James Gunn Initially Declined Superman Film, Found His Vision Years Later
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Warner Bros. Revelation’s enterprising reboot of its DC Universe owes much to the creative direction of James Gunn, but the director’s involvement with the man of Steel nearly never materialized. Initially hesitant to take on a Superman project in 2018, gunn ultimately found the “special idea” that led to the prosperous 2023 release starring david Corenswet, a film that has revitalized the franchise.
At the time, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) was reeling from the underperformance of “Justice League,” a film widely considered to be a critical and commercial disaster, leaving Warner Bros.uncertain about the future of its comic book adaptations. according to Gunn, he “was daunted by the task” and “wasn’t sure how [he] was going to do it.”
The situation was further complicated by the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Henry Cavill’s future with the DCEU. “If you remember, there was other stuff happening with Superman at the time… it was going to be politically messy,” Gunn explained during a Q&A event in London, as reported by IGN. Warner Bros. was reportedly considering a new direction for the character, perhaps sidelining Cavill. These factors contributed to Gunn’s initial reluctance to commit to the project.
The Allure of The Suicide Squad
Instead of Superman, Gunn opted to direct “The Suicide Squad” in 2021, a project that resonated with his creative sensibilities. He revealed that he was initially offered the Superman role by former Warner Bros. head Toby Emmerich, a proposal that excited Gunn’s producing partner, Peter Safran, who would later become his co-head of DC studios. However, when Gunn inquired about other possibilities, he was steered toward a “Suicide Squad” sequel.
“I was so jealous of [director] David Ayer when they did the first ‘Suicide Squad’ [in 2016] as that was one of my favorite comics,” Gunn told The New York Times, explaining why he “jumped at that and didn’t do ‘superman’ because that was more up [his] alley.” He also admitted to Entertainment Weekly that he simply “didn’t have that special idea of what that [film] would be” at the time.
The DCEU’s path continued to be turbulent in the years following “The Suicide Squad.” Dwayne Johnson’s efforts to integrate Henry Cavill back into the franchise with a cameo in “Black Adam” created further confusion, particularly as Warner Bros.had already indicated to Gunn in 2018 that they were planning to recast the role.
Adding to the complexity, Gunn was simultaneously given the green light to develop a new Superman movie while Johnson and Cavill were publicly announcing the character’s return. “To say he was confused by Cavill’s apparent return, then, is an understatement,” according to reports.
However, by that point, Gunn had finally conceived the vision he had previously lacked. With the approval of Warner CEO david Zaslav, he began writing a new Superman story. As he stated during his London Q&A,he “eventually [started] to think that maybe it was something [he] can do.” He ultimately decided to direct the film, marking a pivotal moment for the relaunched DC Universe.
A New Era for the Man of Steel
Gunn’s “Superman,” released in 2023, proved to be a critical and commercial success, signaling a departure from the darker, more cynical tone of previous DCEU films. The film introduced a fresh take on the iconic hero, embodied by David Corenswet, and offered a more optimistic and lighthearted approach to superhero storytelling. Audiences responded positively, and the film’s $615 million box office haul, despite a $255 million production budget, demonstrated the potential for a revitalized DC franchise. The success suggests a future filled with “goofy little guys” and a renewed focus on the inherent optimism of the superhero genre.
