James Gunn Receives Hero’s Welcome During ‘Superman’ Victory Lap at Comic-Con

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At the peak of “Superman”‘s success in North America, renowned filmmaker and joint head of DC Studios, James Gunn, basked in triumph and was warmly welcomed like a beloved superhero at the heartland of pop culture, San Diego Comic-Con.

On Saturday, Gunn received a thunderous standing ovation in the vast, crowded Hall H during the panel for the HBO Max series Peacomaker, as stars John Cena and moderator Josh Horowitz whipped the audience into a frenzy.

On Saturday, Gunn was met with a resounding standing ovation at the packed, spacious Hall H during the panel for the HBO Max series Peacemaker, with stars John Cena and moderator Josh Horowitz whipping up the crowd’s excitement.

Approximately an hour and a half past, the filmmaker astonished attendees during the Jim Lee & Friends meeting, which also sparked immense excitement among them.

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A little over an hour from then, the filmmaker amazed the audience at the Jim Lee & Friends gathering, where he was warmly welcomed with great excitement.

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Slightly more than an hour later, the filmmaker left guests spellbound at the Jim Lee & Friends event, and they greeted him with unbridled enthusiasm.

Each of these sentences conveys the same meaning while using slightly different phrasing to maintain a natural and easy-to-read style.

In addition to focusing on him, there was a lot about him, but Gunn reciprocated just as much to his “Peacemaker” co-stars, comic book creators, and fans. Few filmmakers share the same level of passion and enthusiasm for the comic medium as Gunn does.

During a discussion at the Lee & Friends panel, Gunn expressed strong emotions as he spoke about his deep affection for comics and the impact made by the creators of the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow mini-series, namely Tom King, Bilquis Evely, and Matheus Lopes. The comic serves as the foundation for an upcoming film from DC Studios.

Gunn shared, ‘The reason I create these types of films is because I have such deep respect and affection for the work that you all do.’ As he spoke, his voice trembled slightly. He continued, ‘I must be truthful: your art moved me profoundly…it’s so breathtakingly beautiful. This is the artistic medium I’ve always cherished…The work you produce is simply amazing.’

Moreover, during his speech at Hall H, Gunn took a moment to express gratitude towards the avid comic book enthusiasts who had gathered exclusively for the comics-focused Lee panel.

Or:

At Hall H, Gunn acknowledged the audience, but he made a point to thank the dedicated comic book fans who were in attendance specifically for the comic-related Lee panel.

He expressed his joy at being with everyone by saying that it’s the genuine supporters who are present.” (This version maintains the original meaning while using simpler and more natural language.)

Much like Lee, Gunn hails from St. Louis, Missouri, and just as Lee did, Gunn shares a similar story about growing up there. They narrate an interesting anecdote to the audience, hinting that although they weren’t acquainted at the time, they both watched the iconic Richard Donner-directed Superman on its opening weekend at the same movie theater. Had fate allowed it, they might have watched the film together, both being inspired in their dreams of comic books as a result.

Furthermore, Gunn shared a heartfelt story about his challenging relationship with his father. He explained that his father, seeking to mend their bond, brought him to a comic convention in Chicago. To this very day, he considers that experience as the best day of his life.

Previously, during the lively and spontaneous Q&A session for “Peacemaker”, the actors depicted Gunn as a commander whom one willingly follows into a fictional fight scene in the world of comics.

Frank Grillo was excited at the prospect of being part of the second season of “Peacemaker,” saying, “When James Gunn invites you, it’s not a matter of waiting for the script. It’s more like, ‘Just tell me when to be there.’ When the call comes, there’s no hesitation – I’m doing this! It’s all about working with a great director.

The captain served not only as a skilled leader but also an enthusiastic promoter, effectively rallying the audience behind his team, especially star Cena.

Gunn praised the actor-turned-wrestler, stating that he lacks any ego at all. He may act foolishly on set, but his performances are truly exceptional this season. I worked with him in season one and returned for this season a few years later. I was astonished by his abilities and the growth he’d achieved as an actor.”

– or –

“Gunn commended the wrestler-turned-actor, noting that he is completely without ego. Despite his silliness on set, his performances this season are outstanding. I collaborated with him in season one and rejoined for this season a few years later. I was flabbergasted by what he could do and how much he had advanced as an actor.

Gunn too received some good-natured teasing. Earlier in the discussion, it seemed like Gunn was playfully perpetuating a running gag (or perhaps not entirely a joke) that Grillo, an actor known for his intense performances and rugged roles, was someone who didn’t adhere to the director’s policy of no difficult personalities on set, referring to him as “difficult” or “rude”.

“Hey, my kids are here,” Grillo said.

“They know!” was the reply.

Towards the closing of the discussion panel, Gunn and the actors delved into their preferred episodes. It turned out that when Grillo was with Gunn and the conversation arose, Gunn mentioned his top three favorite episodes. The actor then realized, quite unexpectedly, that Gunn had boastfully chosen the three episodes he himself had directed.

“Yeah, but I’m the asshole,” Grillo sniffed.

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2025-07-27 07:55