THE SUICIDE SQUAD Director James Gunn Teases Working On Another DC Project After PEACEMAKER

THE SUICIDE SQUAD Director James Gunn Teases Working On Another DC Project After PEACEMAKER

James Gunn is expected to move on to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after finishing Peacemaker, but it sounds like he has at least one more DC Comics project planned for the not too distant future...

By JoshWilding - Feb 23, 2021 07:02 AM EST
Filed Under: The Suicide Squad

After being fired by Disney for some past Tweets, Guardians of the Galaxy writer and director James Gunn wasted no time in making the leap to the DC Extended Universe. Signing up to take the helm of The Suicide Squad, the filmmaker has reinvented Task Force X, and is now developing a Peacemaker TV series for HBO Max starring John Cena. 

Of course, Gunn has since signed up to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but he may have at least one more DC project to squeeze in before then. 

Asked by a fan if he's working on any other DC projects beyond The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker during a recent Instagram Q&A, Gunn responded: "Maybe just a little. One toe dipped in." This is definitely interesting, and could signal Gunn's involvement with another of the DC TV shows currently in the works (perhaps he'll write or direct an episode of The Batman spinoff, for example).

Something that's bound to get fans speculating, however, is what Gunn said when asked specifically about a working with Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie again. "Margot and I discussed this just the other day," he teased. "We will have to see what happens!"

Some might argue that Harley needs a fresh coat of paint after Birds of Prey underperformed, and Gunn could be the perfect person to help with that after reintroducing her in The Suicide Squad.

We know Warner Bros. offered Gunn Superman at one point, so we'll see how things play out from here...


What mistakes did Warner Bros. make with Wonder
Woman 1984
? Click the "Next" button below to find out!

10. Building The Story Around The MacGuffin

Dreamstone

There's nothing wrong with a superhero film having a MacGuffin, but in Wonder Woman 1984, the story is completely beholden to the Dreamstone. 

Everything that happens is a direct result of its existence, and the way events escalate because of it both overcomplicates things and leaves us with a list of niggling, frustrating questions. Why, for example, does Max Lord go from wanting oil reserves to willingly sending the world to war?

He has nothing to gain from that, and is clearly smart enough to realise so.

Instead, as his health fails (which could have been easily remedied), so does his common sense, and it becomes increasingly difficult to buy into the rules of this particular MacGuffin.
 

9. Revisiting Steve Trevor

Trevor

Steve Trevor's death in Wonder Woman was heartbreaking, not least because it meant saying goodbye to a character who should have become a fixture in Diana Prince's life.

Bringing him back in Wonder Woman 1984, and revealing that Diana Prince has spent decades wallowing after him, is just plain depressing, though. It's not you can even argue that Wonder Woman gets a sense of closure here because she was still clearly mourning in Justice League.

Chris Pine is great, but it feels a lot like the main reason for bringing him back was because bankable actor Chris Pine had a sequel option in his contract. 

Retreading the fish out of water trope also did little to help.
 

8. The Main Antagonist Became The Secondary Villain

Cheetah

In the build up to Wonder Woman 1984's release, Cheetah was marketed as the film's primary antagonist and often cloaked in secrecy (a first look came thanks to promo art and toys). 

Dr. Barbara Minerva is given a key role in the sequel, but Cheetah is an afterthought. Appearing near the end of the film's final act, she battles Wonder Woman once, loses relatively quickly, then renounces her wish, becomes Barbara again, and learns...life was better when no one paid any attention to her because she's not hot enough? 

It's a weird storyline that only becomes sillier the more time you spend thinking about it. 

However, you choose to look at it, Cheetah was wasted, and fans didn't get what they were promised. 
 

7. 1984

WW1

One of Wonder Woman 1984's biggest mistakes is right there in the title. 

When the script was written, we have no doubt everyone's revitalized love of the 1980s (primarily thanks to Stranger Things, it seems) was high in the minds of Patty Jenkins and Geoff Johns. 

