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James Gunn He has expressed concerns about the current state of superhero films. As someone who is actively involved in both DC and Marvel projects, Gunn’s words carry a lot of weight in Hollywood. This conversation brought to light the glaring issues that have been plaguing the superhero genre lately.
Gunn gave an interview on the latest episode of Inside You with Michael Rosenbaum Podcast. The conversation started by noting the massive amount of superhero content flooding the market. Compared to the early 2000s, when such a series Smallville Of the few superhero properties, today’s landscape is very different. When asked if there are too many superhero shows and movies out there, Gunn didn’t make up the words and agreed. He said:
“Yeah, I think there’s just too much. But I don’t think it… It’s a lot less of an issue than too much. And yeah… We’re not going to overload ourselves in DC. We’re going to be very careful with the product we roll out and make sure everything is as good as possible.” .
But he quickly points out that quantity isn’t the only problem; The quality itself is at stake. He described how the creators became complacent and chased sequels without giving enough thought to what makes the story special. According to him, the superhero story should be more than just a label. It has to have heart, distinct characters, and fill a specific need that draws audiences to theaters or keeps them glued to their TV screens. Digging deeper into the quality aspect, Gunn talked about the third acts of recent superhero films. The director felt that superhero films now lacked coherence and a sense of purpose. The work sequence can sometimes seem empty and executed just for the sake of it.
“I think what happened is people got really lazy with their stories about superheroes. And they got to the place where, ‘Oh, he’s a superhero, let’s make a movie about him. ‘” And they’re making, ‘Oh, let’s make a sequel, because the first one was so good,’ and they don’t think, ‘Why is this story special? What makes this story stand out from the others? what is the story? At the heart of all this? Why is this character important? What makes this story different is that it fulfills the need for people in theaters to go see it? Or on TV? “
He finds himself not caring about the characters and thinks the movies have become too generic. This resonates with a broader sense that the essence and spirit of storytelling has been compromised. He also expressed his desire to break away from the monotony of the genre by incorporating different elements, and lamented a number of “middle of the road” films that repeat the same stories without using different genres.
Gunn’s masterplan for DC’s cinematic renaissance
Gunn, however, is not just another critic. He is in a position to bring about change. As the head of DC Studios, he has the reins of an entire cinematic universe. He is committed to ensuring that the stories told under his watch are not rushed to crowd the market.
He revealed that there are plans to release two films and two TV shows per year in the DC universe. Gunn aims to meticulously plan these stories to support the quality fans have come to expect. Despite the writers’ ongoing strike, production plans are in the works. Gunn and his team are keen to contribute quality superhero projects to both the big and small screens.
The first entry in what is dubbed “James Gunn Chapter 1” is Creature Commandoswhich will be available on Max, followed Superman: Legacyset to hit theaters July 11, 2025. These projects will be a testament to whether Gunn can walk the talk and revamp a genre that has, in his words, become “lazy.”
