DC Studios Boss James Gunn Explains Why He's Skipping Superman And Batman's Origin Stories In The DCU

DC Studios Boss James Gunn Explains Why He's Skipping Superman And Batman's Origin Stories In The DCU

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has hit back at a fan who expressed concern over Batman and Superman not getting extensive origin stories in the new DCU. He also defended plans for a Swamp Thing movie...

By JoshWilding - Nov 22, 2024 03:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman

Creature Commandos is right around the corner and the hope among fans is that the Max animated series will set the tone for the DCU and perhaps even answer a few lingering questions everyone has about this reboot.

There are already rumblings about a Batman appearance, suggesting the Dark Knight is an established hero in this world. That's something we took as a given when it was made clear The Brave and the Bold will introduce the hero's 10-year-old son, Damian, as Robin. 

Answering a fan on social media, DC Studios co-CEO and Superman director James Gunn explained why he intends to skip the origin stories of both the Man of Tomorrow and Batman. 

"I’m not telling Batman and Superman’s origin stories again because everyone knows them," he noted before launching into a defence of James Mangold's plans for a Swamp Thing movie. 

"Don’t put Swamp Thing in the corner. That’s a project in development we’ve actually announced, and he’s an incredibly well-known character with not only some of the greatest comics of all time but a successful film series and his own TV show, something that could be said of only a very small handful of DC characters," the filmmaker stated. 

Gunn is right about Batman and Superman's respective origins being well-known enough to gloss over and we're sure you'll remember that Marvel Studios came to a similar conclusion with Spider-Man in 2016. At this stage, does anyone really want to see Thomas and Martha Wayne gunned down again? And how many times can we watch Krypton explode? 

Back to Swamp Thing, and we'd agree this fan was way off base suggesting a character like that getting his own movie will alienate non-fans. After all, the same could have once been said for the Guardians of the Galaxy! Gunn would later add, "Again, it’s just two DC characters: Batman and Superman. And [the DCU] is definitely for everyone."

Matt Reeves also made a point of glossing over the Caped Crusader's origin by setting The Batman in "Year Two" and no one seemed to have an issue with that. 

You can check out the filmmaker and studio executive's comments in full below. 

Superman tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

David Corenswet is playing the Man of Steel, while Rachel Brosnahan has been tapped to star as Lois Lane.

The cast includes Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer.

Supporting characters include Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Pruitt Taylor Vince as Pa Kent, Neva Howell as Ma Kent, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, Christopher MacDonald as Ron Troupe, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Milly Alcock as Supergirl.

Superman is currently set to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 11/22/2024, 3:16 PM
By far the best decision he could make with these two characters. Retelling their origins outside of a brief flashback/conversation would just be a waste of time.
Fogs
Fogs - 11/22/2024, 4:54 PM
@TheJok3r - YES. A hundred percent.

Show flashback snippets, if any. Everybody knows about those, we don't need to see 'em for the millionth time.
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 11/22/2024, 3:17 PM
I can't believe i'm about to write this...But I AGREE with James Gunn.

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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 11/22/2024, 3:27 PM
Good on Gunn for his defense of Swamp Thing and just more obscure or lesser known characters in general.

Do people really want just the same heroes all the time because that would be boring imo…

Doing characters that have been less exposed or audiences aren’t all that familiar with is a good thing since if the movie attracts them enough then they can come & see the film whose ultimate goal is to have you connect with that version.

Hell , it’s like people forget that The MCU made their name of doing those type of characters hence why I severely despise when people say “no one asked for this”.

Also thank god for no Supes or Batman origin.
RolandD
RolandD - 11/22/2024, 7:11 PM
@TheVisionary25 - Iron Man was considered a third tier superhero when they were making his movie. Where are all the people who were saying no one asked for that? That said, casting RDJ in the role was genius. Tom Cruise couldn’t have done any better, not even close.
xfactor
xfactor - 11/22/2024, 3:28 PM
There's no need for them. He's absolutely right on this. We don't need to see the explosion of krypton or the pearls fall in crime alley again. We know already.
TheFox
TheFox - 11/22/2024, 3:30 PM
I can't believe the nerve of that fanboy.

