhat against organized religion.
Q. Why did James Gunn leave the MCU?
A. Alan Horn, the Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, announced that they ended their partnership with James because of inappropriate comments found on his Twitter account.
Q. Why is James Gunn leaving MCU?
A. Once Gunn became co-CEO of DC Studios, he stopped working on Marvel Studios projects. He had developed strong connections with the actors from the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy.
