Written By Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
New DC studios co-chair and co-CEO James Gunn is friends with director Zack Snyder. In fact, the SnyderVerse acquired a powerful ally with James Gunn on the throne. Understandably, a number of Snyder fans and hardcore DC followers are furious. Confused. Sad.
On the surface, Gunn’s superhero projects represent the antithesis of Zack Snyder’s grim, serious style. Indeed, the Justice League cameo in Gunn’s Peacemaker TV series appalled Snyder Nation for their comedic treatment. After all, the goofy tone was the opposite of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. However, that is simply Gunn’s style. Love it or loathe it, enough viewers enjoyed it to make Peacemaker a success.
New DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn Is Friends With Zack Snyder
Image: Warner Bros.
Furthermore, Gunn turned Guardians of the Galaxy from obscure B-sides into an A-list cinematic franchise. Granted, that was for Marvel Studios. The MCU embraces the funny; therefore, Gunn fit perfectly into their system. Quite frankly, I didn’t particularly care for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.
While I loved writer John Ostrander’s Suicide Squad comics in the late ’80s and early ’90s, I felt Gunn’s adaptation was much more silly. Too silly.
Silly.
That’s what detractors fear the most. They’re concerned Gunn will transform the DCEU into silly putty.
Not so fast.
A source told me that James Gunn’s position is the best thing that could happen to the SnyderVerse.
Don’t vomit. Just listen.
Gunn is an indie maverick who wouldn’t interfere with Snyder’s work like the old Warner Bros. regime. For example, Gunn produced the dark superhero film, Brightburn, in 2019. Brightburn was basically Snyder’s Man of Steel as a horror flick. In other words, Gunn didn’t tone it down. The characters didn’t suddenly start dancing to ’80s pop metal.
New DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn Is Friends With Zack Snyder
Image: Twitter
Unlike ex-DC Films president Walter Hamada, Gunn actually worked with Snyder on a creative level. Hamada was a business suit. On the other hand, Gunn is fellow filmmaker who wrote Snyder’s first movie, 2004’s Dawn of the Dead remake. There’s a long history of respect there between the two.
Moreover, Snyder even had some indirect contribution to Peacemaker. Gunn hired stunt coordinator Wayne Dalglish for Peacemaker after Snyder recommended him.
Gunn even showed support for The Ayer Cut on Twitter.
Gunn’s contract with DC Studios lasts four years. Ironically, he might end up directing less films for DC Studios because of his schedule. Gunn won’t kill the SnyderVerse. In fact, he’ll likely expand it.