James Gunn lives and breathes superhero motion pictures. Apart from the horror, Slither, the remainder of his directorial efforts are all about folks (or creatures) with particular skills. At any time when Gunn deviates into different genres, it tends to be in a screenwriting or producing capability. Scooby-Doo, Daybreak of the Lifeless, and The Belko Experiment are examples of nice motion pictures that the DC Studios co-chair wrote or produced however didn’t direct.
To this point, Gunn’s output has been nice, however there are a number of different tasks he both had his eye on or was provided, just for them to by no means progress past the pre-production or dialogue phases. These tasks both obtained caught in growth hell or the filmmaker (or the studio) merely didn’t really feel like continuing with them. At this time, he is unlikely to remorse it, since his profession would most likely have gone on a special path if he had signed the contract. In a best-case state of affairs, he’d most likely nonetheless be making motion pictures about minor superheroes for Marvel Studios.
Listed here are 6 superhero motion pictures James Gunn got here this near directing.
‘Silver Surfer’
Shortly after the discharge of Silver Surfer (Vol. 7) #11 comedian challenge in 2015, James Gunn posted on Fb, revealing that he was provided the prospect to make a film in regards to the humanoid alien when he first moved to Los Angeles in 1999. He defined that after seeing his spec script for The Specials, a Fox exec thought of him the best individual to make a cosmic Silver Surfer film that will have concerned the Marvel character turning on Galactus with out The Incredible 4’s involvement.
Sidelining The Incredible 4
Making a solo Silver Surfer film would have been a daring transfer for each James Gunn and Fox, contemplating that no correct Incredible 4 film had been launched till that time. Solely Roger Corman’s 1994 model existed, and it had solely been seen by way of leaks, not a correct theatrical launch. With such area of interest dealing with, solely comedian followers and those that’d watched the animated sequence would have associated.
Nicely, Gunn ultimately opted out, figuring the Spy Vs. Spy film that he had additionally been provided by director Jay Roach and his producer, Shauna Robertson, can be extra more likely to get made. Finally, neither film went previous the pre-production stage. On a optimistic observe, Gunn’s Spy Vs. Spy script was so well-received that the Superman director was introduced with new alternatives due to it.
‘Plastic Man’
When Matthew Lillard, finest identified for taking part in Shaggy within the live-action Scooby-Doo movies, took to social media and expressed his need to seem in a James Gunn movie, the director responded by saying that the 2 had really met the president of Warner Bros. in some unspecified time in the future to debate Plastic Man. In line with Gunn, all of it occurred whereas Scooby-Doo was being filmed within the early 2000s.
The Character Marvel Ripped Off
A Plastic Man film suits proper inside Gunn’s alley for the reason that superhero was among the many first to include humor into mainstream motion comics. Created by cartoonist Jack Cole, he continuously appeared within the Police Comics points, initially revealed by High quality Comics and later acquired by DC. Unknown to many, the character is the inspiration for Marvel’s Reed Richards, aka Mister Incredible, one thing Stan Lee admitted within the e-book Stan Lee: Conversations by Jeff McLaughlin.
There’s no official rationalization on why the mission was by no means picked up, however there’s the chance that Warner Bros. merely didn’t wish to guess on a lesser-known hero. Nevertheless, these craving to see the character can discover him in a number of DC animated productions, together with Teen Titans Go! To the Motion pictures and Injustice. And given Gunn’s love for obscure superheroes, we can not rule out a Plastic Man live-action look within the DCU within the close to future.
‘Thunderbolts’
Marvel Studios’ efficiency graph is projecting upwards once more ever since Thunderbolts* got here out. Jake Schreier did a implausible job within the film, however below completely different circumstances, James Gunn would have directed it. Earlier than the primary Guardians of the Galaxy got here out, Gunn sat down with ScreenRant and revealed that he had talked to Kevin Feige about his need to do a film in regards to the misfits, and that the honcho promised him that he’ll “have the ability to do no matter you need” if Guardians did effectively.
All the pieces Turned Out Tremendous for Everybody
Gunn’s curiosity in Thunderbolts is hardly shocking. Amongst his many preferences is a liking for superhero squads. From the Guardians to the Suicide Squad and Creature Commandoes, the filmmaker has all the time leaned in direction of workforce efforts over solo adventures. Even Clark Kent will get plenty of assist in the brand new Superman film.
Regrettably, Feige and his workforce took too lengthy to introduce the Thunderbolts, and by the point they discovered an area for the group, Gunn had already moved and dealt with the same workforce for DC. how issues turned, neither occasion (Feige and Gunn) is more likely to rue their missed alternatives. Throughout a Q&A session on Instagram tales, he was requested if he was nonetheless fascinated with doing a Thunderbolts title and easily responded with “The Suicide Squad scratched that itch for me.”
‘Drax and Mantis’
In 2021, actor Dave Bautista informed Digital Spy that James Gunn was eager on doing a “Drax and Mantis” movie after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Nevertheless, no follow-up was ever heard from Marvel Studios, implying the concept had been scrapped. The characters would later seem in The Guardians of the Galaxy Vacation Particular.
It Would Have Been a Nice Comedy
Drax the Destroyer has usually been thought of one of many coolest and funniest characters within the MCU. As somebody who considers humor a key filmmaking instrument, Gunn was all the time destined to adore the character and the actor who portrayed him. So robust is the connection between Bautista and Gunn that the actor strongly defended the director through the controversy surrounding his outdated tweets.
Might a Drax film nonetheless occur? Unlikely, since Bautista declared he was completed with the character. Nevertheless, he didn’t rule out enjoying one other superhero sooner or later. Given his nice relationship with Gunn, we’re more likely to see him in a DCU film down the road.
‘Batman’
Chatting with Rolling Stone in June, James Gunn disclosed that Warner Bros had provided him the prospect to make a Batman film whereas he was in the midst of Guardians 3. He clarified that the one downside was the timing and that if they’d “come to me in 2018 with Batman, I might’ve stated sure.”
Freeway to Gotham
We consider that if approached earlier, Gunn would have ditched Marvel and jumped on the chance to make a Batman film. In spite of everything, he confessed to Rotten Tomatoes TV that the Caped Crusader was his favourite DC character. Not Superman? Sure. After the Gotham hero’s shock cameo in Episode 6 of Creature Commandoes, the filmmaker acknowledged that he had all the time adored Bruce Wayne greater than anybody else.
What Gunn or anybody at Warner Bros. has failed to handle is the place the film would have match. Wouldn’t it have been a solo Ben Affleck film set within the DCEU or was this the mission that ultimately went to Matt Reeves?
‘The Suicide Squad 2’
After the large success of the primary movie, James Gunn confirmed that the sequel would undoubtedly be mad. In 2022, he doubled down on these remarks, stating that he was contemplating the follow-up as his subsequent characteristic movie, however his focus was on tv for the foreseeable future following his optimistic expertise making Peacemaker. Sadly, dangerous information got here in 2023, with Gunn telling Collider that there wouldn’t be a sequel.
There’s Nonetheless Lots To Dig From That Mine
The DC Studios co-chair has an excessive amount of on his plate now, so his choice might be linked to an absence of time. In spite of everything, he didn’t even direct Peacemaker Season 2 himself. Gunn probably integrated the concepts he had for the film into the TV present’s script, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see a few of Christopher Smith’s former colleagues on the small display screen.#
Superman
- Launch Date
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July 11, 2025
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Director
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James Gunn
- Producers
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Peter Safran