James Gunn, now a leading figure at DC Studios, remains a key contributor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) through his creation of the Infinity Stones’ origin story. During the making of the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, Gunn quickly devised the backstory for these powerful artifacts, providing a clear introduction for audiences unfamiliar with Marvel comics.
The Rapid Development of the Infinity Stones Narrative
In a recent interview, Gunn admitted he initially had little understanding of Marvel’s larger narrative plans but was asked to clarify the meaning behind the Infinity Stones. Reflecting on the request, he explained,
“I never understood what any of the phases were in Marvel. I don’t know what any of it means. I have no clue what it means. I knew there were Infinity Stones when they said, ‘You know, we’ve been thinking, and we think that maybe some of these things have been Infinity Stones in different ways. And so, could you write up what the Infinity Stones mean?'” —James Gunn, director
What followed was remarkably swift: Gunn wrote the scene describing an ancient cosmic explosion from which the Infinity Stones were born in just a few minutes. He shared,
“When I wrote the scene with The Collector explaining that there was this explosion, and the Infinity Stones were born, and what they mean and where they came from, that was literally me just sitting down for 3 minutes and writing that,”
He added that the concept was initially informal and that no one had a definitive blueprint, stating,
“There was never anybody that said anything other than, ‘I think the red thing and the blue thing are going to end up being Infinity Stones’. That wasn’t in the plan to begin with.”
Gunn also emphasized the spur-of-the-moment nature of his idea, saying,
“I made up the Infinity Stones in two seconds. I had no idea that was going to become what it was gonna become.”
He has mentioned various time frames for drafting the scene; while this latest interview claims three minutes, he previously mentioned during the 2023 press tour for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 that it took him about ninety minutes.
“I wrote that scene in about an hour and a half, it just like came up with what the Infinity Stones were… and everything’s based on that,”
he told Phase Zero.
The Importance of Gunn’s Contribution to the MCU
The origin of the Infinity Stones scene was vital for grounding the MCU’s complex storyline, giving viewers an accessible entry point regardless of their familiarity with the comics. Gunn’s quick improvisation helped set the foundation for one of the franchise’s central elements, impacting subsequent films and story arcs profoundly.
Despite Gunn’s current focus on DC Studios and his success with the new Superman film, his legacy within Marvel remains significant. His approach to storytelling and deep world-building has influenced the larger superhero genre on screen.
James Gunn’s Transition to DC Studios and Future Plans
After moving on from Marvel, Gunn has been shaping the direction of the DC Universe alongside Peter Safran. Their leadership has garnered praise from Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav, who stated the DC vision is now clearly defined and highlighted that the current efforts mark the first phase of an ambitious ten-year strategy.
Gunn’s shift is also reflected creatively, as he has described his Superman film as his “first superhero movie,” distinguishing it from his earlier space-oriented Guardians of the Galaxy projects.
Fans eager to follow the unfolding DCU developments can find details on upcoming movie releases and deeper dives into character easter eggs and post-credits scenes, signaling a new chapter in superhero cinema.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is James Gunn leaving Marvel?
A. In 2018, James Gunn lost his job with Marvel because old tweets he had posted resurfaced. These tweets contained offensive jokes on topics like pedophilia, r-pe, and abuse, leading to public anger.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. The updated CGI version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation was inspired by Ozu. Gunn, who grew up in a Catholic household, still finds prayer important in his life, though he describes himself as “in some ways, anti-religion.”
Q. What religion is James Gunn?
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 religion.”
