James Gunn has openly defended a brief scene in his new Superman film where David Corenswet’s portrayal of the Man of Steel pauses mid-battle to save a squirrel, despite strong negative feedback from test screening audiences. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Gunn emphasized that the scene, though subtle, is crucial in illustrating Superman’s empathy during the chaos of a Kaiju attack on Metropolis.
Debate Over the Squirrel Scene Highlights Clashes Between Creative Vision and Audience Expectations
Gunn revealed the scene sparked significant discussion, ranking among the most controversial moments in the movie’s development. He recounted the pushback from test viewers, who questioned why the superhero would divert attention to save a small animal during a citywide disaster. Despite pressures to remove the moment, Gunn insisted on keeping it in, citing both narrative importance and geographic continuity within the film’s action sequences.
“It was probably the second- or third-most hotly debated moment in the movie, Because we showed it to test audiences and some people did not like the squirrel. They’re like, ‘Why the fuck is he saving a squirrel? Why is he taking time out, saving a squirrel?’ There was a cut where I cut it out and I’m like, ‘I really miss the squirrel. He’s gotta save the squirrel.’ In addition, there were also some geographic problems with where he ended up if I didn’t have him fly over with the squirrel. So I put the squirrel back in despite the protestations of some of my people on my crew.”
—James Gunn, Director
Audience Divisions Reflect Varied Reactions to Symbolic Moments in Blockbusters
In a separate interview with The New York Times, Gunn acknowledged the polarized responses, jokingly attributing the divide to personal feelings about squirrels. These reactions underline the constant balance directors must strike between wider audience appeal and preserving meaningful storytelling beats.
“A lot of people were anti-squirrel. They thought it was too much. And I think it really comes down to, do you like squirrels or not?”
—James Gunn, Director
Challenges with Pacing Also Feature Prominently in Feedback from Test Screenings
Beyond the squirrel controversy, Gunn addressed recurring critiques about his films’ pacing. He noted that test screenings frequently point out the films move too quickly, reflecting his preference for a streamlined narrative pace that minimizes extraneous detail and focuses on efficiency in storytelling.
“When you test movies, almost always, especially in the early test screenings, one of the main questions they ask is, ‘Is it too slow? Is it too fast? Is it just right?’ And my movies have always had an overabundance of ‘too fast’ compared to ‘too slow,’ Because I’m not indulgent. I just don’t give a shit about my little precious moments that are so important to me in making a movie. I want to create something that’s as streamlined as possible, and if that means I go too fast, sometimes I do. And so it really is about pulling back.”
—James Gunn, Director
Test Screenings Often Clash with Final Audience Reactions and Box Office Results
Gunn’s experiences are part of a larger trend where test audience results do not always predict a film’s success or failure. For example, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige once praised the villain Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania as “the highest-testing villain” in family and friends screenings. Despite this early enthusiasm, the film underperformed at the box office, grossing $476 million worldwide and ranking among Marvel’s lowest earners.
The Broader Impact and Future of Superman in Theaters
Superman, produced by Warner Bros. and DC Studios, continues to play in theaters across the country. Gunn’s determination to maintain certain creative choices, like the squirrel-saving moment, suggests that he intends to prioritize emotional depth and character nuance over strictly conforming to all audience preferences. This approach may influence how superhero stories balance spectacle with smaller, meaningful gestures in future DC projects.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household. He says prayer still matters to him, but he feels somewhat against organized religion.
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. Gunn initially collaborated with Marvel Studios on the Guardians of the Galaxy series. In 2022, he became co-CEO of DC Studios. Before that position, he directed The Suicide Squad (2021) for DC. This happened after Marvel let him go but brought him back for Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. Ozu influenced the new CGI-animated design of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and has shared that prayer remains important to him. However, he also described himself as “in some ways, anti-religion.”
