Supermanmovie director James Gunn gets brutally honest about the pressure being placed on hisDC Universemovie. Following the conclusion ofthe DCEU movie timeline, DC Studios has been working actively on their new DCU franchise, which will introduce a new era through Gunn and Peter Safran’s superhero reboot. But withSupermanbeing the first major DC Studios film, there has been a lot of debate, both in the industry and among fans, about how crucial it is for the movie to succeed, as it will serve as a foundation for the DCU.
During a new interview withRolling Stone, Gunn was asked about how he works under the pressure of people having expectations that the DCU and DC Studios' entire future could be riding on the newSupermanfilm. However, Gunn made it clear how he doesn’t seeSupermanas just a single piece of the machinery that is DC Studios, as he shared the following:
Really, I just go, “That’s their business.” Because that’s not the truth for me. My truth is this is the first movie out of DC Studios. Other people may say, “It’s gotta be a home run, nothing else.” I’m like, “No, I’d be very happy with a double.”F—–g Iron Man wasn’t the be-all and end-all. It wasn’t Avatar. We are doing something that’s a piece of the puzzle. It’s not the puzzle itself.We have Peacemaker, we have Supergirl, and what we want to do is make a movie that people love, they feel connected to the characters. It’s just this one movie. It’s not everything.
I hate it when there’s a f—–g article and it’s going on about all the problems and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and “that means even more pressure on James Gunn and Superman.” I’m like, “Guys, I’m not responsible for all that. I’m responsible for my piece of the pie. I’ve gotta make my budget back. I’ll be very happy with that.”
What James Gunn’s Superman Comments Mean For The DCU
When it comes toSuperman’ssuccess, it boils down to how it does both financially and critically, especially after Warner Bros. Discovery’s last batch of DC films struggled on both fronts. Something that is key from Gunn’s commentary to take into account forSupermanandfuture DCU projects, however, is thatIron Manand even the beginning of the MCU had to build up the franchise to become the billion-dollar hit it became. Back during Phase 1, not a single MCU movie made a billion dollars untilThe Avengersin 2012,which is because Marvel Studios stuck to their plans for the franchise and slowly began to grow.
$585.7 million
$264.7 million
$623.9 million
$449.3 million
$370.5 million
The Avengers
$1.5 billion
That is a similar philosophy that comes through with Gunn’s comments when it relates totheSupermanmovie, as a solid financial success, along with positive reception, is obviously going to be a win for DC Studios,but not something that would mean the scrapping of other projects if it doesn’t do well. While there is the perception that a major Hollywood blockbuster has to make a billion dollars,Supermanneeds to earn at least a bit more than double its budget. But with theSupermanmarketing and ticket sales having gone off to a great start, the potential is definitely there.
Our Take On James Gunn’s DCU Comments
It’s perfectly reasonable for Gunn to have these thoughts because, in the end,DC Studios wouldn’t cease to exist ifSupermanwere to somehow not perform, as this is a new franchise that needs time to grow and build faith with the audience. As it is well known that DC has had a rocky road with their previous cinematic outings, the notion that this is a fresh start will ideally be something that brings more people to the theaters. WithSupermanreleasing in less than a month, time will tell how Gunn’s film performs in terms of reception and box office.
Superman
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Superman (2025): Superman follows the dual life of Clark Kent, a journalist in Metropolis, as he endeavors to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Set against a backdrop of personal discovery, the film explores his journey of identity as he navigates his existence in a complex world.
