James Gunn | |
---|---|
Born | James Francis Gunn Jr. August 5, 1966 [n 1] |
Education | Loyola Marymount University Saint Louis University (BA) Columbia University (MFA) |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1989–present |
Employer | Warner Bros. Discovery |
Title | Co-chairman and Co-CEO of DC Studios |
Spouses | |
Relatives |
|
James Francis Gunn Jr. (born August 5, 1966) [n 1] is an American filmmaker. He began his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s, starting at Troma Entertainment with Tromeo and Juliet (1996). He then began working as a director, starting with the horror-comedy film Slither (2006), and moving to the superhero genre with Super (2010), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).
In 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery hired Gunn and Peter Safran to become co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios. [1] Under DC Studios, Gunn will co-produce and executive produce every film and television series under the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) media franchise alongside Safran, which will act as a soft-reboot of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). In the DCU, he is the creator of the series Creature Commandos (2024) and the writer-director of the upcoming film Superman (2025).
He also wrote and directed the web series James Gunn's PG Porn (2008–2009), the HBO Max original series Peacemaker (2022–present) and the Disney+ original special The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022). Other work for which he is known include writing for the 2004 remake of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978), writing the live-action adaptation of Scooby Doo (2002), and its sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), writing and producing the horror-action film The Belko Experiment (2016), producing the superhero-horror film Brightburn (2019), and contributing to comedy-anthology film Movie 43 (2013) (directing the segment "Beezel") and the 2012 hack-and-slash video game Lollipop Chainsaw .
James Francis Gunn Jr. [2] was born on August 5, 1966 [3] [n 1] in St. Louis, Missouri, [4] to parents James F. Gunn, an attorney, and Leota "Lee" (Hynek). [8] [9] [10] He was raised Catholic [11] in the St. Louis suburb of Manchester, Missouri. [12] [13] He has five siblings — actor Sean, actor and political writer Matt, screenwriter Brian, Patrick, and Beth. [14] [15] [16] Gunn is of Irish descent [17] his father coming from an Irish immigrant family. [18] Gunn has stated that his family's surname was originally the Irish name MacGilgunn and that it means "sons to the servants of the god of the dead"; it actually means "son of the brown youth." [19] [20] [21] [22]
Growing up, Gunn was influenced by low-budget films such as Night of the Living Dead and Friday the 13th . He read magazines like Fangoria and attended genre movie screenings, including the original Dawn of the Dead at the Tivoli Theatre in St. Louis. At the age of 12, he began making 8 mm zombie films with his brothers in the woods near their home. [23]
Gunn and his brothers all attended the Jesuit St. Louis University High School, where he graduated in 1984. [7] [8] He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Louis University. [24] While at Saint Louis University, Gunn created political cartoons for the school's student weekly, The University News. [25] Gunn said that, at an unspecified time in his college education, "I went to two years undergraduate film school at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. But I was pretty screwed up at the time, and had to leave. Years later I went to graduate school at the Columbia University School of Fine Arts but I studied prose writing, not film writing." [26] He earned a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University in 1995. [27]
While living in St. Louis, Gunn founded a band, The Icons, in 1989, serving as lead vocalist. The group released the album Mom, We Like It Here on Earth in 1994, and its songs "Sunday" and "Walking Naked" were featured in the film Tromeo and Juliet . The Icons disbanded in the mid-1990s. [28] Gunn has continued to work in music, composing songs for Scooby-Doo , Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed , and Movie 43 .
Gunn began his career in filmmaking with Troma Entertainment in 1996, for which he co-wrote the independent film Tromeo and Juliet . Working alongside his mentor Lloyd Kaufman, the co-founder of Troma, Gunn learned how to write screenplays, produce films, scout locations, direct actors, distribute films, and create his own poster art. [23] After contributing to several other Troma films, Gunn in 2000 wrote, produced and performed in the superhero comedy The Specials , directed by Craig Mazin and featuring Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden Church, Paget Brewster, Judy Greer and Jamie Kennedy.