But yeah-- OBVIOUSLY we don't need to recap Batman or Superman's origins AGAIN. Ffs, The Batman didn't feel the need to do a Batman origin flashback, but we still got enough information that we knew all the most pertinent details for the story Matt Reeves was telling.

These characters are pop culture institutions. We don't need to keep being re-introduced to them.

Z
Forthas
Forthas - 11/22/2024, 3:34 PM
Not telling the origin stories of Batman and Superman is extraordinarily dumb idea. One of the ways to know a superhero is to understand the things that shaped them. I have no idea why Robert Pattinson dresses up like a Bat. I know why Christian Bale's Batman does. You wnat to know why? Because there was an origin story.

I have no idea why Pattinson's Batman knows how to fight, how he was trained and why he trusts Jim Gordon so much. The fact these factors are not explored makes it less likely anyone can relate to this Batman. It is lazy and again shows the studio's desperation to match Marvels output.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 11/22/2024, 3:44 PM
@Forthas - I was thinking that I would try to make an alt just to parody this account, but it's finally clear to me that this account IS a parody of relentlessly contrary, monomaniacal fanboy culture. Well done! You had me going for a while.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 11/22/2024, 4:19 PM
@Clintthahamster - dude thinks Man of Steel is high art and hasn't been able to move past WB moving off of Cavil.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 11/22/2024, 4:31 PM
@McMurdo - Like, if one knows why Christian Bale dresses like a bat, one knows why Robert Pattinson dresses like a bat. Why does Robert Pattinson's Batman know how to fight, why does he trust Jim Gordon? It's because he's Batman, and Batman does those things. It's actually pretty easy to understand.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 11/22/2024, 4:36 PM
@Clintthahamster - precisely. It's a ridiculous argument. Not a soul on planet earth doesn't know why Bruce Wayne wears a bat suit at night.
DTor91
DTor91 - 11/22/2024, 4:41 PM
@Forthas - You do know all these things, you’re just choosing to play ignorant for sake of argument.

And if you really truly do need everything spelled out for you, that’s a you problem.
Forthas
Forthas - 11/22/2024, 4:44 PM
@DTor91 - Is that right? Why does Robert Pattinson's Batman dress up like a bat? Please enlighten us?
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 11/22/2024, 5:11 PM
@Forthas - did part of this thread just disappear? It says you responded to me and now I can't see anything.
Forthas
Forthas - 11/22/2024, 5:13 PM
@TheFinestSmack - I did reposnd! I guess the moderator deleted it!
MahN166A
MahN166A - 11/22/2024, 5:15 PM
@Forthas -

"Why does Robert Pattinson's Batman dress up like a bat? Please enlighten us?"

Let me help you out:

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MahN166A
MahN166A - 11/22/2024, 5:17 PM
@McMurdo -

"dude thinks Man of Steel is high art and hasn't been able to move past WB moving off of Cavil. "

WHOA WHOA WHOA! Shame on you, McMurdo!
I think of Man of Steel is quality too but I ain't nowhere near as dense as this dude.
(I know you weren't directing this to me, but I just wanted to feel special and add myself to the proceedings.....I'm lonely.

...just....sad and lonely)
Forthas
Forthas - 11/22/2024, 5:20 PM
@MahN166A - THAT IS WHY HE FIGHTS CRIME!!!! WHY IS HE DOING IT AS A BAT?????
Forthas
Forthas - 11/22/2024, 5:32 PM
@MahN166A - ....and further more...here is a convenient walk down memory lane of the Wayne murders...

https://www.dc.com/blog/2023/09/13/the-evolution-of-batman-s-origin

Notice how many versions there are...sometimes Martha was shot...sometimes she died of a heart attack. Sometimes it was Joe Chill who shot the Waynes sometimes it was not. In one instance Bruce was a teenager. How is an audience supposed to know from which point of view the movie is drawing from? You know how? Tell an origin story!

