As a movie enthusiast, I was absolutely thrilled at this year’s CinemaCon by the stunning revelation about James Gunn’s journey with DC Studios. It turns out that in 2018, Warner Bros. had initially approached Gunn to guide a narrative centered around Superman. However, following his dismissal from Marvel Studios due to controversial social media posts, he decided not to take the reins of a Superman reboot at that time. Instead, Gunn chose to collaborate with the studio on “The Suicide Squad,” a fresh take on the covert team. This sequel introduced an innovative version of the secret squad, with Harley Quinn (portrayed brilliantly by Margot Robbie), who had previously starred in the 2016 “Suicide Squad.
There are several factors that explain why this strategy has worked effectively for both Warner Bros. and James Gunn. If James Gunn had chosen to direct Superman all those years ago, the DC Universe would be quite different today. The production of “The Suicide Squad” was a crucial move during a complex process that ultimately led to James Gunn becoming co-head of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran. Years later, we now have James Gunn’s “Superman” movie on the horizon, with plans for a new franchise debuting this summer in cinemas. Here are some reasons why the brand has benefited from James Gunn’s decision to make “The Suicide Squad.
Familiar Territory for James Gunn
Warner Bros. first contacted James Gunn following his termination from Marvel Studios due to a social media disagreement. Even though Gunn was still working on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for Disney, Warner Bros. saw the potential value in the filmmaker and quickly brought him aboard. It was later revealed that James Gunn would direct a follow-up to Suicide Squad, which seemed fitting given that Gunn had demonstrated his knack for transforming a group of disliked characters into a cherished family with the success of the original Guardians of the Galaxy.
The outcome proved to be a triumph, as The Suicide Squad brought in $169 million at the worldwide box office. Although this figure may not initially seem impressive, it’s crucial to take into account that the film debuted during the pandemic when theater attendance was significantly reduced. Additionally, The Suicide Squad was simultaneously available on HBO Max. The sequel garnered a lot of positive feedback from critics, which gave Warner Bros. enough confidence to broaden their collaboration with James Gunn. With this strong foundation, Warner Bros. is now looking forward to shaping the future of the DC brand.
The Timing Was Off
In late 2017, Joss Whedon’s take on the Justice League hit screens, and if Warner Bros. had revealed that James Gunn was planning a reboot of the franchise immediately afterward, it would have caused quite a stir online. At the time, the DC Extended Universe was expanding with movies like Aquaman, Shazam!, and The Flash. Announcing another Superman version so soon after Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent returned wouldn’t have been a good move for Warner Bros., as there were still many stories left to tell in the DCEU.
Venturing into a sequel for a story like Suicide Squad, which faced critical backlash, was one challenge. But considering taking on the main character of a rival studio, in this case Superman, would have presented an entirely distinct set of circumstances. It’s hard to predict how Marvel Studios would have reacted had James Gunn been assigned to direct Superman instead. The dismissal of Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 led to considerable uncertainty regarding the future of the franchise centered around Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Groot (Vin Diesel), and other beloved characters that audiences have grown fond of over the years.
James Gunn Became a Better Filmmaker
By opting to direct The Suicide Squad over Superman, James Gunn had the opportunity to tackle a diverse range of projects, many of which became deeply personal stories for him. For instance, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 served as a poignant farewell to the characters he’d been developing for more than a decade and received widespread critical acclaim. To top it off, this Marvel Studios production grossed an impressive $845 million worldwide. With such success under his belt, Gunn further cemented his reputation with the emotional narrative that signaled the conclusion of that particular version of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The TV show “Peacemaker” marked a spin-off for the popular character from “The Suicide Squad”, with filmmaker James Gunn leading this new adventure over eight episodes. Through these stories, he portrayed a touching narrative about a man learning to trust others, maturing, and evolving as a person. These projects significantly improved Gunn’s skills as a filmmaker, making Warner Bros. believe in his abilities to helm DC Studios into the future. In essence, by directing “The Suicide Squad” initially, James Gunn managed to enjoy the best of both worlds.
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2025-04-12 16:14