James Gunn Sounds Off on ‘Really Lazy’ Superhero Movies and Bad Third Acts: There’s No ‘Rhyme or Reason to What’s Happening on Screen

James Gunn Criticizes Superhero Movies for Lazy Storytelling and Generic Third Acts

In a recent interview on the “Inside of You” podcast, James Gunn expressed his concern over the saturation of superhero movies and television shows. As the new co-boss of DC Studios, along with Peter Safran, Gunn reassured fans that the company would exercise caution in not overextending itself with content while launching the new DC Universe. This new universe will feature Gunn’s “Superman: Legacy” and other projects.

Gunn emphasized that while the abundance of superhero content is a problem, the bigger issue lies in lazy storytelling within the genre. He believes that many filmmakers have become complacent, producing movies merely because they revolve around superheroes or because their predecessors were successful. Gunn argues that they fail to consider what makes each story unique, the significance of the characters, and how the narrative fulfills the audience’s needs.

According to Gunn, superhero films often suffer from a lack of coherence in their third acts. He finds it disheartening when the events unfolding on screen seem arbitrary and devoid of purpose. Gunn believes that this contributes to a disinterest in the characters, as the films become too generic and formulaic.

To address these problems, Gunn proposes exploring different genres within the superhero movie genre itself, rather than sticking to a middle-of-the-road approach. He appreciates both serious and comedic superhero movies, as well as those that incorporate elements of murder mysteries. Gunn believes that showcasing diverse storytelling approaches will prevent the genre from becoming repetitive.

Gunn and Safran’s vision for the new DC Universe encompasses films, television series, and video games. Alongside “Superman: Legacy,” which Gunn is writing and directing, the DC Universe film slate will include “Supergirl: World of Tomorrow” and “Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” helmed by “The Flash” director, Andy Muschietti.