James Gunn cuts ties with Marvel and will focus on the DC Universe

It’s been over a year since James Gunn and Peter Safran were named co-heads of the newly formed DC Studios, tasked with overseeing the various media under the DC umbrella, including film, television, and video games. During this time, Gunn successfully completed the final installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy as writer and director.

Afterwards, many speculated whether Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 would be Gunn's last work in the MCU. Recently, Gunn answered a fan's question on Threads about whether it would be possible for him to write another Marvel movie, saying, "Physically and legally, I can't." Gunn clarified, "It's impossible for me to join another project. I'm already fully booked."

From a legal perspective, Gunn's response has to do with the strict Hollywood contracts that govern his relationship with DC Studios and Warner Bros. Gunn had the opportunity to complete work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 because it was already in production before he took on the role of studio head.

James Gunn worked for both Marvel and DC

Gunn previously enjoyed the unique status of working for both DC and Marvel, a situation that occurred after he was briefly fired by Marvel in 2018. That decision was ultimately reversed, and Warner Bros. quickly hired Gunn to direct the Suicide Squad reboot, which led to the Peacemaker TV series, both of which received rave reviews from fans and critics. DC saw Gunn as the perfect person to lead the DCU reboot alongside his producing partner Peter Safran, but his promotion from creative to producer required a new exclusive contract.

In terms of workload, Gunn wears many hats as a writer, director, and producer. He wrote all seven episodes of the upcoming animated TV show Creature Commandos, the first project for the DCU. In addition, he is responsible for overseeing the casting of most or even all DCU projects, with recently announced new members including Milly Alcock as Supergirl, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and David Corenswet as Superman.

With Superman: Legacy set to begin filming in March, Gunn does have a busy schedule. His third confirmed DCU project is Peacemaker Season 2, which will shift from the now-defunct DCEU to the new DCU.