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James Gunn Reveals Why He Left Marvel for DC and Didn’t Return After Guardians Vol. 3

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Supporters are still in disarray following James Gunn‘s departure from Marvel, as offensive tweets dating back to the director’s past surfaced before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which appeared to make light of pedophilia and the Holocaust. This chain of events ultimately resulted in his dismissal by Disney, and this decision sparked a sequence of occurrences that eventually led to the emergence of the DC Universe and Gunn distancing himself from the Marvel brand.

Previously, Gunn had made films that weren’t with Marvel Studios, but it was ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ that truly established his reputation. Unfortunately, a series of questionable tweets led to Gunn losing his position before ‘Guardians 3’. This situation, however, presented an opening for DC to step in and hire him instead.

Following his dismissal from Marvel Studios in 2018, Gunn eventually regained his position as director for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, this brief period sparked interest from Warner Bros., causing him to take on a leadership role within the entire DC Universe instead.

2023 marked the release of my final film under Marvel with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”. Post that, I ventured into a new universe by introducing Warner Bros.’ DCU, and recently, our first installment, starring David Corenswet as Superman, graced the big screen for the very first time.

Why Did James Gunn Leave Marvel?

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share my insights about the journey of James Gunn, the brilliant mind behind some of the most loved Marvel movies. You might recall his departure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) following the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Well, let me fill you in on what really went down and why this master storyteller didn’t continue with the red brand after that epic film.

A significant portion of it revolves around a social media storm he faced back in 2018. The controversy on Twitter, as it were, played a crucial role in his decision to move on from Marvel and explore new creative horizons at DC Studios, where he now serves as co-CEO.

In July 2018, several old controversial posts from a filmmaker resurfaced, leading Disney to terminate his work on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, Alan Horn, announced this, stating that the offensive tweets and comments found on the filmmaker’s Twitter account were unjustifiable and contrary to the studio’s values (as reported by BBC).

The disrespectful comments and tweets found on James’ account are unjustifiable…These actions contradict our company’s principles, leading us to terminate our professional ties with him.

The choice faced a broad array of criticism from many actors within Gunn’s films, numerous media personalities, and the general public.

In July 2025, Gunn openly discussed the impact of his dismissal from Disney. On the show “Happy, Sad, Confused,” he admitted that he believed his career had come to an end, but it was the support he received during the aftermath that made him feel loved for the first time in his life.

Completely, they believed it was all finished. Completely, they felt it was completely done with. Completely, they pondered what their next move should be. And completely, they suspected they might have to sell their house and find ways to save the money they had earned so far to sustain them for the rest of their life…When that transpired, I experienced a sense of loss as if everything in my life was taken away at once. However, in that instant, many people showed me affection when I thought my career was over, and for the first time in my life, I felt loved.

After much public pressure, Disney eventually relented and reappointed Gunn as the director for Guardians 3 in March 2019, eight months later. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. seized the opportunity and stepped into the fray.

As stated by Gunn, over a span of eight months, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige persistently worked to reinstate the director of Guardians for the third movie. However, it was during this period that Toby Emmerich from WB approached him (as reported on Armchair Expert)).

I was in a difficult situation because Kevin Feige was trying to take over my position. I spoke with Alan Horn, who I admired greatly, but things didn’t work out. I left and then Toby Emmerick from Warner Bros. approached me instead.

Initially, Emmerich proposed the idea of a Superman remake to Gunn for the studio. However, he later shifted his attention towards The Suicide Squad, which turned out to be Gunn’s debut project with DC.

The individual repeated, “James Gunn as Superman… James Gunn as Superman.” I responded, “I’m not sure about that, buddy.” Then he asked, “What do you think about Suicide Squad?” Inspired, I concocted a plan. I presented it, and they agreed, “Let’s move forward with it.” There was no jest. Later that day, I received a call at home, and it was Alan Horn who said, “James, could you come in to meet me tomorrow?

Gunn mentioned that committing to The Suicide Squad caused a delay in Guardians, as he was rehired by Marvel following his work on the DC film. He recollected telling Feige, “I’ll be working on a Suicide Squad sequel“, to which Marvel Studios executive responded, “Go ahead and do it. We’ll make Guardians [Vol. 3] afterwards:”

Gunn explained that his involvement in The Suicide Squad pushed back the production of Guardians, as he was brought back to Marvel Studios after finishing the DC project. He said he told Feige, “I’m doing a Suicide Squad sequel“, and Feige replied, “Go ahead, and we’ll work on Guardians [Vol. 3] later:”

Apologies for the confusion, I need to attend to something else before moving on. Incidentally, I just recalled that Kevin had asked me about doing Superman, but I’ve committed to a Suicide Squad sequel instead. His reaction was one of surprise, followed by understanding. He said it’s alright, and we can proceed with the Suicide Squad project first, after which we’ll work on Guardians [Vol. 3].

In 2021, Gunn’s film “The Suicide Squad” received widespread acclaim, garnering praise from executives at Warner Bros. This positive response, along with Warner Bros.’ initial steps in its own DC Extended Universe (DCEU), prompted the studio to invite the director of “Guardians” to lead their upcoming projects within a new DC Universe being overseen by him and producer Peter Safran.

Initially, James Gunn fulfilled his promise by directing “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” for Marvel Studios, which hit theaters in May 2023. However, following his appointment as head of the new DCU towards the end of 2022, a change occurred. Now, Gunn is deeply immersed in the world of DC Comics, breathing its vibrant blue brand.

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2025-07-15 05:05

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