James Gunn Discusses How SUPERMAN Sets The Tone For The DCU: "This Is 100% A James Gunn Movie..."

James Gunn Discusses How SUPERMAN Sets The Tone For The DCU: "This Is 100% A James Gunn Movie..."

DC Studios co-CEO and Superman writer and director James Gunn has explained how the upcoming reboot sets the tone for what comes next in the DCU. You can find the filmmaker's comments in full here...

By JoshWilding - Apr 02, 2025 11:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: Entertainment Weekly

Creature Commandos offered fans a glimpse of the new DCU, and for the most part, it wasn't that different - tonally, at least - from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. The main thing those films and TV shows have in common is that they were all helmed by James Gunn.

Does that mean Superman will boast the same look and feel? While there are recurring themes through the filmmaker's Marvel and DC work, Guardians of the Galaxy isn't The Suicide Squad, and this reboot is bound to feel vastly different give who the lead character is.

Entertainment Weekly recently spoke to Gunn and asked how Superman sets the tone for DC Studios' DCU. The movie will be followed by Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and then vastly different stories like Clayface and Sgt. Rock

"I think it's only setting the tone so far as that this is 100 percent a James Gunn movie," he explained, "and what I want with the future films is for them to be the same - not James Gunn movies, but when I talked to Craig Gillespie who's doing Supergirl, I said, 'I don't want all of these movies to be the same.'"

"What I love about DC Comics is that you can read a story like The Dark Knight, which is tonally very different because of its artist and writer than Superman for All Seasons, than All-Star Superman, than [Batman:] The Long Halloween. They're all these beautiful stories within the same world, but completely different. And that's what I think is exciting."

"I think that I learned from my time at Marvel," Gunn continued, "When Guardians of the Galaxy came out, people were like, 'Well, how is this raccoon going to interact with this God of Thunder who's been set up in a totally different type of movie?' And that was the thing that people liked the most about [Avengers:] Infinity War."

"So it's about really letting the artists create these unique visions that allow us to get to know these characters in different ways."

"I look forward to the time when these characters - one of them does show up pretty soon...two of them actually - so anyway, when they get to see them in a totally different light," he teased, "in a totally different genre and a film that isn't the big spectacle, action-adventure, maybe something more dramatic, maybe something more comedic, whatever, and see those characters in a slightly different light portrayed by the same actors."

The DC Studios co-CEO seems to have a great handle on Superman as a character. Plus, when he's citing comics like All-Star Superman as a main source of inspiration, this movie is unlikely to be as eccentric and weird as his previous comic book movies.

Despite a few reports about negative internal test screenings for Superman, the narrative has changed in recent weeks. Several insiders have shared the glowing feedback they've heard from those lucky enough to have seen an early cut, meaning the DCU is likely off to a good start. 

As for what comes next, it's going to be very interesting seeing how these movies and TV shows link up, particularly if Gunn is pushing for them all to be different from one another. 

Superman arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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Lisa89
Lisa89 - 4/2/2025, 11:19 AM
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McMurdo
McMurdo - 4/2/2025, 3:51 PM
@Lisa89 - "So it's about really letting the artists create these unique visions that allow us to get to know these characters in different ways."

It's the antithesis of how Feige went about the MCU as time went on. Early on the film's felt fairly distinct but homogeny won out.
CyberNigerian
CyberNigerian - 4/2/2025, 11:20 AM
You reckon Gunn visits this site?
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 4/2/2025, 11:23 AM
@CyberNigerian - nope, because he knows this is a marvel shill site, lolz
JurassicClunge
JurassicClunge - 4/2/2025, 11:46 AM
@CyberNigerian - he used a review written by josh to promote CC. So he probably skims the comments.

If you're reading this James, Superman's suit is arse cheeks

😌😌😌😌
Kalsena
Kalsena - 4/2/2025, 12:04 PM
@JurassicClunge - it’s the marketing department that does that not the filmmaker
bobevanz
bobevanz - 4/2/2025, 12:16 PM
@JurassicClunge - Creature Commando was great so who gives a [frick]. Josh is right once out of every 30 attempts lol. Also you changed your name and pfp to hide your shame 🤡
JurassicClunge
JurassicClunge - 4/2/2025, 12:23 PM
@bobevanz - i haven't watched that show, I'm not interested 😌

I changed my pfp because I've been doing that since I got here in 2016 dumbass my next one will be fantastic clunge wants jurassic park releases and I've seen it you 🤡

Only change my name to films I'm excited for 😌
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 4/3/2025, 1:30 AM
@JurassicClunge - James Gunn,
If you do read this. What our CBM brother just said.

It REALLY isn't good... Only the colors are right...
JurassicClunge
JurassicClunge - 4/3/2025, 3:07 AM
@DrDReturns - he'll block us on all socials somehow 🤣🤣🤣
Pictilli
Pictilli - 4/2/2025, 11:22 AM
100% awesome news!

I hope someone posts the footage already!
RedFury
RedFury - 4/2/2025, 11:23 AM
Seems like a smart approach that will create a longevity to the DCU. One of the big complaints when it comes to Marvel films is a lot of them seem very much the same. It's all geared towards a wide audience, and because of that the creators have to sacrifice certain things so that it can appeal to everyone.

