Are James Gunn's Resurfaced BATMAN Comments REALLY Cause For Concern Ahead Of DCU Relaunch?

Are James Gunn's Resurfaced BATMAN Comments REALLY Cause For Concern Ahead Of DCU Relaunch?

Alongside Peter Safran, James Gunn is calling the shots at DC Studios in an effort to reboot the DCU. However, should his disdain for Tim Burton's Batman leave us worried about the future?

Editorial Opinion
By JoshWilding - Aug 29, 2023 12:08 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman

When James Gunn decided to share his political stance on social media, it took no time at all for some offensive jokes he once made - and had already apologised for - to be dragged up and used against him. Disney panicked and fired the filmmaker from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, prompting the movie's cast to very publicly oppose the decision; Warner Bros., meanwhile, wasted no time in hiring Gunn to take charge of The Suicide Squad

Now, something similar has happened thanks to the emergence of comments made over a decade ago which saw Gunn make it abundantly clear that he hated Tim Burton's Batman and wasn't blown away by Christopher Nolan's eventual reboot, Batman Begins, either. 

We're not sure if it's the extreme SnyderVerse loyalists or simply those disappointed to bid farewell to the DCEU, but there are now many fans eager to point out that these opinions surely mean Gunn isn't the right person to take charge of DC Studios and the new DCU.

What a load of bullsh*t. 

As fans, we all have very different opinions. One person's masterpiece is a prime example of the worst the comic book movie genre has to offer. I unashamedly love Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice; it's not perfect, but I love it nonetheless. Opinions can also change and mature; there are movies I've praised - Star Wars: The Last Jedi - which, while excellent from a filmmaking level, have not aged well or are not necessarily worthy of such worship with the benefit of hindsight. Then, there are movies I really like (Eternals) and dislike (Venom) which, despite that not being the prevailing opinion online, I have zero plans to change my mind about. It is what it is, but if you feel differently...I don't really care and neither should you. 

The point is, if Gunn doesn't like those movies, it really doesn't matter. Not liking Burton's interpretation of the Dark Knight does not mean the filmmaker doesn't understand who the character is. Based on his comic book recommendations alone, it's apparent he has a very eclectic, specific taste with these DC characters and, ultimately, that's going to translate to the screen in a way some fans are pleased with and others are not. I'd have liked to see Ant-Man and The Wasp assemble alongside the rest of Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers Mansion, but eh, it wasn't meant to be and we instead got the MCU's take on The Ultimates. 

Talking of Marvel Studios, Gunn's work on the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise was impeccable. He put those characters on the map. I didn't like The Suicide Squad anywhere near as much, but Peacemaker is utterly phenomenal. To say he's unfit to oversee the DCU because of a "controversial" opinion that differs from how the majority seemingly feel is laughable. Sure, there's a chance this meant he was less inclined to keep Keaton around for Warner Bros.' planned Batman Beyond movie but if we start trying to figure out and analyse every decision made by a studio boss, we'll all be left with a headache. 

I'd argue that Gunn has, in fact, already made some questionable decisions with the DCU; there is no part of me that can understand why Andy Muschietti would be hired for The Brave and the Bold after delivering The Flash. However, he's made a lot of fantastic ones as well. Only time will tell whether he's the right person to steer this ship, but at the moment, it's sinking because the DCEU's days are quite obviously done. 

So, yeah, Gunn might hate the Batman movie you grew up with and we'll admit it's hard to appreciate why he didn't like Batman Begins (however, as he's a comic book purist, the answer might be self-explanatory). That doesn't mean he can't run DC Studios. So, give him a chance and, if it doesn't work out...well, we doubt it will be because he thinks Jack Nicholson's Joker sucked.

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Thing94
Thing94 - 8/29/2023, 12:06 PM
Yes! He did not like the original Batman's anything? Design, look, tone? And he didn't like Batman Begins?

Very concerning.
pitbull76
pitbull76 - 8/29/2023, 12:08 PM
@Thing94 - Not as concerning as how many article's this story is going to turn into.
Matador
Matador - 8/29/2023, 12:08 PM
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 8/29/2023, 12:09 PM
It sure as f*ck doesn't make me jolly, i'll tell you that much...
MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 8/29/2023, 12:11 PM
Isn't really a good sign is it?
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 8/29/2023, 12:12 PM
This mf thinks Batman Begins is not even a good movie...
?si=3_rrI5f98tLBuZB8

But The Flash is the greatest cbm ever?

We are doomed, no wonder he hired Muschietti for Batman the brave and the Bold.
iceballsreborn
iceballsreborn - 8/29/2023, 12:30 PM
@Doomsday8888 - its 2/3 decent. that final act is poop. come on, microwave sewer gas?
newhire13
newhire13 - 8/29/2023, 1:01 PM
@Doomsday8888 - So? He also called the 1978 Superman movie one of his favorite comic book movies. Y’all are getting worked up over absolutely nothing.
The1st
The1st - 8/29/2023, 2:01 PM
@Doomsday8888 - Would love to see the hatfields and mcco...er snyderfans and nolanites engage in glorious combat.

?si=u8kVEGdHIBvLxV-h
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/29/2023, 3:31 PM
@iceballsreborn - better than microwaved babies.
soupysales
soupysales - 8/29/2023, 4:08 PM
@newhire13 - right?...a persons opinion 10 years ago...who cares what movies he does and doesn't like...is it a slow news day?...or do some people just like to see these kinds of headlines, than come on and, what is it called now?..."virtue signalling"?...trying to shout out their own nerd credibility...lord...of course i come on these stories to see how screwed up and crazy people get, so theres that
iceballsreborn
iceballsreborn - 8/30/2023, 10:28 AM
@ObserverIO - i agree. that was one of the weirdest most disturbing things ins= a family movie ive seen. and the wierd cgi made it look so creepy
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 8/29/2023, 12:12 PM
Josh setting the table for his afternoon feeding...

Ryos
Ryos - 8/29/2023, 12:17 PM
@WhatIfRickJames - perfect use of sir Colin Robinson
Matador
Matador - 8/29/2023, 12:23 PM
@WhatIfRickJames - LMAO has Josh ever responded to anyone I've never seen his avatar in a long time but that's freaking genius.
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 8/29/2023, 12:37 PM
@Matador - Colin Wildingson
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 8/29/2023, 12:40 PM
@Matador - he was mingling amongst the unwashed last week. The Marks are typically much more interactive
HammerLegFoot
HammerLegFoot - 8/29/2023, 12:57 PM
@Matador - He actually just responded to someone on the Suicide Squad post. For as long as I been on this website, since at least 2010. No one has ever liked Josh. He blocked me on twitter cause he kept posting articles that other people had already posted and I told him
Matador
Matador - 8/29/2023, 1:46 PM
@WhatIfRickJames - LOL well damn
Matador
Matador - 8/29/2023, 1:47 PM
@HammerLegFoot - I'm gonna go see now.
Matador
Matador - 8/29/2023, 1:51 PM
@HammerLegFoot - I think he blocked me or he deleted the message but I can't think of anything that I've said negatively if not defended him but oh well.
Himura
Himura - 8/29/2023, 3:32 PM
@WhatIfRickJames - Josh saw how much traffic and toxicity the last article about this got and wanted a piece of the action
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