James Gunn Out at DC as Netflix Eyes Darker Direction Claims Rumor

Similar to what we have been told, it’s again said that James Gunn will be out as head of DC Studios once Warner Bros. Discovery is sold.

Recall when I first reported the news, that James Gunn went on that “YouTube tour” and questioned his future at DC.

Both Deadline and Puck News backed up what I said.

Following Netflix winning the bid to buy WBD, Gunn and Peter Safran ran to Bloomberg in a desperate attempt to save their jobs.

Now, YouTuber Tachyon Pulse, who apparently has industry connections, says new industry chatter backs up what we’ve been hearing: James Gunn may not be part of DC’s future once Warner Bros. Discovery completes a potential sale.

While we have been told Gunn is out, particularly with Paramount’s purchase of WBD, the YouTuber says even with Netflix, it’s looking like Gunn will be out. The reason, according to the YouTuber? Gunn’s DCU is too goofy.

Superman Criticized as “Cartoonish” and “Fake”

In a new video titled “Revealing Netflix big DC plan!! Exclusive,” Tachyon Pulse relayed comments he says came from an industry analyst, raising doubts about Gunn’s creative direction and long-term future at DC Studios.

Tachyon Pulse described James Gunn’s Superman as leaning too far into silliness, echoing concerns allegedly shared by an analyst who is said to have business involved in the industry:

“James Gunn has took it and become almost like a cartoon and that is actually the word that he used to describe it.”

While praising parts of the film, he pointed to moments that didn’t land:

“There’s three or four moments in it that make you go oh for God’s sake… saving the squirrel where Superman saved a squirrel — bit silly.”

He also highlighted a specific action sequence that analysts reportedly flagged as weak:

“A lot of analysts and a lot of people in the industry looked at that and said that that scene was not good… It didn’t feel like a war zone. It felt like a cartoon. It felt not real. It felt plastic. It felt fake.”

DC Won’t Reset Again — But Gunn May Not Stay

According to Tachyon Pulse, the analyst believes DC will not scrap the current universe and start over again, despite dissatisfaction with some creative choices:

“They will not scrap this universe and start again. They just won’t.”

However, that doesn’t mean Gunn is locked in long-term:

“Even though they won’t do a full reset, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll stick with Gunn.”

Gunn’s DC Studios deal reportedly runs through 2027, as does co-CEO Peter Safran’s:

“What I’m being told is that the word within the industry… is that Safran is well respected and they really want him to move forward, but creatively they feel that James Gunn is maybe not the person to take it forwards.”

Batman Is the Biggest Problem

The YouTuber also echoes what we have been told: there are huge worries what James Gunn will do with Batman (Andy Muschietti has confirmed the DCU Batman is on hold).

One of the biggest red flags raised by the analyst was how Batman fits into Gunn’s DCU tone:

“How do you bring Batman, the biggest character in the DC arguably, into this project when it is done like a kids cartoon?”

Tachyon Pulse also said the current standalone Batman universe under Matt Reeves may not continue:

“I’m actually being told that’s very unlikely to continue either. They are going to want to bring Batman into this new universe, and that won’t work with Robert Pattinson.”

Too Many Characters, Too Much Humor

He criticized the crowded cast and tonal overload:

“I actually think there was way too much going on in this film anyway with all the different characters they brought into it.”

Hawkgirl and the Justice Gang were singled out:

“I thought her Hawkgirl’s character was awful… The whole thing with the Justice Gang, I think shouldn’t have been in this movie.”

While Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner performance was praised, it was also seen as excessive:

“Nathan Fillian actually played it really well, but it was maybe too much within this movie.”

Netflix Wants DC to Go Darker — But Not Snyder-Dark

According to the analyst cited, Netflix prefers a more serious DC tone, though not a full return to the Snyder era:

“Netflix in particular’s opinion is that it needs to go a little bit more back towards a darker, more serious project.”

He added:

“They don’t want to go Snyder. They don’t want to go that far… but they do want to maybe pull a few of those things out.”

Several scenes in Superman reportedly clashed with that vision:

“There’s four or five scenes in the Superman movie that if they’d have pulled out would have been more what Netflix were thinking at.”

Gunn Could Be Out in 2027

James Gunn and Peter Safran recently had their DCU contracts extended by only six months, which aligns with when the sale of WBD to Netflix will go through.

If a Netflix deal happens, Tachyon Pulse says the industry whispers point toward a leadership change:

“So, James Gunn could be out in 2027.”

He questioned whether Gunn can adjust his style:

“I actually think he can’t quite help himself. So, how would he bring Batman into this universe?”

What This Means Going Forward

None of this is confirmed, but it aligns with growing skepticism around Gunn’s approach to DC’s most valuable characters.

If WBD is sold and Netflix takes a major role, DC may be heading toward a more grounded, less comedic direction — with or without James Gunn.

What we have been told

We’ve actually been told the SnyderVerse is back in play, especially with Paramount and the Saudis. If Netflix does end up buying WBD, Snyder could always return to do The Dark Knight Returns.

While the YouTuber suggests Netflix will stick with the current DCU but go on the more serious side without James Gunn, similar to the — SnyderVerse without bringing it back — we’ve been told the SnyderVerse will return and then DC will go through another reboot, likely under head of WB films, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy.

There is also doubt whether the Netflix WBD deal will go through.