Gunn's first major Hollywood screenplay was Scooby-Doo in 2002. In 2004, he wrote the screenplays for the remake of Dawn of the Dead and the sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. With these films, Gunn became the first screenwriter to have two films top the box office in consecutive weeks. [29] That same year, he executive produced and starred in the mockumentary LolliLove , directed by and starring his then-wife Jenna Fischer. His film directorial debut was the 2006 horror-comedy Slither , which was included on Rotten Tomatoes' list of the 50 Best Ever Reviewed Horror Movies. [30]
Gunn's next projects included the comedy short film "Humanzee!" which was originally intended exclusively for the Xbox Live's Horror Meets Comedy series of short comedy films by horror directors, it was replaced with "Sparky and Mikaela" which debuted on Xbox Live on December 31, 2008. In an April 2009 interview on The Jace Hall Show, Gunn described "Sparky and Mikaela" as being "about a human [and] racoon crime fighting team and they fight crime in both the forest world, among the furry animals, and in the human world". [31] Gunn also has a short-form web series for Spike.com titled James Gunn's PG Porn .
In 2008, Gunn was a judge on the VH1 reality television show Scream Queens , where 10 unknown actresses compete for a role in the film Saw VI . [32]
In 2009, Gunn announced he was going to write and direct Pets, a comedy about a man who is abducted by aliens who want to turn him into a household pet, with Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld and Jeremy Kramer producing. [33] However, by March 2009, Gunn announced, "Pets unfortunately, is done. I'm gone. I left the project for various reasons. I hope it sees the light of day somehow, but it won't be with me attached as director." [34]
In 2010, Gunn released Super , a dark comedy and superhero satire starring Rainn Wilson and Elliot Page. He also directed a segment of the 2013 comedy anthology film Movie 43 (2013); the segment starred Elizabeth Banks and Josh Duhamel. The film was critically panned.
Gunn co-wrote and directed the Marvel Studios adaptation of Guardians of the Galaxy , which was released on August 1, 2014. [35] His brother, Sean, has a role in the film. Gunn has appeared as an actor, mostly in smaller roles or uncredited appearances in his own projects. After Dan Gilroy and Jack Black separately lamented the proliferation of superhero films, [36] Gunn responded in a Facebook post, saying in part:
Popular fare in any medium has always been snubbed by the self-appointed elite. ... What bothers me slightly is that many people assume because you make big films that you put less love, care, and thought into them than people do who make independent films or who make what are considered more serious Hollywood films. ... If you think people who make superhero movies are dumb, come out and say we're dumb. But if you, as an independent filmmaker or a 'serious' filmmaker, think you put more love into your characters than the Russo Brothers do Captain America, or Joss Whedon does the Hulk, or I do a talking raccoon, you are simply mistaken. [37]
Gunn wrote and produced the horror film The Belko Experiment , which was released in 2017. [38] In 2016, he directed three Stan Lee cameo scenes in one day, for the film Doctor Strange and two unrevealed projects. [39] [40] [41]
Gunn wrote and directed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). [42] [43] [44] Gunn was slated to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in July 2018, but before the project started, Disney severed ties with Gunn as the director amid controversy over off-color jokes he had tweeted. [45] Gunn was rehired in March 2019 after a mass public appeal, many saying he was the reason of the previous movies' successes. [46]
In October 2018, Gunn was hired to write a completely new script for the DC Extended Universe film The Suicide Squad , with the intention of also serving as director, after its original director Gavin O'Connor left due to scheduling issues. [47] [48] In January 2019, he was officially confirmed to direct The Suicide Squad. [49] He also wrote, directed, and produced the spin-off television series for the film centered on the character Peacemaker played by John Cena for Max. [50] Gunn also co-wrote and co-produced a live-action/animated film titled Coyote vs. Acme , based on the Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote, for Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. [51]
Gunn wrote a novel in 2000, The Toy Collector , a story of a hospital orderly who steals drugs from the hospital which he sells to help keep his toy collection habit alive. In 1998, he and Troma's President Lloyd Kaufman co-wrote All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger , about his experiences with Kaufman while working at Troma.
