It’s claimed that Warner Bros. is finding James Gunn’s online behavior more and more annoying and that it’s hurting things more than helping things.
The claim follows Gunn recently shooting down a rumor that Robin is in Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II script.
What did James Gunn say?
Gunn replied to the rumor:
“Guys please stop believing this nonsense. I think six of us have read the script. No one knows anything about The Batman 2.”
Jeff Sneider Blasts Gunn
The rumor came via entertainment scooper Jeff Sneider, who isn’t too happy with Gunn’s approach. Speaking on The Hot Mic on YouTube, Sneider blasted the DC Studios boss:
“I know who my source is. I know my source has been right about a whole bunch of stories that have been confirmed this week…”
“Unfortunately, James Gunn has proven himself to be about as trustworthy as Lance Armstrong in my book. I don’t believe a word out of his mouth… One of the things I was told unequivocally, Robin is in the script…”
“I don’t give a f–k what James Gunn says anymore. This guy is the most annoying studio head I’ve ever heard of or met or seen, or anything. I don’t think it’s winning him any fans. I don’t think it’s winning him fans on the Warner Bros. lot, where I know people find him and his antics to be annoying.”
Sneider also jabbed Gunn over Superman’s box office:
“Bro, your movie is maybe, probably going to get to $600 million. Take that ‘W,’ if we want to call it [that], and shut up. Shut up. Go focus on reading scripts and making movies and TV shows, because it seems you get paid a lot of money to spend a lot of time on Bluesky and Threads.”
Sneider also promised to leak everything he hears:
“Guess what? More people I know are going to have read read that f’n script, and I’m gonna f’n leak every g-ddamn f’n thing I hear about it because he’s an ahole. Okay. Matt Reeves doesn’t behave like this. Matt Reeves, I’m totally cool with. No beef with Matt Reeves at all. James Gunn, you want to f’n dance, bro? What can you do to me? You can’t do f’n anything to me, whereas I can rip your f’n universe apart. So watch yourself, my friend.”
Early Digital Release Adds Fuel to the Fire
Sneider’s $600M prediction might not be far off (mine was $630 before the digital release announcement). WB just announced Superman will be released digitally on Friday — only 35 days after it opened in theaters. The move comes as the box office stalls, especially overseas, and could frustrate exhibitors.
Fans online are overwhelmingly upset about the early drop, calling it too soon and saying it kills the theatrical run. Others see it as a bad sign for Gunn’s newly launched DCU.
A Divisive Start for the DCU
From day one, Superman has split the fanbase. Some loved it, others hated it. Whether the film’s soft box office affects the DCU’s future remains to be seen.
On the positive side, WB may be viewing it as the launchpad for the new DCU — similar to how Iron Man kickstarted the MCU or how Batman Begins set up The Dark Knight Trilogy.
On the negative side, Gunn’s Superman is tracking below all of his Guardians of the Galaxy films and well below Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