This is so ridiculous! James Gunn just finished talking about how canon is what people individually percieve and that it changes. Well if it changes then establishing an orgin story is establishing canon for his universe as opposed to people having to guess what it is which is exactly the issue facing him today with the fans.
MahN166A
MahN166A - 11/22/2024, 5:33 PM
@Forthas -

Oh that's easy too:

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(When he tells Chase Meridian about his past)

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Forthas
Forthas - 11/22/2024, 5:39 PM
@MahN166A - Oh but wait...what about this little article that claims that it is not the case. His true reasoning for dressing like a bat has to do with him learning about symbology in China. Seems a bit different than the films and other comics....

https://screenrant.com/batman-symbol-secret-origin-why-he-needs-codename/#:~:text=However%2C%20while%20it%20is%20commonly,as%20a%20budding%20crime%20fighter.
MahN166A
MahN166A - 11/22/2024, 5:42 PM
@Forthas -

First off, the general origin story which is used almost 100% of the time, is that Joe Chill shot and killed the Wayne's in Crime Alley and its been shown in various mediums. At this point, SEVERAL DECADES after the character's first comic book issue, if you are buying a ticket to a see a Batman film and you don't know this by now, you wasted your money and don't belong in that theater. Period.

We live in a time where you can google for an answer within 10 seconds. Shit, there are 2 hour long fan made documentaries with people discussing character origins as if they run their own History Channel.

So I say this to the person who TRULY DOES NOT KNOW by this point who Batman is, and what his origin is...
If you bought a ticket without doing research before hand, and you are asking that question: "Why a bat?", you're a dumbass! Plain and simple.
I could care less what a general audience member is looking for in terms of an origin story. Watch the other bat films, read some comics, watch the TAS, yadda yadda yadda. Do the required work that comes with being a FAN.

We don't need an explanation as to "WHY A BAT?" or "Who killed Bruce's Parents??", "Why are his motivations with being Batman?", "What's his one rule?!?!?" This shit has been covered several times already. Move on! Let's get to different villains we haven't seen, let's get to some good story adaptations from the comics!

Just because some people are behind the curve doesn't mean the rest of us have to slow down.

Damn....
This is why I approve of gatekeeping.
MahN166A
MahN166A - 11/22/2024, 5:44 PM
@Forthas - Yeah, that's obvious and the reason he uses a Bat for symbology is different from the first few comics compared to Batman Begins. What's your point??
Again, we don't need an explanation.

Generally, he uses a Bat as an Omen and is a terrifying creature of the night that he in turn wants to use to frighten others who commit evil.
If someone needs this spoon-fed to them EVERY TIME, then they don't belong in the fandom.
Forthas
Forthas - 11/22/2024, 5:51 PM
@MahN166A - But is funny you did not know these various origin stories but you assume everyone knows and accepts the origin story you buy. Tim Burton WHO MADE a Batman film changed the origin or maybe did not know it. It is beyond ridiculous for you to label people "dumb asses if they are confused by the MANY origin stories that exists about Batman. I have not even touched on Superman just because i am tired of typing.

"If someone needs this spoon-fed to them EVERY TIME, then they don't belong in the fandom."

...and this attitude is why DC is the cinematic failure it is, a designation that is soon to be extended by James Gunn.
MahN166A
MahN166A - 11/22/2024, 5:53 PM
@Forthas -

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Forthas
Forthas - 11/22/2024, 5:55 PM
@MahN166A -

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Batmangina
Batmangina - 11/22/2024, 3:36 PM
At this point, does ANY CBM need an origin story?

With 20 years of Comic Book Movies and the [frick]ing internet, people can figure shit out.

