James Gunn dismisses 'nonsense' Superman claims
The 58-year-old filmmaker - who also serves as the CEO of DC Studios - wrote and directed the new Superman film, but he insists that it's not a make-or-break project for DC.
Speaking to GQ magazine, James said: "This is not the riskiest endeavour in the world. Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be."
James has rubbished suggestions that the new movie - which stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan - has to make as much as $700 million in order to be considered a success.
The director suggested that DC Studios will be fine, regardless of how Superman performs at the box office.
James - who previously helmed movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither - said: "They hear these numbers that the movie's only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it's just complete and utter nonsense. It doesn't need to be as big of a situation as people are saying."
Earlier this year, James claimed that "people are looking for heroes right now".
The filmmaker also revealed that he was feeling optimistic about the new Superman film.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at a DC press event, he explained: "I think he's the right Superman because he is a character that stands for something that is solid, stands for basic human morals, basic human integrity, basic belief in protecting others and protecting the weak being good to people and being honest.
"People are looking for heroes right now. They are looking for values of goodness, looking for people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that."
James also revealed that Warner Bros planned to throw their full weight behind the promotional campaign for the film.
The director said: "DZ [David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery] loves what we're doing, loves the movie, and has really rallied the entire company behind Superman for this summer.
"You've seen what can happen when Warner Bros. Discover gets together behind a Barbie or a Beetlejuice or a Wonka or Kong. And that's how its being treated right now for Superman. Everything that DZ has promised us two years ago when we got the job, it's all been a reality."
James and Peter Safran became the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios back in 2022.
And the duo remain committed to bringing popular comic book characters to life in the coming months and years.
James shared: "We don't want these characters to die out.
"We want to bring new stories and new life, we want to introduce these characters to new generations. And I think we are doing that, slowly but surely."
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