This year, both Marvel Studios and DC Studios chose not to participate in San Diego Comic-Con, a notable shift after last summer’s event where Marvel, led by Kevin Feige, captured wide attention by announcing Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom for the Multiverse Saga. While Marvel Television appeared at New York Comic Con with titles like Daredevil: Born Again and VisionQuest, DC Studios has not made any similar appearances at such conventions.
In a conversation with New Rockstars, James Gunn shed light on why DC Studios has not engaged with major fan events. He suggested that the decision to attend depends on each situation’s value.
I think it’s a case-by-case basis,
Gunn remarked. He elaborated,
It just depends on the situation. Sometimes you really benefit from going to Comic Con and spending millions of dollars and selling an idea, especially when you have a great trailer.
Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Convention Appearances
Gunn highlighted alternative approaches to building excitement outside of pricey event appearances.
But other times, I post a picture of the cover of the screenplay on Instagram for zero dollars, and it is equally effective; it gets just as much press,
he stated, emphasizing the importance of evaluating where resources are best spent.
So you have to kind of always ask yourself, ‘What is it that’s worth spending money on?’
He also noted the personal challenges involved.
The hard thing for me is I just don’t have much time,
Gunn said.
I live in Georgia, I’m gonna fly out to Comic-Con for these days that could be spent on doing another draft of ‘Man of Tomorrow.’ What matters to me at the end of the day is quality.
The Broader Debate on the Impact of Comic-Con Events
The value of conventions like Comic-Con has been questioned extensively since the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellations starting in 2020. Studios invest heavily in Hall H presentations that generate brief media buzz, but the long-term effect on box office returns remains uncertain. Fans generally purchase tickets for new superhero films regardless of whether they have seen official clips or star-led announcements at these events. As a result, many major studios now participate only sporadically, with Disney, for example, reserving major Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals for its own D23 convention instead.
Future of DC Studios’ Fan Engagement and Updates
Some fans had hoped DC Studios would revive the DC FanDome format, a virtual event hosted on YouTube during the pandemic featuring reveals across movies, television, and comics, offering an at-home version of the Comic-Con experience. For now, James Gunn appears focused on sharing news through social media and occasional interviews with select press rather than investing in large-scale, in-person events.
The DC Universe’s fans will have to wait for the next significant update, as Gunn’s priority remains dedicating time to refining his projects rather than attending costly conventions. This approach reflects a thoughtful balance between outreach and maintaining high creative standards for the upcoming DC productions.
