James Gunn Vows Never to Overwork Himself Again in the DCU!

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James Gunn has confessed that the initial phases of establishing the DC Universe left him overextended, prompting the head of DC Studios to swear off a particular action in the future. The DC Universe is currently in motion following the debut of Creature Commandos towards the end of 2024. The series will progress with the arrival of Superman, and will subsequently launch its first live-action TV show upon the release of Peacemaker‘s second season on HBO Max later this year.

As per Gunn, handling numerous projects concurrently within a limited timeframe is something he intends to avoid in the future when dealing with DCU. In his role as co-CEO of DC Studios and chief creative mind behind projects like Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker Season 2, Gunn found it to be far too demanding.

In a chat with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn elaborated on the origins of Peacemaker ‘s second season, sharing details as to why its release has been delayed beyond expectations, and explaining that assuming control of DC Studios added significantly to his stress levels.

Speaking candidly about the delay in releasing Peacemaker Season 2, Gunn confessed that it was largely due to his own commitments. He clarified that prior to joining DC Studios, he had to complete work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 before returning to focus on Peacemaker.

Nevertheless, the interval between Peacemaker seasons expanded further following Gunn’s appointment as co-CEO at DC Studios, as he focused on getting Superman up and running first.

After wrapping up “Peacemaker“, I found myself moving on to “Guardians 3“. Just as I was about to dive back into “Peacemaker“, an opportunity arose for me to lead DC. Upon securing this position, I made two significant calls: the first was to Kevin Feige of Marvel Studios, informing him that I would be taking over at DC. The second call was to John Cena, where I shared my new role and expressed my desire to still work on “Peacemaker“, but it had to be put on hold for now. Our top priority now is getting “Superman” up and running first.

Gunn managed to pen the script for Peacemaker Season 2 right after wrapping up writing Superman. Although it might have seemed like an extended wait for fans, he mentioned there were numerous tasks in between, making the gap feel quite brief for him.

After wrapping up the script for ‘Superman‘, I immediately moved on to penning season 2 of ‘Peacemaker.’ To others, it might have felt like an extended gap, but for me, it flew by quickly due to all the other tasks I managed during that period.

Among the projects Gunn was discussing, one was the revival of “Creature Commandos,” which has recently announced some intriguing developments for Season 2. Despite his eagerness to return to “Peacemaker,” he had to work on that animated series first as it needed to be launched prior to “Superman.”

Besides writing the initial chapter of the DC Universe during that period, Gunn also needed to map out its entirety. This left him more spread out than most realize.

“I will never do it again,” stated Gunn when referencing how much he worked on at the same time:

“I will never do it again. I will tell you that much. It was way too much.”

It’s important to mention that as Gunn was engaged in writing, creating, directing, and strategizing for upcoming projects, he simultaneously made sure that the progress of other DCU (DC Universe) projects was moving forward smoothly.

In contrast, it appears that Gunn’s approach was more successful for Peacemaker, as he had the opportunity to refine it throughout the process. This flexibility allowed Peacemaker Season 2 to have strong connections with “Superman” and the broader DC Universe.

As part of our ongoing DC projects, I evolved this concept concurrently, so it shares strong ties with ‘Superman‘ and future developments. Initially, I had a general plan, but the final product turned out to be quite distinct from my initial vision.

In August 21, 2025, you’ll find Season 2 of “Peacemaker” streaming on HBO Max, with John Cena reprising his role as the main character. Meanwhile, on July 11, 2025, “Superman” will take flight in cinemas, featuring David Corenswet portraying the Man of Steel.

James Gunn’s Promise Ensures Success for the DCU

It’s quite logical for James Gunn to ensure he doesn’t get too stressed out by the responsibilities of the DCU, given all the tasks he has to handle. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the workload started feeling excessive at times.

Essentially, Gunn has made a promise not to find himself in a similar situation again, which is advantageous for his wellbeing (mental and physical) in the long run, and it also benefits DCU’s success for future years.

Over the last few years, “superhero burnout” has become a frequently used term, particularly in relation to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some spectators have expressed that the MCU produced an excessive amount of content, which resulted in a drop in quality and less enthusiasm among fans for staying engaged with the franchise.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige openly acknowledged that the MCU had grown too complex, reaching a point where viewing its films and series felt less like enjoying entertainment and more like completing assignments, similar to doing homework.

If Gunn manages his workload carefully with DCU, ensuring he doesn’t take on too many projects simultaneously, it will allow him to dedicate more attention to each project in progress. Additionally, this approach would prevent the release of too much content in quick succession, making fans feel less overwhelmed.

In contrast to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the DC Universe (DCU) doesn’t seem to have a definitive plan for the exact quantity of movies and shows released annually. But, based on recent trends, fans might anticipate about one or two films per year and an equal number of TV series.

If it turns out this way, fans of the DC Universe won’t experience “superhero burnout,” because there will always be something new on the horizon. They won’t feel the need to demand new releases either, as they can anticipate consistent updates.

Essentially, James Gunn’s commitment to not overload himself can significantly boost the progression of the DC Universe ahead.

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2025-06-23 05:05