"I Think We'll Survive:" James Gunn Addresses Faction Of DC Fans Who Want To Restore The Snyderverse

After being shown a DC fan pushing for a boycott of Superman, its director James Gunn responded to the call for Zack Snyder to resume control over the DCU. Snyder first became involved with the brand with 2013’s Man of Steel, which led to sequels and spinoffs, two of which were directed by him. Though the franchise has a cult following, the DCEU, as it was then called, received a mixed critical reception and varying box office success. This, combined with creative disagreements among studio leadership, ultimately led to a total reboot.

Announced in 2022, Gunn and Peter Safran took the reins as DC Studios Co-CEOs, and they scrapped most of the original DCEU material and casting choices. Doing so proved controversial, as many DC fans liked the grittier approach Snyder took. Gunn and Safran’s era is instead marked by comic book accuracy and, judging by Superman’s marketing, embracing their absurdity.

Over on Threads, user @watchallirish sent Gunn a screenshot of a Reddit post revealing another user’s plan to apparently sink Superman. It consisted of three steps: post spoilers everywhere, leave bad reviews, and reserve tickets without completing the purchase. In response, Gunn stated: “I think we’ll survive. I’m not sure the eight people that listen to that guy (I’m going to go out on a limb and guess it’s a guy) are going to impact the course of events.“

While Gunn’s response was flippant towards a side of the DC fandom that still wants more from Snyder and actor Henry Cavill, he is right in noting that this Reddit post’s reach will likely not make a dent in Superman’s profit. The film is currently tracking to have a blockbuster opening in the range of $154 to $175 million, with some projections indicating it could have an opening haul as high as $184 million.

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Aside from the boycotting effort, it is important to note that Gunn personally did not sink the DCEU. The franchise was facing diminishing returns by 2022, which was the main cause for leadership changing. Moreover, the director has a positive relationship with Snyder as indicated by his reveal that he spoke with the latter about his Superman’s suit and a photo of the two hanging out. The ill will regarding the reboot seems to stem from the DC fan community.

David Corenswet's Superman looking mad with smoke around him in the DCU Superman movie — Image by Felipe Rangel

There’s no denying that Snyder got a raw deal, through no fault of Gunn’s. He spearheaded the DCEU, but had to step away due to a personal emergency. As a result, Justice League was taken over by another director, Joss Whedon, who completely abandoned his vision on the film. Eventually, SYnder was able to restore his own cut of the film, but the failure of the theatrical version of Justice League did irreparable damage to the DCEU’s reputation among general audiences.

Regardless, DC Studios is charting a new course instead of dwelling on the past. It’s a shame for fans who had wanted more of Cavill’s Man of Steel, but for Gunn and Safran to defibrillate the DC brand, they decided a fresh start would be best. Superman will serve as a test as to whether this strategy pans out.