Superman: James Gunn Unveils Strategy to Support VFX Artists

In recent years, the world of Hollywood blockbusters has often been plagued by criticism over the quality of visual effects (VFX). James Gunn responds to a fan question about overworked and underpaid VFX artists.

Major releases, including Marvel films and DC’s The Flash (we were told the VFX artists didn’t have time to finish the special effects which has been confirmed), have been scrutinized for their subpar CGI, a consequence of the intense pressure and grueling deadlines imposed on overworked and underpaid VFX artists by the studios.

As a result, audiences have grown increasingly frustrated with the noticeable dip in quality, especially in big-budget productions where expectations are sky-high from fans.

However, James Gunn, the head of the DC Universe (DCU) and director of the upcoming new Superman movie is taking a stand against this industry-wide issue. In response to a question on Threads about his approach to VFX in his DC films and Superman, Gunn emphasized his commitment to treating VFX artists with the respect they deserve and ensuring they have the time necessary to deliver high-quality work.

“If you do some research, you’ll see my films have always taken a different approach, and I’ve always given my VFX artist-collaborators time to do their jobs properly, and the respect they deserve,” Gunn replied to the fan. “And the quality of the VFX in those films is uniformly great because of it (and because my friends at Weta and Framestore and ILM and more are amazingly talented).”

Gunn continued with mention of both Supergirl and the upcoming Superman movie.

“This is why we wrapped on Superman a year before release and why they’ve been hard at work on many shots for months before that,” he explained. “This is why we start heartily editing during the shoot. It’s why I prepare so vigorously and why we only shoot finished screenplays. And Supergirl, which I’m not directing, is being handled the same way. I can’t praise the VFX artists that help us create magic enough.”

Superman gets released on July 11, 2025 starring David Corneswet; Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow hits theaters on June 26, 2026 starring Milly Alcock.