He wrote the story for Grasshopper Manufacture's video game Lollipop Chainsaw , working with game designer Suda 51. [52]
In July 2018, in reaction to Gunn's public criticisms of President Donald Trump, commentator Mike Cernovich drew attention to controversial jokes that Gunn posted on social media between 2008 and 2012 involving pedophilia and the Holocaust. [53] [54] Amid criticism of the tweets, Disney severed ties with Gunn as the director of the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 film at the time; [55] Gunn responded: "I have regretted [those jokes] for many years since. [...] Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then. All I can do now [is offer] my sincere and heartfelt regret [...] To everyone inside my industry and beyond, I again offer my deepest apologies." [55] [56]
Walt Disney Studios's decision received criticism from many entertainers and journalists, including actors Dave Bautista, Selma Blair, Patton Oswalt, David Dastmalchian, Michael Ian Black, Mikaela Hoover, Mike Colter, Alex Winter, David Hasselhoff, directors Joe Carnahan and Fede Álvarez, comics artist Jim Starlin, musician Rhett Miller, comedian Jim Jefferies, Rick and Morty creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, journalist David A. French and Troma Entertainment founder and president Lloyd Kaufman. [a] Bobcat Goldthwait, who worked as a voice actor on the 1997 Disney film Hercules , responded to the incident by asking Disney to remove his voice from an upcoming park attraction based on the film. [66]
A number of media outlets criticized Disney's decision, including Collider , Cartoon Brew , The Daily Dot , The Independent , National Review , MovieWeb , and Vulture . [67] [58] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] An online petition urging Disney to re-hire Gunn received over 400,000 signatures. [57] [73] [74] [75] On July 30, 2018, Guardians of the Galaxy cast members Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Sean Gunn, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff and Michael Rooker released a joint statement through social media expressing their support for Gunn. [76]
Because of the situation, Sony Pictures decided to not promote the horror film Brightburn , which Gunn produced, at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con. [77] However, when the first trailer for the film was released on December 8, 2018, Gunn's name was prominently featured. The film opened in May 2019. [78]
In March 2019, Gunn was reinstated by Disney as director of the film after meeting with Alan Horn, chairman of Walt Disney Studios. Gunn started production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in October 2021, after The Suicide Squad had been completed. [46]
Gunn and frequent producing partner Peter Safran had advised David Zaslav, the CEO of the newly created Warner Bros. Discovery, during his search for a new head of DC Films. The duo impressed Zaslav who decided to appoint them as the co-chairpersons and CEOs of DC Films, rebranded as "DC Studios", with control over films, animation and television projects based on characters from DC Comics. Gunn oversees the creative aspects and will be exclusive to Warner Bros. Discovery during his tenure, except for his prior commitments to Disney. The two assumed their positions on November 1, 2022. [79] [80] [81] [82]
In December 2022, Gunn announced that he was writing a film about a young Superman during his early years in Metropolis, [83] later revealed to be titled Superman and scheduled for release in July 2025; in March 2023 it was confirmed Gunn would also direct the project. [84] In January 2023, Gunn and Safran revealed their plans for future DCU films, with the first chapter being titled "Gods and Monsters". Gunn also wrote a seven-episode animated series titled Creature Commandos , based on the comic book team of the same name, [85] and also worked on the HBO Max series Waller, a spin-off of Peacemaker focusing on the character of Amanda Waller, with Christal Henry writing and Viola Davis reprising her role from previous DCEU projects. [86] [87] Gunn is also involved in multiple other DC projects, including producing Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow due for release in 2026. [88] [89]
Gunn married actress Jenna Fischer on October 7, 2000. [8] After seven years of marriage, Gunn and Fischer announced their separation in a joint statement on September 5, 2007, [90] divorcing in 2008. [91] The two remained friends. In 2010, Fischer persuaded Gunn to cast Rainn Wilson, her co-star on The Office , in Gunn's film Super . [23]
Gunn has been in a relationship with actress Jennifer Holland since 2015. [92] In February 2022, Holland and Gunn became engaged, [93] and were married at the end of September 2022. [94]
He has a dog named Ozu, adopted from a shelter in 2022. Gunn has regularly shared photos of the dog and promoted #AdoptDontShop. [95] For that reason as well as his CGI work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, PETA declared Gunn to be their 2023 Person of the Year. [96]
Gunn was raised in a Catholic family and has mentioned how prayer continues to play an important role in his life, [97] but has also said that he is, "in some ways, anti-religion". [98]
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Tromeo and Juliet | Associate | Yes | No | Co-written with Lloyd Kaufman Executive in charge of production |
2000 | The Specials | No | Yes | Associate | |
2002 | Scooby-Doo | No | Yes | No | Story co-written with Craig Titley |
2004 | Dawn of the Dead | No | Yes | No | |
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed | No | Yes | Co-producer | ||
2006 | Slither | Yes | Yes | No | Feature film directorial debut |
2010 | Super | Yes | Yes | No | |
2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Yes | Yes | No | Co-written with Nicole Perlman; also executive soundtrack producer |
2016 | The Belko Experiment | No | Yes | Yes | |
2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Yes | Yes | No | Also executive soundtrack producer |
2019 | Brightburn | No | No | Yes | [99] |
2021 | The Suicide Squad | Yes | Yes | No | |
2023 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Yes | Yes | No | Also executive soundtrack producer |
2025 | Superman | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2026 | Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow | No | No | Yes | |
In development
