Prior to James Gunn’s pivotal role at DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, he was presented with an extraordinary opportunity to helm a new Superman movie within the DCEU. Surprisingly, he declined the offer.

“When I was originally offered to direct Superman back in 2018, I said no,” Gunn elaborated during a recent Q&A session. “I felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of the task. I was uncertain about how I could approach it. Additionally, there were various other events surrounding Superman at that time.“

In 2018, Warner Bros. was grappling with the fallout from the box office disappointment of Joss Whedon’s Justice League. This film also marked the final appearance of Henry Cavill as Superman until his brief cameo in Black Adam. Although there was a palpable interest in reviving the Superman franchise, it was evident that the studio was indecisive about whether Cavill would continue in the role.

Gunn continued, “They were concerned about the potential political implications. I felt it would be too complicated. So I declined the offer and opted to direct The Suicide Squad, which was a project I felt more comfortable with. In retrospect, I’m glad I made that choice; it was an enjoyable experience.“

Nevertheless, the character of Superman lingered in Gunn’s thoughts. “I kept pondering how I would approach it if I ever did. What would my vision for that movie be? How could I make it relevant for today’s audiences? How could I ensure it resonated with people?” Gunn questioned himself. “Eventually, I began to consider that maybe this was a project I could undertake. So, when they came back to me with the idea of writing a new Superman film about three years ago, I embraced the opportunity.” The outcome is the highly anticipated Superman, set to officially debut in theaters this Friday.

The film has garnered predominantly favorable reviews, although our own Chris Bumbray noted it suffered from an excessively crowded cast, awkward humor, and some less-than-stellar CGI effects. “It will be fascinating to observe how audiences react to Gunn’s vision of Superman,” Bumbray remarked. “I commend him for taking bold risks and presenting a distinctly different interpretation of the character. However, in my view, the film becomes mired in spectacle and lacks the warmth, humanity, and emotional depth that are essential for Superman to connect with modern audiences as he once did with previous generations.” For more insights, you can read his complete review right here.