Is DC Studios new hero James Gunn?
Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it’s James Gunn carrying DC Studios out of its theatrical slump.
DC Studios
It’s been four years since Gunn released his first film with DC, The Suicide Squad, and three years since he and Peter Safran were announced to take control of the studios. DC Studios has changed significantly since.
Henry Cavill announced to his fans in 2022 that he wouldn’t be continuing as Superman just two months after returning to the role in Black Adam. A split in the fandom has been evident ever since, with many rooting for Justice League director Zack Snyder to come back, while others believe James Gunn is the best thing to happen to the franchise.
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The new DC Universe is trying hard to separate itself from the DC Extended Universe under Snyder and the big superhero franchise, Marvel Studios. During the time that has seen Marvel have six films inside the top twenty highest-grossing films ever, DC has struggled to keep a high production level. But this year, Gunn’s Superman grossed more than the three films by Marvel – Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Youtuber and theorist for Heavy Spoilers, MT Mastertainment said: “The stories seem more focused on character development over spectacle. And that's super important because that's why people invest in cinematic universes. We all want to check in on our favourite fictional heroes because they've connected with our hearts in a meaningful way.”
James Gunn has showcased how talented he is at working with lesser-known characters on many occasions. The most successful time was Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Before this film was released in 2014, these characters weren’t well-known, but the film grossed almost $800 million, and now they are household names with a global audience.
The depth that he goes into with these characters is what makes a franchise so immersive. Taking a character like Peacemaker, who has never been used in a live adaptation, is harder for the audience to connect with. But Gunn does this well. He has spoken about how some characters he’s used have rare appearances in the comics, so he has been able to create aspects to them. This is what he did with Vigilante from the Peacemaker series, and he’s now one of the most loved people in the DCU.
However, Gunn has only had one film out since he became CEO of DC Studios, and as there are two films in the schedule for next year, it will show what the future really looks like.
Writer for ComicBook, Marco Vito-Oddo said: “We have yet to see any project Gunn oversees as CEO of DC Studios, instead of writer/director. Those demand different sets of skills, and the health of the DCU depends on other creators developing projects that resonate with audiences. That's why, despite a great year for DC, 2026 will be the true test of the DCU's long-term viability.”
The writer and now CEO is a comic book fan himself, which means he puts his passion into his work, but he also understands how it feels to be a fan. Particularly, he enjoys responding to fan theories and questions on the social media page Threads. Answering questions from fans and being active on social media is what makes Gunn the best person to take on a franchise with a big global audience.
James Gunn on Threads
With Warner Bros Discovery being sold, and it being likely they are bought by Paramount-Skydance, Gunn and Safran are expected to stay in their positions. The three projects they have done since 2023 – Superman, Peacemaker season two, and Creature Commandos series – have all gotten great reviews of over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Multiple projects are in the pipeline up to 2027, when the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow hits cinemas, and they are the ones that will prove whether this DC Studios can have an equal fight with the busy Marvel Studios.