James Gunn’s latest project, Superman, is soaring at the global box office, surpassing $400 million in revenue. This success marks a significant revival for the DC universe. However, beneath the surface of this triumph lies a tumultuous journey that nearly cost him his career.
A Near Career Collapse
James Gunn’s career was once on the brink of destruction, a fact he revisited during a recent discussion about one of the most painful episodes of his professional life. The story dates back to 2018 when Gunn directed two installments of Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel Studios, earning widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. However, everything changed in a matter of hours.
Gunn’s public criticisms of former President Donald Trump triggered a backlash, leading a conservative influencer to unearth old tweets from the filmmaker. These tweets, written between 2008 and 2012, contained shocking jokes that were deemed inappropriate, dealing with sensitive subjects such as pedophilia and sexual violence.
A Petition for Redemption
Despite the age of the offensive posts, they sparked significant outrage. Gunn was compelled to publicly apologize, which coincided with his firing from Disney, preventing him from completing the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. This decision shocked fans, leading to a divided response in Hollywood. An online petition for his reinstatement garnered thousands of signatures, and several MCU actors, including Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, and Zoe Saldana, came to his defense.
A Personal Comeback
Recently, in the Armchair Expert podcast, Gunn opened up about this period in his life.
I thought my life was over. I believed my career was finished.
He faced the prospect of living off his meager savings for years, contemplating a life away from the limelight. For Gunn, this was akin to a forced retirement. However, he also shared that the experience provided him with profound life lessons:
I wanted to be rich and famous so people would love me. But this crisis taught me that love can come in other forms.
During those challenging times, his loved ones provided steadfast public support.
It might have been the worst day of my life. But as I lay down that night, I thought it could also be the best.
Ironically, it was DC Comics, a direct competitor to Marvel, that welcomed the talented director. In 2021, Gunn directed The Suicide Squad, which was a considerable success. By 2022, Warner Bros appointed him co-president of DC Studios. Subsequently, Disney, realizing their hasty decision, reinstated him as the director for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, released in 2023 and ranked among the best films in the MCU since Avengers: Endgame, achieving tremendous box office success.
For James Gunn, Superman stands not only as a personal success but also as a testament to his resilience and comeback.
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