Jesus. If anyone doesn't know the origin of Batman or Superman and STILL goes to see the movie, who [frick]ing cares?
Scarilian
Scarilian - 11/22/2024, 3:38 PM
@Batmangina -
If the origin and beginning of a character is unimportant, why would anyone give a shit about the rest of the journey of that character?

Why have a cinematic universe if you won't tell the whole story?
Batmangina
Batmangina - 11/22/2024, 3:45 PM
@Scarilian - So every comic book you ever read or collected started with the first issue of each book?

That's an amazing streak.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 11/22/2024, 3:55 PM
@Batmangina -
A majority of reboots find a way of explaining the core storyline of the character and almost always revisit the origin further down the line.

All avoiding showing the origin now means for Gunn's attempt at a cinematic universe is that we'll either see it later down the line when it's eventually rolled into a future storyline OR it'll never be shown and we'll not get to have seen that part of these characters development.

Personally I'd rather have a story be told in a linear sense, the heroes journey is one of the most popular narrative structures for a reason.
Batmangina
Batmangina - 11/22/2024, 4:16 PM
@Scarilian - If Gunn and any of the other PTB want a cohesive TV/Film/Streaming universe, they could always take a page (pun intended) from the source material and do a Secret Origins show.

Instead of worthless tripe like Secret Invasion, Ms. Marvel or She-Hulk that wasted 100s of millions of dollars, they could have done origin stories on any number of characters and actually seeing what people responded to but nope, we'll get [frick]ing Ironheart and Wonder Man for no [frick]ing reason whatsoever.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 11/22/2024, 4:19 PM
@Scarilian - why have a cinematic universe at all of youre simply regurgitating past films?
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/22/2024, 6:00 PM
@Batmangina - "So every comic book you ever read or collected started with the first issue of each book?"
but those first issues should still exist for those who want to start at the beginning of the story.

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Are you saying that when you start a new streaming show you start from a random episode 5 seasons in?
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/22/2024, 6:15 PM
@ObserverIO - if that show was the fifth iteration with the same origin, yeah I would
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/22/2024, 6:18 PM
@bobevanz - No if it was Season 5. You wouldn't start from S5 E7, you'd start from S1 E1. That's what people do.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/22/2024, 6:21 PM
@bobevanz - Also, no you wouldn't. Even if it was the fifth iteration you're not just gonna skip multiple seasons and episodes just because you saw the original.

You would start halfway through the Battlestar Galactica reboot just because you saw the original series.

You don't skip Daredevil S1-3 just because you saw the Batfleck movie.
Batmangina
Batmangina - 11/22/2024, 6:35 PM
@ObserverIO - No, but I am a fan of the cold open or the out of order narrative style that Tarantino made popular.

I don't remember The Mandalorian starting with baby Mando putting on a helmet in Episode One and that was the best thing D+ has created.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 11/22/2024, 3:37 PM
The appeal of cinematic universes is starting at the start, seeing these characters from their humble beginnings as they grow to become the characters that we know and love. Seeing this development is what helps people get attached to them easier.

Sure everyone may know that Bruce Wayne becomes Batman when his parents get shot, but it's experiencing that trauma with him and seeing him come back from that, seeing his lowest point that makes us understand why he is Batman and make us see things from his perspective.

In a similar regard Superman's moral standing and his view of the world is based on his upbringing on the Kent farm. If you skip that then you've removed a large part of his origin. If you skip the destruction of Krypton you will always have that lingering question of how Krypton was destroyed. Was it captured by Braniac like some adaptations? Was it destroyed by its own devices? Destroyed by Darkseid? You need to show the destruction of Krypton to establish a canon.

All I see is Gunn trying to build a cinematic universe by skipping the foundation in order to rush to characters he'd rather work with, using Superman and Batman as a way to sell to Warner Bros his idea of a cinematic universe, solely to set-up characters he actually wants to make a film about... which are naturally team-ups because he can't write solo movies about a character.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 11/22/2024, 4:23 PM
@Scarilian - that's what appeals to you, but some of the currently most successful shared cinematic universes would beg to differ.
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