Unfortunately, the constant release date delays make this sequel feel stale, even if Jenkins' unique visuals help it stand out. Revisiting the past was the biggest mistake, however, especially when the time had clearly come to follow Diana Prince's story in the present day. 

A host of continuity errors caused by this trip to the 1980s have just annoyed fans, especially with it now clear that the Amazon was never truly in hiding.
 

6. A New Costume With No Meaning

WW11

Gosh, that Golden Eagle armor sure did look cool on all those posters, eh?

Actually, it looks pretty rad in the film itself too, but Wonder Woman 1984 fails to ever really justify why it should be there. While Diana Prince is bested by Dr. Barbara Minerva in the White House, that's primarily because her powers are fading. When the Amazon dons this armor, she's regained her abilities, and has no clue her friend has become Cheetah.

It protects her to a degree in that fight, but the wings are quickly destroyed, and the helmet is also ditched early on. It just becomes another costume, and not one Diana really needed.

Trust us on this one; the Golden Eagle armor was made for marketing, not fans.
 

5. Lack Of Originality

WW112

What does Wonder Woman 1984 bring to the table we haven't seen before? 

There's a lot about this sequel which should be applauded, but it ultimately fails to really do anything new for the character or the DCEU. As noted, a 1980s setting feels stale at this point, while everything from a rock that grants wishes to an ill-fated romance and a good person who becomes a villain have been done before.

And done better. 

Breaking the mould in the superhero genre isn't easy, but whereas Wonder Woman presented fresh ideas, this sequel sorely lacks the sort of originality needed to make it a true hit.
 

4. Too Much Romance, Not Enough Action 

WW1123

There are a lot of good things to be said about the romance between Diana Prince and Steve Trevor, with the chemistry between Gal Gadot and Chris Pine clear for everyone to see. 

However, the love story too often dominates proceedings. 

It's an important part of the genre, but does anyone come into a film like Wonder Woman 1984 hoping for romance more than blockbuster action scenes? The sequel does deliver some stellar set pieces, but they feel too few and far between, especially in a film that's bloated at 150 minutes long. 

Films like this need more than just action, but there's almost too much character work here, most of which feels unnecessary (did Maxwell Lord really need a son to make him sympathetic?).
 

3. Failing To Embrace The Comics

WW11233

Wonder Woman 1984 certainly doesn't disrespect the comics it's inspired by, and there are times when it embraces them in ways we can't help but appreciate like the Invisible Jet's debut. 

In other ways, it feels like this sequel needed to spend more time taking its cues from them, however.

We're not necessarily saying this would have made the film better, but just imagine Diana Prince being left with no other choice than to break Maxwell Lord's neck to stop him? That's a very famous comic moment, and one that would explain why Diana - traumatized by her actions - chose to hide herself from the world.

Cheetah might have also benefited from being a little more like the comic book villain. 
 

2. A Predictable Outcome

WW112333

The second it became clear Wonder Woman's powers were fading, and that using the Dreamstone had negative consequences, who didn't see Steve Trevor's second sacrifice coming? 

We know that he's not part of Diana Prince's life a few decades after this film is set, so his demise was inevitable. It's also no secret that the DCEU didn't fall into a nuclear war in the 1980s, so is it really that shocking when Maxwell Lord renounces his wish and the Amazon saves the day? 

There's too much predictability in Wonder Woman 1984, and that hinders this film. 

Lynda Carter's cameo is a nice surprise, and probably the only legitimately shocking moment in 150 minutes.
 

1. Lack Of Ties To The Wider DCEU

WW1123332

You can blame Marvel Studios for this, or simply the nature of comics themselves, but fans go into films like Wonder Woman 1984 expecting world building and ties to other characters they love.

Aquaman scaled that back after the negative response to Justice League, but mentions of the team were appreciated, as was the way it completely changed Arthur Curry's status quo. Now, when he next crosses paths with his fellow superheroes, he's the motherf***ing King of Atlantis. 

Some familiar names aside, this sequel does little to connect itself to the wider DCEU.

