DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has criticized Marvel’s strategy of releasing movies every year.
In a recent discussion, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn challenged Marvel Studios’ approach of yearly movie releases, saying this habit hurt Marvel’s creativity and brand.
James Gunn first received recognition for directing Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ feature films. After the first two films were released, Gunn was temporarily removed from Marvel for some offensive tweets from years ago, and, after he returned and completed the trilogy, he took a brief hiatus from Marvel.
In 2022, DC Studios hired Gunn and Peter Safran to lead its future films and television shows. After completing his portfolio with the third ‘Guardians’ movie, Gunn formally transitioned to DC Studios full-time.
Gunn remarked recently that the requirement from Marvel to produce at least one film each year caused more harm than good. He referred to it as a “yearly mandate.” Even though these releases keep Marvel in the public eye, Gunn declared that they weakened the quality of storytelling.
Gunn stated that filmmakers became lazy and fell back on effects and action rather than character arcs or story. He lamented that they appear too focused on spectacle versus substance and left audiences wanting more.
He claimed that fewer movies made more cautiously would only promote better character work and better stories overall. Gunn asserted that accelerating production has led to less thoughtful scripts and less creative risk.
This perspective seems to reflect some feedback from fans. Some fans have reported to media outlets that they would prefer if Marvel produced one really good movie a year rather than lots of movies that feel mediocre.
Gunn has communicated a change in direction for DC, fewer films but higher quality. He and co-CEO Safran have made clear that they won’t release a film unless a script is nailed down. They are happy to push a project back rather than release something they are not proud of.
DC’s calendar for 2024 reflects the shift. There is only one major theatrical release, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” which is part of a slower but more intentional approach.
This is not the first time Gunn has raised concerns. He has heaped scorn on the clichéd plots of superhero movies when he argues that people are “biff-pow-bam stuff… with no rhyme or reason” and are tired of it.
He also cited out the difference between Marvel and DC saying, “Marvel puts stories in, for the most part, our real world – and DC gives you the whole fiction. You get to create these whole fictional worlds – let me be in Gotham City, let me be in Metropolis – and he’s got a lot of more opportunities for immersion”.
James Gunn believes Marvel’s strategy of releasing movies every year has hurt its creative depth. He says the emphasis on speed and quantity leads to weaker stories.
At DC, he plans to take a different path: slower, more thoughtful film-making, even if it means fewer releases. Only time will tell if this approach resonates more with fans and earns better reviews.
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