James Gunn and Peter Safran to step down from heading DC Studios

[Mikey]

DC Studios Shocker: James Gunn, Peter Safran Stepping Down with Marvel Alum Jeremy Latcham to Take Over

The duo were believed to be safe amid the Skydance takeover of Warner Bros., but now have a former Kevin Feige protege taking over their division.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[MisterWaffles]

Not a huge blow because apparently they're staying on as creative leads for the decade of projects they had planned out for the studio, but I guess they just didn't want to bother with the top of the ladder responsibilities of leadership anymore.

 

[Dave A]

I don't think James Gunn has been that good for DC. I think it's a mistake chasing the MCU, what the MCU had in the 2000's and 2010's I think was pretty unique and even the MCU has had it's day. There's nothing wrong with just making good movies. They don't have to be connected in a convoluted way.

 

[MisterWaffles]

I don't think James Gunn has been that good for DC. I think it's a mistake chasing the MCU, what the MCU had in the 2000's and 2010's I think was pretty unique and even the MCU has had it's day. There's nothing wrong with just making good movies. They don't have to be connected in a convoluted way.

I kinda disagree to be honest. Sure, there's been lots of entertaining movies of these characters on their own over the years, I guess the prime example being the Dark Knight trilogy. But things like the Justice League and these character's relationships with other superheroes (like Bruce and Clark's friendship) are fundamental to them in the comics.

The MCU introducing all sorts of insane multiverse shenanigans and just having infinite versions of every character didn't help things feeling overly convoluted, but I think to have truly great and faithful depictions of certain comic book characters, you need the teamups and dynamics they have when interacting with their broader universes.

Iron Man was a great movie on its own for sure, but RDJ and Tony's character really hit a peak when they started introducing Captain America, the Avengers, how he managed those crises and the Sokovia Accords, and of course completing his character arc from a selfish arms dealer to making the ultimate sacrifice in Endgame.

I'd love to see the DC characters get a chance at having such well-done arcs in their own universe, and James Gunn is a director that really knows how to deliver on those.

 

[Dave A]

I kinda disagree to be honest. Sure, there's been lots of entertaining movies of these characters on their own over the years, I guess the prime example being the Dark Knight trilogy. But things like the Justice League and these character's relationships with other superheroes (like Bruce and Clark's friendship) are fundamental to them in the comics.

The MCU introducing all sorts of insane multiverse shenanigans and just having infinite versions of every character didn't help things feeling overly convoluted, but I think to have truly great and faithful depictions of certain comic book characters, you need the teamups and dynamics they have when interacting with their broader universes.

Iron Man was a great movie on its own for sure, but RDJ and Tony's character really hit a peak when they started introducing Captain America, the Avengers, how he managed those crises and the Sokovia Accords, and of course completing his character arc from a selfish arms dealer to making the ultimate sacrifice in Endgame.

I'd love to see the DC characters get a chance at having such well-done arcs in their own universe, and James Gunn is a director that really knows how to deliver on those.

I disagree on Gunn, I didn't think his Superman film was great, it had it's moments, and I liked the actor playing Clark/Superman, but I didn't rate the film anything more than average. Gunn has a couple of hit films, he struck gold with Guardians of the Galaxy, but he has a few duds under his belt as well, and IMO, a whole universe in his style simply doesn't work.

I think the MCU struck gold, my post you quoted doesn't negate what they achieved and it was a mostly good ride up until Endgame. My previous post isn't calming the MCU didn't work, it clearly did, rather, I feel that a new shared universe now is unlikely to work. It's asking a lot of a mainstream audience to go through decades of shared universe like that again. I think the fatigue is as real as the dip in writing quality. In theory, I'd love to see a fantastic universe played out with the DC characters, but I don't think lightening will strike twice.

 

[Famine]

Gunn has a couple of hit films, he struck gold with Guardians of the Galaxy, but he has a few duds under his belt as well

Including the other two Guardians of the Galaxy.