DC Studios Chief James Gunn on Bad Superhero Movie Fatigue and the “Very Different” DCU Slate Post-Superman

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It appears that the role of shaping the new DC Universe is entrusted to James Gunn, as evidenced by the success of his Superman film which raked in $217 million globally – making it the biggest for DC since The Batman in 2022. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hired Gunn and Peter Safran (co-heads of DC Studios) to consolidate the creative direction of DC under a single leadership team, and he considers Gunn’s Superman as merely the initial stride towards launching the new DC Universe.

Over the weekend, we saw Superman take flight, as James Gunn’s enthusiasm and creativity unfolded on the big screen. In a statement released over the weekend, Zaslav said, “Superman is merely the beginning.” He continued, “In the coming year, DC Studios will bring the movies Supergirl and Clayface to theaters, as well as the series Lanterns on HBO Max. These are all part of an ambitious ten-year plan. The future of DC is clear, the energy is palpable, and I’ve never been more enthusiastic about what lies ahead.

Jeff Goldstein, President of Global Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, stated individually, “Our aim with Superman was to regain the faith of our DC fanbase, and it seems they’ve warmly welcomed our initial offering in a thrilling new cinematic realm.

In an attempt to challenge Marvel’s cinematic universe success, DC launched a new interconnected film series following the underperformance of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which debuted with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013. The DCEU only managed one billion-dollar film, Aquaman in 2018, and ended with a series of box office flops. An R-rated movie, Joker, released outside the DCEU in 2019, also grossed over a billion dollars, but since then, only The Batman (released in 2022 with a $772 million box office haul) has given DC a significant box office triumph. Both The Batman and Joker were set in their own individual storylines.

In the year 2022, the movie “Black Adam,” starring Dwayne Johnson, garnered a staggering $393 million worldwide, while in 2023, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” raked in an impressive $440 million globally with Jason Momoa leading the cast. Unfortunately, the global earnings of “Blue Beetle” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” both released in 2023, didn’t surpass the $200 million mark, and “The Flash,” also from 2023, managed to earn $271 million.

Gunn stated in an interview that while he doesn’t believe there was ever a point where audiences grew tired of superheroes, there was certainly a period when too many superhero films were produced (referred to as a ‘superhero gold rush’). He explained that during this time, anything with a superhero in it was profitable due to impressive visual effects and public interest. However, over time, viewers began to tire of the same formula and desired more unique elements in their movies beyond just another superhero story.

Gunn went on to say that there have been many subpar films released recently. He further emphasized that audiences require a compelling reason to visit cinemas.

Warner Bros., known for distributing DC Studios’ Superman films, has recently provided a compelling reason for cinema-goers: since April, the studio has enjoyed box office successes with films like A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Final Destination Bloodlines, and F1: The Movie. As director James Gunn puts it, “The past few months have been quite promising for the industry. People are returning to cinemas again. It seems there were just too many subpar movies out there.

Gun shared his thoughts on the movie industry, stating it’s currently in a state of confusion, with him pointing out that typically, audiences are drawn to grand, spectacular films and little else.

The filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad stated something along these lines: “Perhaps just a horror film, that’s all. Creating medium-sized movies that draw crowds will be quite challenging,” he said. “Those films do occur occasionally, but they are exceptions. People tend to watch such content at home. However, people enjoy going out for grand spectacle movies, as long as they are successful. But today’s film industry operates around Intellectual Property (IP) that dictates the movies, and release dates often shape the creative process.

As per Gunn’s statement, many production studios are giving the go-ahead for films without fully written scripts, in order to adhere to their release dates. He explained that about 80% of the time, these films are being made while the scripts are still being completed during filming. This practice is problematic, he said, because the resulting movies tend to be poor in quality. He emphasized the importance of having a well-written script for a movie.

Gunn consistently emphasizes that DC Studios won’t initiate production on any project until they have a completed screenplay or teleplay in hand. Given the recent trend of screenwriters moving from films to TV shows with more creative control, DC Studios is making an effort to prioritize and empower writers.

Gunn emphasized the significance of writers in movie production: they deserve fair compensation, have a say in casting decisions, and should be involved throughout the creative process. He lamented their marginalization over the past two decades as a major factor contributing to subpar films.

Additionally, he voiced sentiments similar to those expressed earlier regarding the condition of the DC brand prior to the establishment of DC Studios by Warner Bros. Discovery. In essence, he conveyed a feeling that the DC characters were being carelessly distributed to anyone interested, with no one effectively overseeing their preservation and value, much like a neglected mint.

What we aimed to introduce [in DC] was a sense of uniformity, yet not in reference to the tone; instead, each project under DC Studios is unique and distinct.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled about the upcoming projects from DC Studios! Following Gunn’s Silver Age-inspired Superman film, we have the second season of his acclaimed HBO Max series, Peacemaker. Unlike its predecessor, this season is rated TV-MA and shares a universe with the PG-13 Superman, offering a different tone but still part of the same world.

Next summer, we can look forward to the Supergirl movie, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, the Kryptonian cousin of David Corenswet’s Man of Steel. Also in the pipeline is Clayface, a smaller-budgeted body horror film written by horror master Mike Flanagan, set for release in late 2026.

Lastly, HBO’s Lanterns, reminiscent of True Detective, is expected to air on the network next year. Can’t wait!

James Gunn mentioned that our lineup includes Superman, followed by Peacemaker season 2 – a darker, adult-oriented series. Next up is Lanterns, a realistic HBO production, then Supergirl, which offers a space fantasy experience, and finally Clayface, an intense R-rated horror film. Gunn emphasized that he wants each of these projects to stand out distinctly.

Currently, DC Studios’ Superman is showing in cinemas. Peacemaker’s second season debuts on HBO Max on August 21, with HBO’s Lanterns set to premiere tentatively in early 2026. Theatrical releases for Supergirl are scheduled for June 26, 2026, and Clayface will follow suit on September 11, 2026.

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2025-07-16 00:15