If the DCU does get off the ground (fingers crossed) this approach allows the writers and directors to make films that are more in line with the actual character, rather than the universe they inhabit.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 4/2/2025, 11:54 AM
@RedFury -

They started to all become paint by numbers.

Iron man, cap 1, GOTG, winter soldier, black panther, and maybe Incredible Hulk felt pretty different from each other but others felt very samey
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/2/2025, 12:13 PM
@RedFury - it’s a good approach and will be interesting to see how far they go with it.

Marvel may uses flourishes of different genres and have one project be more comedic then dramatic or vice versa which is where I think the directors input comes in with them rather then aesthetics or visuals since they all have to look like they still take place in the same universe…

It’s not a bad approach and can see how it works even if I do prefer how Gunn wants the DCU to be.
RedFury
RedFury - 4/2/2025, 12:23 PM
@HulkisHoly - so true, there was a personality to their stories, but once the big machine started rolling that individuality really became less and less as time went on.
RedFury
RedFury - 4/2/2025, 12:29 PM
@TheVisionary25 - yeah having a certain continuity of style and mechanics definitely creates a common thread through every project so that they have a comfortable familiarity. Which when you're paying for a product as a consumer, it's nice to know what you're getting. But then again it's not a car hahaha, and art should feel creative and fresh. I think that's where they got caught with their pants down. Too many movies, and people start to see through the spectacle.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/2/2025, 12:32 PM
@RedFury - I agree

I do hope Marvel post this saga tries to broaden its creative horizons more then it has.
RedFury
RedFury - 4/2/2025, 12:38 PM
@TheVisionary25 - if Gunn's DCU becomes a success, I bet we'll see Marvel change it's approach a bit. Seems to happen in the entertainment industry a lot.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/2/2025, 12:40 PM
@RedFury - oh yeah

Competition breeds one upping its game.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 4/2/2025, 4:00 PM
@RedFury - it also encourages the best creatives to throw their hats in the ring.....hence you have Luca Guadagnino wanting to make a Sgt Rock film or Flanagan writing a Clayface movie
RedFury
RedFury - 4/2/2025, 4:09 PM
@McMurdo - yeah man, I love that. Scoring super talented creatives to make character driven comicbook movies is some serious clout.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 4/3/2025, 12:51 AM
@McMurdo -

Agreed. This is what will keep DCU afloat. Because even if one film doesn’t do well but you have genuinely talented writers/ directors on board, you’re bound to get hits with the GA.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 4/2/2025, 11:25 AM
The DCU will be great with Gunn being a great creative.

On the other side, we have a businessman (Feige) who overstayed his welcome and gives the same slop over and over again the past few years
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 4/2/2025, 11:57 AM
@vectorsigma - hopefully. The DCU is so rich and has some of the most iconic heroes in history. There's no reason why the DCU shouldn't be great.
Gambito
Gambito - 4/2/2025, 12:08 PM
@vectorsigma - let’s be fair to him we keep paying for that slop, a billion a year at least
bobevanz
bobevanz - 4/2/2025, 12:18 PM
@Gambito - they're creatively bankrupt. They jumped the shark with Endgame
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 4/2/2025, 12:21 PM
@Gambito - true, but in hopes of seeing improvements. Just a matter of time whem the DCU gets full steam and we leave the mcu behind (if it doesnt improve that is)
McMurdo
McMurdo - 4/2/2025, 4:01 PM
@Gambito - lol ya ain't wrong. We are desperate for content.
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 4/2/2025, 11:55 AM
Infinity War did have one of the best blends of humor and action. The stakes were high and it felt like that even in the lighter moments.
CaptainAwkward
CaptainAwkward - 4/2/2025, 2:07 PM
@JacobsLadder - I concur. A well balanced tone works wonders because everyone gets what they want. Drama, humour, suspense, etc. Never leaning too far to one side. Although I do prefer a darker tone to my stories.
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 4/2/2025, 12:04 PM
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ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 4/2/2025, 12:06 PM
The way these guys talk about it:

User Comment Image
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 4/2/2025, 12:13 PM
@ObserverIO - campea is a man baby he cry at everything
bobevanz
bobevanz - 4/2/2025, 12:19 PM
@AllsNotGood - it's almost time to mindlessly shill for Thunderbolts lol
McMurdo
McMurdo - 4/2/2025, 4:03 PM
@ObserverIO - Robert Meyer Burnett's sources say the film is fantastic. I trust his people more than most. Campea's opinion is irrelevant to me.
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 4/3/2025, 6:03 AM
@McMurdo - the [frick]ing idiot cried at how to train your dragon. Him and his wife cry at everything. You notice most of his topics comes from the bullshit rumour articles on this site
bobevanz
bobevanz - 4/2/2025, 12:11 PM
Marvel is cookie cutter central. They try to appease everyone and they end up being generic af. The Guardians franchise felt like something different, that's why it was so successful. The clowns shills and haters will be eating crow in July
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 4/2/2025, 12:12 PM
Butt jokes lots of his favourite music and make sure his friends and family have a job
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 4/2/2025, 12:15 PM
I mean yeah, different heroes should have different tones for their projects. A Swamp Thing movie should be more foreboding than Superman or Blue Beetle.
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