Originally published March 20, 2019. Updated December 6, 2022.
The fact that James Gunn is set to direct films for both DC and Marvel will unify fans according to a producer for DC.
It’s been a bit of crazy ride for James Gunn over the past 12 months. The Guardians of the Galaxy director lost his job with Marvel for some repugnant old tweets, then got hired by DC to direct the Suicide Squad reboot, and now he has been rehired by Marvel for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Gunn now finds himself in the uncommon position of being set to direct a film for both Marvel and DC in the near future. Peter Safran, a producer for DC’s Shazam! thinks this is great for comic book films and hopes that Gunn will be able to unify the two rival sets of fans by straddling both camps.
Speaking to Joblo, Safran said: “And you know what I love about James directing for both Marvel and DC is he has always espoused the view that that which unites comic book and superhero lovers is much greater than that which divides us. Because, there’s always been this Marvel/DC rivalry, which he has said, and I agree, is absurd. There’s room for everybody and certainly that which unites us all is far greater than that which divides us, so hopefully they’ll see that you can be both a Marvel and a DC fan and the world won’t spin off its axis.”
It’s certainly true that it’s only a very minor, though perhaps vocal, section of the audience that considers themselves in one camp or the other. Do you share Safran’s hopes, however, that Marvel and DC fans will put aside the rivalry and be able to celebrate each other’s success on a more regular basis?
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