James Gunn On Why DCU is Developing Projects for Characters Like Swamp Thing and Sgt. Rock

As a seasoned cinema enthusiast with over three decades of watching comic book adaptations under my belt, I must say that James Gunn’s approach to the DC Universe is a breath of fresh air. I’ve seen enough origin stories to last a lifetime and am more than ready for something new and exciting.


James Gunn uses social media to champion the lesser-known characters in his and Peter Safran’s DC Universe. Since Gunn is working on a much-anticipated Superman movie that will kick off the DCU, he isn’t solely concentrating on the big comic book characters like Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, nor their origin stories. This has led to a user @shubhang.fearless expressing their thoughts about Gunn in a related post.

James, why are you neglecting origin stories? They help us empathize with characters on an emotional level. Your decision to feature obscure characters like Sgt. Rock or Swamp Thing as main characters in their own films gives the impression that you’re tailoring the DCU for dedicated comic book fans rather than a broader audience.

Gunn, who jointly leads DC Studios with Safran as co-chair and co-CEO, has a busy agenda ahead, overseeing a variety of projects set to debut under the “Gods and Monsters” brand, such as Superman, The Brave and the Bold featuring Batman, and the Green Lantern series, among others. In response to a user’s post on Threads, Gunn stated:

“I’m not telling Batman and Superman’s origin stories again because everyone knows them. And don’t put Swamp Thing in the corner. That’s a project in development we’ve actually announced, and he’s an incredibly well-known character with not only some of the greatest comics of all time but a successful film series and his own TV show, something that could be said of only a very small handful of DC characters.”

The DCU Won’t Shirk Meaningful Characters

Post by @jamesgunn View on Threads

Absolutely, there’s a great deal of anticipation for David Corenswet stepping into the iconic role of Superman, and fans might get a glimpse of the first Superman trailer around mid-December. Interestingly, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe won’t shy away from delving deeper into significant characters beyond the comic book’s trio of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

In my excitement, let me share that I’m thrilled about the upcoming “Superman” movie as it promises to showcase some lesser-known characters from the DC Universe who may not have their individual films yet. Characters like Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) will make an appearance. On the animated side of DC Studios, another intriguing project is in the works – it’s titled the “Dynamic Duo,” and it brings together two Robins, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, in one fantastic film!

As a movie enthusiast who’s always keen on the underdog, I can’t contain my excitement about Swamp Thing, a character that was part of the chats we had about “niche characters.” This green giant is set to star in his very own film, kicking off the DCU saga, titled “Gods and Monsters.

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2024-11-24 02:33