James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios and director of the upcoming Superman film, recently disclosed the three superhero movie moments he hopes to never witness again, emphasizing his desire to move beyond repetitive storytelling. Speaking with The Times, Gunn expressed fatigue towards certain iconic origin scenes that have become clichés within the genre.
“There are three things I don’t ever need to see again in a superhero movie. I don’t need to see pearls in a back alley when Batman’s parents are killed. I don’t need to see the radioactive spider biting Spider-Man. And I don’t need to see baby Kal coming from Krypton in a little baby rocket.” —James Gunn, Director and DC Studios Co-CEO
Rethinking the Need to Retell Origin Stories
While Gunn acknowledges that origin stories are central to these characters, he believes their repeated portrayal has become excessive. He argues that audiences no longer require detailed flashbacks explaining every hero’s beginnings, highlighting other films where characters’ pasts remain unexplored without detracting from the story.
“We have watched a million movies with characters who don’t have their upbringing explained, like when we see Good Night, and Good Luck we don’t need to know the early life of Edward R. Murrow to explain how he became a journalist. Who cares?” —James Gunn, Director and DC Studios Co-CEO
Introducing Superman as an Established Hero
Applying this philosophy, Gunn’s version of Superman does not show Clark Kent’s early life in Smallville or his escape from Krypton. Instead, the new film presents Superman in his third year as a superhero, operating in a world long familiar with metahumans. This approach allows the story to begin with the character already active and established.
Gunn’s Superman movie opens with a Star Wars-style text crawl to brief audiences quickly, avoiding a traditional origin recap. This establishes a universe where metahumans have existed for centuries, setting a different tone for the story’s unfolding.
A Seasoned Batman in The Brave and the Bold
James Gunn has also confirmed that DC Studios’ upcoming Batman film, The Brave and the Bold, will feature an experienced Caped Crusader, rather than retreading familiar ground with a young vigilante burdened by traumatic backstory. This is consistent with Gunn’s vision of moving superhero stories forward without relying on overused flashbacks.
Jumping Straight Into the Action
Regarding Superman’s story, Gunn elaborates on starting the narrative in the midst of conflict and established relationships. The film begins with Superman already in existence, Lois Lane and Clark Kent familiar with each other, and Lex Luthor already harboring deep resentment toward Superman, despite no direct personal encounters between them.
“We just start in the middle of the action. Superman already exists. Lois and Clark already know each other. Lex [Luthor] hates Superman’s guts from the beginning, although they don’t know each other personally. So we start right in the middle of the action. It takes place over a short amount of time.” —James Gunn, Director and DC Studios Co-CEO
Significance of This New Direction for Superhero Films
This shift away from classic origin stories signifies a major change in superhero cinema, led by Gunn’s vision at DC Studios. By focusing on characters already developed and entrenched in their worlds, filmmakers can explore more complex narratives and engage audiences without retreading familiar ground. The move also underscores a maturity in storytelling, acknowledging that viewers now desire fresh perspectives rather than repeated beginnings.
For fans and the industry, this approach promises to redefine how superhero tales are told, avoiding the predictable beats of origin stories and instead emphasizing action, character dynamics, and ongoing struggles within broader, established universes. It represents a willingness to evolve the genre and meet the expectations of a more experienced audience.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is James Gunn leaving Marvel?
A. In 2018, Marvel let go of James Gunn after old tweets making jokes about serious topics like pedophilia, rape, and abuse caused public anger.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. The new CGI version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman movie was inspired by Ozu. Gunn grew up in a Catholic family and has said that praying is still significant to him. However, he also describes himself as being “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 describes himself as “in some ways, against religion.”
Q. Does James Gunn love animals?
A. In a chat with Collider, Gunn talked about his childhood dog, Shawnee, sparking his fondness for animals. He mentioned, “I’m really fond of animals. My passion for animals surpasses my interest in movies.” Because of this, he enjoys crafting animal characters that audiences can connect with, hoping they see their own pets in them.
