BetweenThe Suicide SquadandGuardians of the Galaxy 3, James Gunn is one of the few, if not the only, directors in Hollywood currently on contract to produce both a DC and Marvel movie at around the same time. Due to an odd set of circumstances which saw him temporarily fired from Marvel, the renowned director managed to snag a film deal with Warner Bros. before Marvel changed its mind and asked him to return to the MCU. Now in a recent interview, Gunn has talked about what it’s like to be on both sides of the Marvel/DC rivalry.
Those looking for drama, however, might be a little disappointed, as the relationship behind the scenes seems to be rather amicable. On Instagram, Gunn wrote “I told Kevin Feige before I took the job and he was very cool and supportive as he always is, he just wanted me to make a good movie. He and [MCU producer] Lou D’Esposito even came to visit the set and watched us shoot.” It appears that despite the competition between the DC and Marvel cinematic universes, the actual folks in charge don’t put much stake in the studio rivalry.
RELATED:James Gunn Wrote The Suicide Squad’s Bloodsport Specifically for Idris Elba
In fairness, Gunn would have more reason than most to play favorites between the two studios. Hisdecision to directThe Suicide Squadwas in fact a reaction to his being fired fromGuardians of the Galaxy 3early in the project’s pre-production. Though the inner studio politics involved is not clear, Gunn was reportedly fired after some off-color tweets resurfaced after many years, prompting some of Disney’s higher ups to order his removal from the project, despite protests of the cast and other executives. Eventually however, the fans, feeling that his removal was unjust, started a campaign to have him return to direct the thirdGuardians of the Galaxy, which eventually resulted in his reinstatement, but not before he had signed a deal with Warner Bros. to directThe Suicide Squad.
It’s nice to see that Gunn doesn’t hold a grudge over the misunderstanding, and that everyone involved is interestedin making quality films first and foremost. Gunn even went so far as to say, “There isn’t enmity behind-the-scenes like there is in the fan community,” indicating that a lot of the back and forth fighting the community talks about is largely the projection of each side’s biggest fans. So long as both sides focus on delivering the best films possible, both sides can be winners.
MORE:10 Characters We Want to See in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
