As James Gunn prepares for his new role as DC Studios co-lead, reports say his deal is currently set for four years.
New details emerge on how long James Gunn has been new DC Universe agreement will last. Gunn, who has worked for DC in the past with The suicide squad as well as their rival studio Marvel, has officially teamed up with DC for the foreseeable future as the franchise seeks a new path forward. Teaming up with producer Peter Safran, the two will serve as the presidents and CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios, which is taking over DC Films and charting a new interconnected universe, beginning November 1.
The news that Gunn and Safran Warner Bros. taking over.’ The DC team was the triumphant end of a months-long search for the right executives. The merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery resulted in numerous changes at DC Films, including dramatic decisions such as scrapping a fully packaged batgirl movie. Now Gunn will oversee the creative side of the DC universe (formerly known as the DCEU), while Safran will handle corporate and production matters. Exactly what the two are planning for the DCU isn’t clear yet, but it looks like they’ll have at least a few years to implement these ideas.
While Gunn’s deal with DC Studios has sparked a lot of enthusiastic response, there is currently a time limit on how long his role will last. IndieWire reports that both Gunn and Safran have signed a four-year deal and will work exclusively with DC during those four years. As previously revealed, they will report to David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, as they team up with WB’s Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, WB TV’s Channing Dungey, and HBO’s Casey Bloys.
What does this mean for the Guardians of the Galaxy?
Gunn’s DC news comes at an odd time as the latest episodes of the Guardians of the Universe franchise in the offing. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, both of which are directed by Gunn, will be released after he officially assumes his role at DC. While his involvement with DC shouldn’t mess with the release of either project, it’s interesting that he’ll be working effectively for rival camps at the same time. He has previously worked for both Marvel and DC; however, his much more involved role with DC makes this time the future of Guardians of the Universe a little more uncertain.
It should be noted that Gunn has been open about his future with Marvel’s sub-franchise. Next Years Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will conclude the trilogy that Gunn began in 2014, and the director has no plans to work with the characters again in the future. All that aside, though, Gunn’s new position at DC Studios seems to close the door to potential MCU follow-ups even more firmly. Gunn will continue to direct projects while working at DC Studios, but any superhero titles he produces will likely go through the DC Universe. This should only make Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 an even more emotional affair, as it marks the true end of an era in Gunn’s career.
Source: IndieWire
