Following the recent report from Puck News, I heard back from my insiders who suggest that James Gunn is already done at DC.
The insiders point to how Puck reported that Paramount executives went above Gunn and visited Weapons director Zach Cregger in Prague, where he is filming his new Resident Evil movie, to talk about his DC pitch.
De Luca and Abdy, Not Gunn, Are the Ones Who Brought In Cregger
As my insiders previously pointed out, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, the heads of WB Films, are the ones who brought Zach Cregger into Warner Bros.
Weapons was huge. As was Minecraft, which De Luca dated the sequel only two weeks after Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow.
Both De Luca and Abdy have had their contracts renewed. James Gunn’s contract has not been renewed and expires next year.
De Luca’s Original DC Plans
My insiders also said that following Zack Snyder restoring the SnyderVerse, De Luca and Abdy would reboot DC.
Recall that that I was told De Luca’s original plan for The Flash was to bring back the DCEU, bring back Ben Affleck as Batman, bring back Henry Cavill as Superman, and build toward a big Batman Multiverse with Michael Keaton also back as Batman.
That all went away when James Gunn launched the DCU.
Gunn’s Creative Style Continues to Clash With Talent
Also recall how my insider said Gunn “isn’t talent friendly and is stubborn about his vision.”
That appears to be exactly what is happening with Zach Cregger, who was supposed to pitch Gunn his DC film.
Something clearly changed, because Paramount traveled across the world to hear the pitch instead — and they haven’t even closed the WBD deal, yet.
Consolidation Under De Luca and Abdy Is Already Beginning
My insider says:
“Zach Cregger was brought in by Mike De Luca for Weapons at WB, so this is a sign for things to come, a consolidation of DC Studios overseen by the primary studio heads — DeLuca and Abdy.”
With the WBD Sale, Gunn Is Out and a New DC Is Forming
With the WBD sale, I’m told James Gunn is out, Zack Snyder is back with the SnyderVerse, and eventually under Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, a new DC universe will be reborn — if hasn’t started already.
To sum things up:
- Gunn is out once the WBD sale closes.
- Paramount is buying WBD and already acting like the new owner.
- Paramount plans to keep Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy in charge.
- De Luca and Abdy are the ones who originally brought in Zach Cregger.
- Paramount traveled across the world to hear Cregger’s DC movie pitch — not Gunn.
- De Luca previously planned to restore the SnyderVerse before Gunn shut it down.
- The SnyderVerse returns with the WBD sale.
- De Luca and Abdy will lead the new DC going forward.
