James Gunn and Zack Snyder have very interesting and comparable careers. The latter made his directorial debut with the film Dawn of the Dead, which Gunn wrote. Both Gunn’s Super (2010) and Snyder’s Watchmen (2009) are R-rated superhero movies.
The DC Extended Universe is made up of epic battles, intricate stories, and recognizable characters brought to life on screen. The inspirational direction of Zack Snyder introduced us to a reimagined world where superheroes and supervillains engaged in breathtaking spectacles. Even his detractors acknowledge that the 57-year-old director is already among the most influential filmmakers of the modern era, particularly in the comic book/fantasy genres.
Well, both Gunn and Snyder entered the world of popular superhero movies and permanently etched their respective styles into the subgenre. Keeping this in mind, it is important to examine both filmmakers’ conceptions of the DC Universe.
Comparing Zack Snyder and James Gunn’s two Highest Earning Films
Since Zack Snyder‘s Man of Steel came out in 2013, the DCEU has promised a gritty, darker take on superhero movies than what rival studios like Marvel Studios have to offer.
This strategy was then followed by Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016, which saw the world’s two most recognizable heroes square off and reveal their desire for vengeance and a sense of power. The DCEU that the Dawn of the Dead director was constructing could be seen as sensational heroes with godlike abilities, grounded and humanized by their flaws.
However, many people were happy and relieved when it was revealed that James Gunn and Peter Safran would lead the newly established DC Studios and create an integrated plan for the franchise.
But, according to The Numbers, Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Man of Steel earned a combined $1541 million. In the meantime, Gunn took over, and the two films—Black Adam and The Flash, together brought in $659 million.
Although The Flash was by no means a success, it stands in a more complicated position. Since the DCU is fairly new, there aren’t many movies that can be taken into account. Ezra Miller’s flick may not have been well received and even considered one of the worst-performing superhero movies, but because of the lack of movies for the DCU, for now, it stands as one of the best-earning movies as well.
Thus, this suggests that Snyder’s movies performed financially better than Gunn’s.
Zack Snyder ‘Supports’ The New DC Universe?
James Gunn revealed on Twitter earlier this year that he had discussed the new DC Universe with Zack Snyder.
The DC Universe is being rebooted by Gunn and Peter Safran, the heads of DC Studios, with a new lineup of films and television shows. Known as the SnyderVerse, the previous DC Extended Universe that began with Man of Steel and other movies like Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, and more was created by Snyder.
One of Gunn’s tweets on Twitter received a fan response with the hashtag #sellthesnyderversetonetflix. The filmmaker’s opening statement in response to the tweet was:
I have to say, this has got to be the wackiest hashtag ever since 1) Netflix hasn’t expressed any such interest (although we’ve discussed other stuff) & 2) Zack hasn’t expressed any interest & seems to be happy doing what he’s doing (and, yes, we too have talked).
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 9, 2023
Gunn also recently made an effort to clarify what caused Henry Cavill to leave the role of Superman in Worlds Of DC. In a conversation with Deadline about Cavill’s departure, Gunn stated:
“We didn’t fire Henry. Henry was never cast. He was in a cameo, and that was the end of his story.”
Cavill made a brief cameo appearance as Superman in Black Adam. But after meeting with Gunn and his new co-CEO of DC Studios, Peter Safran, he announced that he would not be playing the character again in any future DC projects.
The new Superman film, Superman: Legacy will serve as the official introduction to Gunn and Safran’s revamped DC Universe. The movie, which is being written by Gunn, will focus on a younger superhero than the ones that Henry Cavill portrayed in Zack Snyder’s films.
Superman: Legacy will be released on July 11, 2025.
Source- The Numbers