It's too standalone in a lot of ways, and contradicts much of what's been seen before. Why didn't Diana Prince use her powers of flight and invisibility when appearing in the present day? 
 

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BraveNewClunge
BraveNewClunge - 2/23/2021, 7:32 AM
Erm wtf..... James is there something you wanna get off your chest?
aresww3
aresww3 - 2/23/2021, 7:40 AM
@ClungeSeid - Am i the only one not looking forward to this marvel ripoff. just looks dumb.
Se4M4NSt4ine
Se4M4NSt4ine - 2/23/2021, 7:41 AM
@aresww3 - I don’t think it can be considered a Marvel rip off when it’s R-Rated man...
BraveNewClunge
BraveNewClunge - 2/23/2021, 7:44 AM
@aresww3 - I will use my god like powers and scan the comment section then get back to you with an answer. 🤔
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 2/23/2021, 7:33 AM
If they ever do it, I think Gotham City Sirens could happen with Gunn. He doesn't seem to shy away from using not-good characters, so maybe I guess that could be it.
RolandD
RolandD - 2/23/2021, 8:01 AM
@bkmeijer - Those are great characters, IMHO although they certainly aren't top tier characters either, although maybe that's what you were getting at.
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 2/23/2021, 8:10 AM
@RolandD - yeah, kinda. Gunn doesn't seem to want to work with well established characters and superhero types. Think that might also be part of why he declined to work on Superman
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 2/23/2021, 8:49 AM
@bkmeijer - Gunn has always said he was a fan of DC's Metal Men. I think WB is already making a straight to dvd DC animated film for Metal Men just because he mentioned it in an interview lol. I think he will probably do a live movie for that if he decides to stick with DC. I doubt Gunn wants to adapt any well known characters.
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 2/23/2021, 9:00 AM
@mastakilla39 - really? What I know of them, seems like right up Gunn's alley to me too
Kumkani
Kumkani - 2/23/2021, 7:37 AM
If The Suicide Squad is good then why not?
tmp3
tmp3 - 2/23/2021, 7:39 AM
WB seems to love Gunn, could see him sticking around
Dredd97
Dredd97 - 2/23/2021, 8:06 AM
@tmp3 - they seem to give him carte blanche with all the characters he loves
MaxPaint
MaxPaint - 2/23/2021, 7:39 AM
Whatever James Gunn does, I'll watch it.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 2/23/2021, 7:40 AM
Carnage1991
Carnage1991 - 2/23/2021, 7:42 AM
Maybe a Harley Quinn HBO Max series?
inkniron
inkniron - 2/23/2021, 7:51 AM
Hopefully she get's a fresh coat of paint in TSS and it covers the stink of the first 2 appearances.
Blergh
Blergh - 2/23/2021, 7:53 AM
Oughta be Suicide Squad 3, right?

I would really dig a third one that pits the two vastly different styles of 1 and 2 against each other.
Have the off-beat team consisting of Harley, Ratcatcher, King Shark, Capt. Boomerang, Weasel and Peacemaker go up against the more straight-edge team of Deadshot, Bloodsport, Rick Flagg, Katana and Killer Croc while one team attempts to kill Waller while the other attempts to defend her. Having these two styles clash would be dope
RolandD
RolandD - 2/23/2021, 7:59 AM
If I recall correctly, Gunn was certainly not happy with WB's decision for their 2021 flicks, but this and another comment/CBM story makes it sound like they've kissed and made up.
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 2/23/2021, 8:16 AM
@RolandD - Probably gave him the same perk deal they gave Patty Jenkins, which was a huge factor is the disagreement between directors and WB/AT&T; they got crumbs compared to her.
RolandD
RolandD - 2/23/2021, 8:22 AM
@DannRamm113 - Makes sense.
Dredd97
Dredd97 - 2/23/2021, 8:07 AM
I saw on his story he had Glenn Howerton as his second choice for Star-Lord, and I would've loved to see how that turned out
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