EDITORIAL: James Gunn Needs to Shut Up — DC Co-Head Makes Everything About Himself

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James Gunn appears unable to resist being heavily involved. The director brought in to “revitalize” DC has inadvertently become its public face – and it’s not necessarily a positive image. He’s present at every announcement, casting decision, costume reveal, and even online dispute. Gunn has inserted himself into all aspects of the DCU, and viewers are beginning to take notice. It’s a lot of visibility.

Contemporary DC films and shows don’t feel as much like celebrations of classic DC Comics as they do like showcases for James Gunn-essentially, projects conceived, written, and produced by James Gunn himself.

Please note: This is an opinion piece. The thoughts and beliefs shared here belong only to the author and aren’t necessarily the official stance of That Park Place or those we work with.

Gunn Everywhere, All the Time

Ever since becoming the head of DC, Gunn has consistently been the most vocal and influential person involved. While it’s normal for a studio head to lead the creative direction, Gunn has essentially made the DCU his personal project.

He’s not only writing and directing Superman and Peacemaker, but he’s also sharing his opinions on who should play Batman, offering feedback on costumes, and promoting upcoming video games. With three projects launched as part of the DCU’s reboot, fans are starting to wonder: Does everything in the DC universe need to have James Gunn’s direct involvement?

Let’s contrast that with Kevin Feige. For years, Feige has been the guiding force-though not always consistent-behind the MCU. Despite his flaws (and there have been a few…), Feige generally avoids taking public credit. He doesn’t interrupt interviews to talk about himself, nor does he position himself as the primary face of the Marvel brand. You may not have agreed with all of his decisions (and I often didn’t…), but the Marvel universe always focused on the heroes, not on Feige’s personal image.

With Gunn, it’s the opposite. He can’t stop putting himself front and center.

“The Best Casting I’ve Ever Done”

Perhaps the most notable instance of Gunn highlighting his own work was his praise of Milly Alcock’s casting as Supergirl. On the Howard Stern Show, speaking to a decreasingly large audience, Gunn enthusiastically stated: “Milly Alcock… could very well be the best casting decision I’ve made throughout my career.”

The level of self-importance in that statement is truly remarkable. James Gunn isn’t the director of the Supergirl movie, nor did he write it. However, he’s presenting the casting of Alcock as if it were his accomplishment-not the work of the creative team. According to Gunn, the film’s success won’t be due to the director or the lead actor; he believes the credit will belong solely to him.

This is the sort of excessive control that can ruin a shared cinematic universe. Think about if Feige had interfered with Ryan Coogler’s decisions while casting Black Panther. Or if he’d claimed ownership of the success of Guardians of the Galaxy. Similarly, imagine Walter Hamada, who oversaw WB films during the Snyderverse era, taking credit for the choices of Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck.

Previously, directors might have resigned and fans protested. However, with James Gunn, this type of promoting oneself is increasingly common.

Hostility to the Fans

While Gunn’s frequent online activity could be overlooked if he simply showed fans respect, that’s not the case. He’s known for being very confrontational online. It’s not enough that he responds to criticism; he actually makes things worse. He gets into arguments with fans, dismisses their concerns, and relentlessly defends himself, even addressing minor rumors about his future films.

That approach might work for an independent filmmaker protecting their work. However, for the leader of DC Comics? It’s simply ridiculous. Fans don’t want to feel like they’re constantly arguing with the person overseeing their beloved characters. They want to feel valued and understood, even when offering criticism.

Gunn’s methods are pushing away the fans he needs to attract. Furthermore, it creates the impression that the DCU is focused on James Gunn’s personal vision rather than the characters and their history.

Superman Should Be Superman

It wouldn’t be so bad if James Gunn only promoted projects he directly oversaw. Superman and Peacemaker? That’s perfectly acceptable. He’s free to promote those as much as he likes, since they are his creations.

But what about Batman, Supergirl, or video games? He isn’t working on those. Still, he keeps finding ways to get involved. Will James Gunn start appearing on publicity tours for projects like Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, or Aquaman spinoffs as well?

Each character deserves to be represented by its own dedicated film. Superman movies should prominently feature Superman, Batman films should focus on Batman, and Supergirl should lead Supergirl projects. The leader of DC Studios shouldn’t be unnecessarily inserting themselves into every discussion.

A Universe Hijacked

It’s truly sad to see what’s happening with DC, because the brand has such a rich history – almost a hundred years! What fans really want isn’t for it to become the “Gunn Cinematic Universe.” They want DC to *feel* like DC – the familiar characters, the legendary stories, and the tales that have always been important to them. This is about preserving what makes DC special, not just rebranding it.

Rather, the more James Gunn speaks, the clearer it becomes that his goal isn’t to create a connected universe. It’s about establishing his own creative domain. Each project’s promotional tour now seems like another chance for James Gunn to celebrate his own accomplishments.

Eventually, all the flashy displays began to overshadow the actual heroes of the story. And that happened quite a while ago…

Time to Step Back

DC boasts a wealth of skilled individuals – actors, directors, and writers alike. They don’t require James Gunn seeking recognition or engaging in online disputes with fans. What they truly need is the freedom to create their narratives and for the focus to be on their work, not on him. DC’s creative team deserves the spotlight.

If Gunn really cares about DC, he’ll do something radical: he’ll shut up.

He’s giving Superman, Batman, and all the other heroes room to shine. He wants the movies, characters, and acting to make the biggest impact, rather than what he posts on Threads (and honestly, who even uses Threads!?)

Currently, it doesn’t seem like the focus of DC is on its superheroes. Instead, it feels as though it’s centered around James Gunn. And that’s the most significant error being made.

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2025-10-02 16:59