James Gunn isn’t afraid of a little R-rated action at DC Studios. In fact, when the story calls for it, he’s more than open to exploring that route. As he and Peter Safran continue to forge a path for the DC Universe, Gunn pointed out recently in an interview with Collider that part of their creative mind is taking risks.
While DC is undergoing a significant transformation, fans are eager to see the changes that the production house would introduce into its creations. The people at the helm are good at what they do, and fan expectations are therefore pretty high. Here’s what Gunn has said.
James Gunn Says Authenticity Is What He Aims For In His Films
James Gunn recently revealed that he uses the success of the 2021 film ‘The Suicide Squad‘ as well as HBO’s ‘Peacemaker’ series as an example of people responding well to such brazen storytelling decisions. “We’re not about ‘See how it does,'” Gunn said. “We’ve got one opportunity to take these characters and really press forward and do what we believe.”
“I am a great believer that if we tell good, authentic stories, if a movie does well or doesn’t do as well, if you keep with that same philosophy, that you’re going to build a universe that people are going to love and want to be a part of for a long time,” he said.
Gunn added, “It’s not about testing out to see if this thing works. It’s just about telling a story. If a story is going to be R-rated, we’re totally okay with that. If it’s going to be PG, PG-13, or G, I don’t care — whatever is worthy of the story, that’s what we’re going to do.”
James Gunn Praises ‘Peacemaker’ Series
James Gunn further pointed to the success of R-rated superhero movies like ‘Deadpool and Wolverine‘, where audiences love the characters and the form. “People love that character and people love that format,” he said
He further mentioned that ‘Peacemaker‘ is one of those projects. “You know Peacemaker is unrated, basically,” Gunn added. “So, we have all sorts. I like the idea of doing all sorts of different things.”
In case you missed it: James Gunn Clears The Timeline Confusion Caused Due To Rick Flag Sr.’s Hair Color Changes Across DCU Projects
Fans of Gunn’s work won’t have to wait long for the next chapter in his DC Universe. ‘Creature Commandos‘ premières on Max on December 5, as the kickoff of his new storytelling era in DC. He also just wrapped filming on ‘Superman: Legacy‘, scheduled to be released on July 2025.
It’s clear that Gunn’s approach is all about letting the story dictate the rating, ensuring that his projects remain true to the characters and their narratives, whether they’re family-friendly or edgy and raw.