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | Coyote vs. Acme | No | Story | Yes | Unreleased Story co-written with Jeremy Slater and Samy Burch |
Executive producer
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2004 | LolliLove | Also uncredited writer |
2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Also additional dialogue [100] [101] |
2019 | Avengers: Endgame |
Other roles
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1999 | Terror Firmer | Based on the book "All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger" by Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman |
2001 | Thirteen Ghosts | Uncredited additional writing [102] |
2013 | Thor: The Dark World | Second unit Director: mid-credit sequence |
2016 | Doctor Strange | Uncredited director: Stan Lee's cameo scene |
2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming |
Short films
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Hamster PSA | Yes | Yes | No | |
2004 | Tube | No | Yes | No | |
2008 | Sparky & Mikaela | Yes | Yes | Yes | Web short |
Humanzee! | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
2013 | Beezel | Yes | Yes | No | Segment of Movie 43 |
Acting roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Tromeo and Juliet | Found a peanut father | |
2000 | The Specials | Minute Man | |
Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV | Doctor Flem Hocking | ||
2003 | Doggie Tails, Vol. 1: Lucky's First Sleep-Over | Riley | Direct-to-video |
The Ghouls | Detective Cotton | ||
Melvin Goes to Dinner | Scott | ||
2004 | LolliLove | James | |
2006 | Slither | Hank | Uncredited |
2008 | Humanzee! | James | Web short |
2010 | Super | Demonswill | |
2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Maskless Sakaaran, Baby Groot | Also CGI actor in end-credits scene [103] |
2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Baby Groot | |
2023 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Lambshank | Voice cameo [104] |
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Executive Producer | Creator | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997–2000 | The Tromaville Café | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
2008–2009 | James Gunn's PG Porn | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Web series |
2022–present | Peacemaker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Directed 5 episodes |
2022–2023 | I Am Groot | No | No | Season 1 | No | Shorts series Special thanks Season 2 |
2022 | The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Television special |
2024 | Beast Boy: Lone Wolf | No | No | Yes | No | Shorts series |
2024–present | Creature Commandos | Voice director [105] | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2024–present | DC Metal Force | No | No | Yes | No | Web series |
Acting roles
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1997 | Sgt. Kabukiman Public Service Announcement | Insane Masturbator |
1997–2000 | The Tromaville Café | Mike the Crazy Boom Guy |
2008–2009 | James Gunn's PG Porn | Various roles |
2013 | Holliston | John Anguish |
2015 | Con Man | Raaker 2.0 |
2022 | Harley Quinn [106] | Himself (voice) |
I Am Groot | Wrist Watch (voice) |
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2012 | Lollipop Chainsaw | Writer |
2013 | LocoCycle [107] | Actor: Big Arms Chairman |
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Show scenes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2022 | Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Year [b] | Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Bram Stoker Award | Best Screenplay | Dawn of the Dead | Nominated | |
2006 | Chainsaw Award | Highest Body Count | Slither | Won | |
2007 | Saturn Awards | The Filmmakers Showcase Award | Won | ||
2014 | Golden Raspberry Award | Worst Screenplay (shared with co-writers) | Movie 43 | Won | [108] |
Worst Director (shared with co-directors) | Won | ||||
2015 | Critics' Choice Awards | Best Action Film | Guardians of the Galaxy | Won | [109] |
Grammy Awards | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 | Nominated | [110] | |
Hollywood Film Awards | Blockbuster of the Year | Guardians of the Galaxy | Won | [111] | |
Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form | Won | [112] | ||
Nebula Awards | Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation | Won | [113] | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture | Won | [114] | ||
Best Director | Won | ||||
Best Writing | Nominated | ||||
Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay (shared with Nicole Perlman) | Nominated | [115] | ||
2018 | Grammy Awards | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 | Nominated | [116] |
Saturn Awards | Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Nominated | [117] [118] | |
2022 | Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Peacemaker | Nominated | [119] |
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards | Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema | The Suicide Squad | Nominated | [120] | |
Hollywood Critics Association | Best Action Film | Nominated | [121] | ||
Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Superhero Movie | Nominated | [122] | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Superhero Film | Nominated | [123] | ||
2023 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Fiction Special | The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Won | [124] [125] |
Outstanding Directing for a Single Camera Program | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Short Form Program | I Am Groot | Won |
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1998 | All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger | with Lloyd Kaufman |
2000 | The Toy Collector | |
2003 | Make Your Own Damn Movie: Secrets of a Renegade Director | Introduction only |
Sean Gunn is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Kirk Gleason on The WB series Gilmore Girls (2000–2007), and Kraglin Obfonteri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this role, he has been in the films Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), as well as the animated series What If...? and television film The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022). He also played Weasel and Calendar Man in the Warner Bros./DCEU film The Suicide Squad (2021). He reprised the role of Weasel in the DCU HBO Max series Creature Commandos (2024), where he also plays G.I. Robot. He is the younger brother of director James Gunn and often appears in his productions.
