When it comes to people working behind the scenes in the DC universe, two names are the most well-known, Zack Snyder and James Gunn. Both being exceptional in their respective field, they have been behind projects that fans hold close to their hearts.
Snyder can be credited for all the success that the franchise saw in the 2010s, creating a universe of his own with Man of Steel, Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Gunn, on the other hand, has become a major contender in all that the franchise will do in the future, having become the co-CEO at DC Studios, alongside Peter Safran.
With these two being such a big part of the franchise it is no surprise that they have collaborated on their projects. However, many fans would be surprised to know that Gunn had a hand to play in Snyder’s directorial debut, which was completely unrelated to the DCEU. The coincidence helped that movie gain immense respect and become a classic in its genre.
Zack Snyder and James Gunn Worked Together Long Before DC
It is a fact well known that Zack Snyder is an exceptional filmmaker. Starting strong in his field of specialty, his directorial debut was the 2004 film, Dawn of the Dead. Being a remake of a 1978 film of the same name, it was set in a zombie apocalypse. It featured a cast of actors like Sarah Polley, Jake Weber, Ving Rhames, and Ty Burrell.
While the movie certainly made a reputation for itself, being not only full of gore but also fast-paced and exciting, many might not know another aspect that contributed to it. James Gunn, who was a fan of the original, was brought onto the project by its producer to write the script. Though he was initially against it, he saw its potential and wrote the screenplay.
Dawn of the Dead Saw Great Success
When Zack Snyder was brought on the project, his biggest priority was not to make a remake of the original film, but to reimagine what it could be. He focused on reality rather than the shock factor and made sure that the movie was as perfectly horror as it could be. His dedication to his craft helped the movie become a great success.
With the box office, total of $102.3 million, the movie became the second-highest-grossing horror film of that year. On top of this, time after time, fans, go back and watch the movie, viewing it as a classic in the zombie film genre. It is certainly a very big achievement to have, not only because of just how many zombie films there are out there, but because it was Snyder’s first step into the world of direction. of field that he has become very important and respected in.
