In an explosive interview, James Gunn accused Disney of torpedoing the Marvel Cinematic Universe by flooding audiences with content.
Gunn’s critique, coming from the director behind Guardians of the Galaxy, hits hard. He witnessed Marvel’s machine from the inside before being fired in 2018 over resurfaced tweets — a decision they later reversed. Still, the break gave him a new home at DC, and a front-row seat to what he sees as Marvel’s collapse under Disney’s weight.
Gunn’s new DC rule: no script, no shoot
James Gunn says Disney forcing Marvel Studios to significantly increase the MCU's output 'killed them'
— Culture Crave
"I don’t even know if it’s really their fault"
"That wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right"
(via @RollingStone) pic.twitter.com/VAaCFAYx1h(@CultureCrave) June 16, 2025
Referring to Marvel and Disney, Gunn told Rolling Stone, “They were under a corporate mandate,” from Disney. “That wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right. And it killed them,” Gunn said.
He added, “Over at Marvel, they’ve been pretty open about the fact that they realized what’s gone wrong over the past few years. They put out too much stuff,” and it’s Disney’s fault.
Now co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn has implemented a simple but radical rule: no project gets the green light without a fully developed screenplay. “We just killed a project,” he admitted. “The screenplay wasn’t ready.” Instead of chasing quotas, Gunn wants every DC film to start with a story.
It’s a clear jab at Marvel’s misfires like Quantumania and The Marvels, which many fans and critics say felt rushed and hollow.
Superman reboot: sentimental, grounded … and a bit weird?
Marvel aside, Gunn’s Superman, slated for release on July 11, 2025, is a pivot from brooding antiheroes. Inspired by Silver Age comics and All-Star Superman, it features a more vulnerable, grounded Clark Kent — complete with flying dog Krypto and retro-futuristic robots.
“I didn’t want a Superman who could punch planets,” Gunn said. “We have a Superman that can be beat.”
That approach, Gunn argues, makes Clark Kent human again — a refreshing change in a genre bloated with godlike protagonists.
From edgy provocateur to DC’s sentimental architect
Referring to Superman, Gunn admits he couldn’t have written this film five years ago. His earlier work — full of biting humor and cynicism — was a reflection of personal need. “I had to stop creating so that people would like me,” he said. “That’s downplaying it — so people would love me.”
Now, he’s leaning into authenticity and empathy. Gone is the director who masked sincerity with sarcasm. Instead, he’s leading DC Studios with a focus on emotional resonance and smart storytelling.
Gunn’s criticism of Marvel isn’t just professional — it’s personal. Watching his former colleagues burn out under unrealistic expectations lit a fire under him to do better.