Peter Safran is a British and American film producer, studio executive, and talent manager. He currently serves as the co-chairperson and co-CEO of DC Studios alongside James Gunn.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The franchise also includes several television series, short films, digital series, and literature. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.
Guardians of the Galaxy is a 2014 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 10th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by James Gunn, who wrote the screenplay with Nicole Perlman, it features an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper as the titular Guardians, along with Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio del Toro. In the film, Peter Quill (Pratt) and a group of extraterrestrial criminals go on the run after stealing a powerful artifact.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album for the Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy. Featuring the songs present on Peter Quill's mixtape in the film, the album was released by Hollywood Records on July 29, 2014. A separate film score album, Guardians of the Galaxy (Original Score), composed by Tyler Bates, was also released by Hollywood Records on the same date, along with a deluxe version featuring both albums. The soundtrack album reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, becoming the first soundtrack album in history consisting entirely of previously released songs to top the chart.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a 2017 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and the 15th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Written and directed by James Gunn, the film stars an ensemble cast featuring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell. In the film, the Guardians travel throughout the cosmos as they help Peter Quill (Pratt) learn more about his mysterious parentage.
DC Studios is an American film and television production company that is a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). It is responsible for the production of live-action and animated films and television series, as well as video games, based on characters from the American comic book publisher DC Comics, primarily as part of its flagship media franchise and shared universe, the DC Universe (DCU). The studio has been led by writer/director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran as its co-chairmen and co-CEOs since it was formed in November 2022.
The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. The DCEU also includes comic books, short films, novels, and video games. Like the original DC Universe in comic books, the DCEU is established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.
The Suicide Squad is a 2021 American superhero film based on the DC Comics team Suicide Squad. It is a standalone sequel to Suicide Squad (2016) and the tenth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film was written and directed by James Gunn and stars Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Michael Rooker, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi, Alice Braga, and Pete Davidson. In the film, several convicts join a task force known as the "Suicide Squad" in exchange for lighter sentences. They are sent to the South American island nation of Corto Maltese to destroy all traces of the giant alien starfish Starro the Conqueror before it falls into the local government's control.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a 2023 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), and the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Written and directed by James Gunn, it features an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, and Sylvester Stallone. In the film, the other Guardians race to save the life of Rocket (Cooper) from his creator, the High Evolutionary (Iwuji), who is an alien scientist trying to perfect the universe.
Superman is an upcoming American superhero film based on the eponymous character from DC Comics. Produced by DC Studios and to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it will be the first film in the DC Universe (DCU) and a reboot of the Superman film series. The film is written and directed by James Gunn and stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Neva Howell. In the film, Superman's journey to reconcile his alien heritage with his human family is explored.
Peacemaker is an American superhero television series created by James Gunn for the streaming service HBO Max, based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The first season is the only DC Extended Universe (DCEU) television series and a spin-off from the 2021 film The Suicide Squad. Set after the events of the film, it further explores jingoistic mercenary Christopher Smith / Peacemaker. It was produced by the Safran Company and Troll Court Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and with Gunn as showrunner. The second season is produced by DC Studios and set in the DC Universe (DCU), a "soft reboot" of the DCEU.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is an American television special written and directed by James Gunn for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy. It is the second Marvel Studios Special Presentation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films and television series of the franchise. The special was produced by Marvel Studios, and follows the Guardians of the Galaxy as they celebrate Christmas and search for a present for their leader, Peter Quill.
