James Gunn, DC Studios chief has fired back at Hollywood’s broken system, claiming the movie industry is “dying” because studios rush films into production without finished scripts.
As reported by variety.com citing a Rolling Stone interview, the filmmaker behind the upcoming “Superman” reboot revealed that script quality, not streaming wars or big screens at home, is killing cinema.
“The number-one reason is because people are making movies without a finished screenplay,” Gunn stated.
The director, who helmed three Guardians of the Galaxy films for Marvel, didn’t hold back when discussing his former employer. He said Disney’s push to pump out more Marvel content for Disney+ “killed them” and “wasn’t fair.” CEO Bob Iger has since admitted this strategy was a mistake.
Under Gunn’s leadership, DC Studios recently axed a greenlit project solely because the script wasn’t ready.
“I couldn’t do a movie where the screenplay’s not good,” he explained. This tough stance has already paid off with strong scripts for “Supergirl,” “Lanterns,” and “Clayface.”
Unlike Marvel’s corporate mandates for constant content, Warner Bros. gives Gunn full creative control.
“We don’t have the mandate to have a certain amount of movies and TV shows every year,” he noted.
Batman presents Gunn’s biggest challenge as he builds the new DC Universe. With countless versions already told, finding fresh angles proves difficult.
“Every single Batman story has been told,” Gunn admitted, though he claims to have found a promising direction.
Wonder Woman offers more creative freedom due to fewer previous adaptations. The character’s untapped potential excites Gunn as he develops her next big-screen appearance.
With “Superman” launching July 11, Gunn’s script-first approach will soon face its ultimate test at the box office.
•Image/Gunn/Getty
