James Gunn Explains Why He Turned Down Directing SUPERMAN in 2018: "It Was Going to Be Politically Messy"
As James Gunn’s Superman lands in theaters this week, the filmmaker revealed he once passed on the Man of Steel long before he took the reins of DC Studios.
During a recent Q&A at HMV in London, Gunn talked about how he was offered the chance to direct a Superman film back in 2018, but ultimately walked away from it.
“I was originally offered to direct Superman back in 2018, and I said no. I was daunted by the task. I wasn't sure how I was going to do it. Also, if you remember, there was other stuff happening with Superman at the time."
At that point, the DCEU was still trying to hold itself together, with Henry Cavill still wearing the cape and studio politics in full swing. For Gunn, that landscape didn’t feel right.
“They didn't want it to be… It was going to be politically messy. So I said no, and I took The Suicide Squad, which was more a familiar type of group to me. Which I'm glad I did, that was fun.”
Fast forward a few years, and a few studio shakeups, and Gunn is now co-CEO of DC Studios, launching a brand-new cinematic universe with Superman at the center.
David Corenswet stars in the title role, and Gunn is now writing, directing, and fully in charge of the direction. But even after saying no the first time, he admits the idea of tackling Superman never really left him.
“But I kept thinking about Superman, I couldn't get it out of my head. How would I do it, if I did it? What would that movie be like? How could I make it work for today's audience? How could it speak to people?
“And eventually, [I] started to think that maybe it was maybe something I could do. So, when they reapproached me with the idea for writing Superman, whatever it was, three years ago, I said yes.”
That has now led to what could be the wildest reinvention of Superman since the Donner days, free from past continuity, studio tug-of-wars, or political baggage. Gunn’s version arrives as the foundation of a new era. And this time, it’s on his terms, and I’m excited for the future of the DCU!