When James Gunn was briefly dismissed from directing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the resulting upheaval triggered changes across the superhero movie landscape. This disruption eventually paved the way for Gunn to join DC Studios and take on the iconic role of shaping Superman’s new chapter. The story behind his James Gunn Superman DC transition reveals a complex journey involving unexpected offers and key industry conversations.
How Warner Bros. Introduced Gunn to DC
In a detailed discussion on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Gunn shared how Warner Bros.’ Warner decision-makers first approached him about joining their universe. Toby Emmerich, then an executive at Warner Bros., initiated contact with a surprising question about Gunn helming the Superman franchise.
“Toby Emmerich, from Warner Bros. at the time, came to me; was like ‘James Gunn’s Superman? James Gunn’s Superman?’, and I said, ‘I dunno man.’ Then he was like, ‘Well, what about Suicide Squad?’. And so I came up with an idea, I went and pitched it, they were like ‘Yes, let’s do it.’” —James Gunn, Filmmaker
Rather than immediately agreeing to Superman, Gunn chose to develop a fresh concept for The Suicide Squad first. This allowed him to explore a different side of the DC universe while remaining engaged with Marvel’s Guardians trilogy.
The Unexpected Marvel Comeback Call
Shortly after this pivot, Gunn received an unforeseen phone call from Alan Horn, a Warner Bros. executive, inviting him for a meeting that could change everything.
“No joke, I went home and I got a phone call. It was Alan Horn, and he said, ‘James, I wonder if you could come in and see me tomorrow?’ … He said, ‘I wanted to hire you back.’ I said, ‘Oh. I’m gonna have to talk to Kevin.’” —James Gunn, Filmmaker
This moment led Gunn to have a critical conversation with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, revealing the high stakes and overlapping interests between the two comic book giants.
Negotiating Between Marvel and DC
Gunn described visiting Feige at his home, where they discussed his projects and future direction. Feige had expectations about Gunn’s next steps but learned of the director’s plans to continue with DC first instead of returning immediately to Marvel’s slate.
“So I went to Kevin’s house … and he said, ‘This is amazing. This is so good. This is what I wanted.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, it’s good, but I have to do something else first.’ … And Kevin goes, ‘Ugh. Are you doing Superman?’ … I said, ‘No, I’m gonna do a Suicide Squad sequel,’ and he said, ‘Whoa.’” —James Gunn, Filmmaker
At the time, the Superman project was already speculated as a future move but was not immediate. Gunn’s decision to pursue The Suicide Squad sequel first surprised even Marvel’s top leadership.
The Broader Impact of Gunn’s Transition
Years after these conversations, James Gunn not only took on the Superman project but also assumed co-CEO responsibilities at DC Studios. He is now focused on building a revitalized DC Cinematic Universe, blending his unique storytelling approach with the legacy characters.
This journey from Marvel’s Guardians trilogy through Suicide Squad to Superman highlights the shifting alliances and creative dynamics shaping the superhero genre. Gunn’s path illustrates how unexpected career changes can redefine cinematic universes and fan expectations alike.
As Gunn continues to expand the DC universe, audiences and industry observers alike are left to consider whether Superman was always destined to be his signature achievement.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household. He has shared that prayer still holds significance for him, but he also describes himself as “in some ways, against religion.”
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. After getting removed from the Guardians of the Galaxy series in 2018, the director believed his career might be finished. Fortunately, in 2022, he and Peter Safran were chosen to lead DC Studios, which gave him a chance to work on another superhero movie.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaption features a CGI version of Krypto the Superdog, inspired by Ozu. Raised in a Catholic home, Gunn values prayer, yet describes himself as somewhat “anti-religion.”
