Upon departing the Marvel Cinematic Universe following an impressive stint, James Gunn has now transitioned to DC to bring back its glory. In his early days in the MCU, Gunn aspired for Kevin Feige’s complete trust, envisioning a role akin to Joss Whedon’s prominence in the franchise. However, Feige hesitated to give the director full control immediately after the Whedon era, citing various reasons for caution.
James Gunn Wanted Greater Control Over MCU!
According to assertions made in the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, James Gunn held aspirations to take greater control of the MCU, a desire reminiscent of the level of control Joss Whedon once enjoyed previously. Various insights from interviews and online sources shed light on Gunn’s early ambitions within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, Kevin Feige approached this proposition with a degree of caution, perhaps influenced by the aftermath of the Whedon era and other considerations within the dynamic Marvel landscape. He said,
“What there is with James is that a lot of the great characters in Guardians could have potential as their own thing. Working with James to figure out where those could go and how that could work has certainly been part of our discussions.”
Kevin Feige wanted Gunn’s ideas and collaboration to elevate the Marvel Cinematic Universe to new heights, especially during that period when the franchise produced some of its best films. Looking back the MCU has indeed come a very long way since, which wouldn’t have been possible without the two masterminds, Gunn and Feige.
Why Wasn’t Kevin Feige Sure About James Gunn Getting More Control?
One instance according to The Hollywood Reporter, stated that while filming Avengers: Age of Ultron, Joss Whedon reportedly faced creative clashes with Marvel Studios, particularly over scenes at Clint Barton’s farmhouse and Thor’s vision in a cave about the Infinity Stones, leading to disagreements that led Kevin Feige personally intervening during pre-production to sort things out. MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios quoted him saying,
“With Joss it was more unique”
The book in a different context also states,
“If the Inhumans could be rehabilitated, apparently everyone in MCU history was on Feige’s call list—except Edward Norton, the franchise’s first Bruce Banner, and Joss Whedon, whose Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. characters remained in limbo.”
The clashes with Whedon within the franchise served as a valuable lesson for Feige, probably leading to his reluctance to fulfill all of Gunn’s creative wishes.
