As the DC Universe (DCU) reshapes its future under the guidance of James Gunn, the director and co-head of DC Studios, he continues to clarify the creative choices and complicated legacy of the previous DCEU era.
Recently, Gunn’s candid comments regarding cameos in ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Shazam’ stirred confusion. This prompted him to set the record straight. In the same week, he also opened up about the challenges facing ‘Superman’s global box office performance.
James Gunn Clarifies ‘Black Adam’ And ‘Shazam 2’ Cameo Controversy
James Gunn found himself at the center of fan discourse following comments he made in a previous interview. In it, he appeared to reject the canonicity of ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Shazam 2’ cameos involving characters he helped bring to life. Asked whether Emilia Harcourt and John Economos’ brief appearances in those films were part of the new DCU canon, Gunn responded, “They’re not canon! I hate it!”. This line quickly spiraled across fan spaces and was interpreted as disdain for the films themselves.
Related: “It Was A Total Bummer”: James Gunn Tells The Real Story Behind Henry Cavill’s Superman Exit
In classic internet fashion, the context was dropped, and it sparked outrage. However, Gunn, who has earned a reputation for his transparency and accessibility, promptly clarified the matter on Threads. “This is the kind of nonsense you have to look out for in these posts,” Gunn wrote. “I never said I hated either of those films; I said I didn’t like the way the 11th Street Kids were included.“
His frustration wasn’t with the movies but with the inconsistent portrayal of his characters. Harcourt being shown as the warden of an underwater prison, or Economos linked to the Justice Society, contradicts the arcs he crafted in ‘The Suicide Squad’ and ‘Peacemaker’. Gunn emphasized he had no creative control at the time. So, the connections were made arbitrarily.
In essence, these brief appearances exposed a wider issue with the DCEU: a lack of unified vision. As the cinematic universe struggled to tie its characters together cohesively, actors and roles were often shuffled in and out of projects with little explanation. Gunn believes that the characters deserved better than to be tacked on as Easter eggs in unrelated narratives.
James Gunn On Why ‘Superman’ Is Underperforming In International Box Offices
While dealing with DC’s past, James Gunn is also focused on its future, and that begins with ‘Superman’. Critically acclaimed and financially successful in the U.S., the film is already being celebrated for its heartfelt tone and a sincere return to the core of the Man of Steel. However, when it comes to global box office numbers, the story gets a little more complicated.
In case you missed it: James Gunn Claims Supergirl Being “A Total Mess” In ‘Superman’ Was The Point
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn openly acknowledged that ‘Superman’ is underperforming in some international markets. When asked why, he didn’t shy away from answering. “There are certain countries in which it’s really performing well, Brazil and the UK,” Gunn said. “But it also affects things that we have a certain amount of anti-American sentiment around the world right now. It isn’t really helping us.”
That said, Gunn isn’t discouraged. He sees Superman as the beginning of something bigger and views the film’s strong domestic reception as proof of the character’s enduring relevance. His optimism is evident in his belief that Superman’s international reputation can grow. “Having the movie come out and be something that has been embraced by people everywhere, this is just the seed of the tree that Peter [Safran] and I have been watering for the past three years,” Gunn added. “To be able to have it start off so positively has been incredibly overwhelming.”