Christopher "Chris" Smith, also known as the Peacemaker, is a fictional antihero in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and later the DC Universe (DCU) media franchises, based on the Charlton / DC Comics character of the same name. Adapted for film by writer/director James Gunn, he is portrayed by John Cena. Smith operates as a vigilante who aims to achieve peace at any cost, which results in a 30-year prison sentence at Belle Reve Penitentiary. He is approached by the facility's warden and the director of A.R.G.U.S., Amanda Waller, to join a strike team called Task Force X along with other inmates on an infiltration mission to the remote island of Corto Maltese. After being incapacitated during the mission, he is nursed back to health by A.R.G.U.S. and assigned to accompany a group of their agents for "Project Butterfly".
Marvel Studios Special Presentations are a series of television specials produced by Marvel Studios for Disney+, set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the franchise's films and television series. The Marvel Studios Special Presentation banner was revealed alongside the announcement of the first television special, Werewolf by Night (2022), in September 2022. The approximately hour-long specials are envisioned to provide a short look at new characters or concepts to the MCU. The Special Presentations are accompanied by a special fanfare and opening reminiscent of the CBS Special Presentation intro from the 1980s and 1990s.
The DC Universe (DCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe based on characters from DC Comics publications. It was created by James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios. The DCU is a soft reboot of a previous franchise, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), retaining select cast members and narrative elements but disregarding others. In contrast with the previous state of DC Comics adaptations, the DCU features a united continuity and story across live-action films and television, animation, and video games. Concurrent DC adaptations that do not fit this continuity are labeled "DC Elseworlds".
The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) media franchise has experienced a turbulent history since its inception in 2013, characterized by highly publicized clashes between studio executives and talent, constantly changing approaches to worldbuilding, and repeated changes in management. Warner Bros. Pictures originally announced plans for a shared universe of live-action films based on the DC Comics, starting with the release of Man of Steel (2013), with director Zack Snyder set to spearhead the franchise. Following the negative reception to Snyder's follow-up film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Warner Bros. created DC Films, a new division led by Geoff Johns and Jon Berg tasked with overseeing development of the DCEU. DC Films attempted to correct the course of the franchise, culminating in the troubled production and disastrous release of the crossover film Justice League (2017), which significantly deviated from Snyder's original vision.
Creature Commandos is an adult animated superhero television series based on the eponymous team from DC Comics. Produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation, it is the first television series and the first installment in the DC Universe (DCU). The series focuses on a black ops team of monsters assembled by Amanda Waller. All seven episodes of the first season were written by series creator James Gunn, with Dean Lorey serving as showrunner and Yves "Balak" Bigerel as supervising director.
The first season of the American superhero television series Peacemaker is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It is the only television series in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and a spin-off from the 2021 film The Suicide Squad. Set after the events of the film, the season further explores jingoistic mercenary Christopher Smith / Peacemaker. It was produced by the Safran Company and Troll Court Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and with James Gunn as showrunner.
The second season of the American superhero television series Peacemaker is based on the eponymous character from DC Comics. It is set in the DC Universe (DCU) and serves as a "soft reboot" of the series, which started as a spin-off from the 2021 DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film The Suicide Squad. The season continues the story of jingoistic mercenary Christopher Smith / Peacemaker. It is produced by DC Studios with James Gunn as showrunner.
[James Gunn] was the oldest of six siblings — five boys, one girl — all born roughly a year apart starting in 1970.
James Gunn '84, filmmaker and screenwriter; Brian Gunn '88, screenwriter; Matt Gunn '90, writer for HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher; Sean Gunn '92, actor.
Gunn graduated from SLUH in 1984.
And while he directed the Stan Lee cameo in director Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange, he did not direct the Marvel Comics impresario's cameos in the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok or Spider-Man: Homecoming. But, he reveals, 'I did do one that I can't talk about.'Additional on May 5, 2017.
Am I going to have any involvement with Infinity War, yes, I'm an executive producer on Infinity War.