James Gunn Defends The DCU Not Retelling Superman And Batman"s Origin Stories: "Everyone Knows Them"
Recently, DC Studios co-CEO and president James Gunn addressed why his take on major DC characters will not necessarily include their backstories. His DC Universe will kick off its film side in July of 2025 with Superman, starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult. Despite introducing a new iteration of the Man of Tomorrow and his world, the film will not be a retelling of his origin.
User @shubhang.fearless wrote to Gunn on Threads, seemingly expressing frustration, asking: "James, why are you overlooking origin stories? Those make us connect with the characters well at [an] emotional level." In response, the DC Studios boss answered: "I’m not telling Batman and Superman’s origin stories again because everyone knows them." Gunn is, of course, correct. Batman"s origin has been done several times in big-budget films as has Superman"s. Moreover, both heroes had their origins chronicled in a television series, with Gotham and Smallville, respectively. Audiences already know the characters, so it makes sense to jump straight into the action.
What James Gunn's DCU Origin Story Comments Mean Close Interestingly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe mostly took this approach with Spider-Man. Tom Holland"s Peter Parker was at the start of his career in heroism when he first showed up in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. Subsequently, the first and second installments in the MCU Spider-Man film series didn"t touch his origin. Even so, Holland"s take on the character is beloved by fans, proving that a backstory doesn"t have to be shown when the hero is iconic and well-known.
User @shubhang.fearless wrote to Gunn on Threads, seemingly expressing frustration, asking: "James, why are you overlooking origin stories? Those make us connect with the characters well at [an] emotional level." In response, the DC Studios boss answered: "I’m not telling Batman and Superman’s origin stories again because everyone knows them." Gunn is, of course, correct. Batman"s origin has been done several times in big-budget films as has Superman"s. Moreover, both heroes had their origins chronicled in a television series, with Gotham and Smallville, respectively. Audiences already know the characters, so it makes sense to jump straight into the action.
What James Gunn's DCU Origin Story Comments Mean Close Interestingly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe mostly took this approach with Spider-Man. Tom Holland"s Peter Parker was at the start of his career in heroism when he first showed up in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. Subsequently, the first and second installments in the MCU Spider-Man film series didn"t touch his origin. Even so, Holland"s take on the character is beloved by fans, proving that a backstory doesn"t have to be shown when the hero is iconic and well-known.
