Plans for DC Studios Moving Forward Despite Superman Fan Backlash says Gunn
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Just days after it was announced that actor Henry Cavill will in fact not be returning to play Superman at DC Studios, co-head James Gunn issued a statement responding indirectly to the spike in anti-DC chatter on social media over the weekend.
Or as he put it the “uproarious and unkind” backlash to the recasting.
“We were aware there would be a period of turbulence when we took this gig, and we knew we would sometimes have to make difficult and not-so-obvious choices, especially in the wake of the fractious nature of what came before us,” Gunn posted on Monday, on behalf of DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran and himself.
One of the things Peter & I were aware of when we took the job as heads of DC Studios was a certain minority of people online that could be, well, uproarious & unkind, to say the least.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 19, 2022
Variety: “Gunn didn’t reference Cavill or Superman by name, but many DC fans were dismayed last week when the filmmaker announced he would write a new Superman movie that would focus on the hero’s early days — and thus not bring back Cavill. The news especially stung for some fans hoping for Cavill’s return after he appeared in the post-credits scene for Black Adam and announced on social media in the fall that he was officially back as Superman.”
Cavill also addressed the DC fans on Instagram :
“It’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life. I respect that James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.”
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Gunn called out the “certain minority of people online” who have lobbed insults and harassment at him over the news. “No one loves to be harassed or called names — but, to be frank, we’ve been through significantly worse. Disrespectful outcry will never, ever affect our actions,” he wrote.
Gunn’s full post reads:
One of the things Peter & I were aware of when we took the job as heads of DC Studios was a certain minority of people online that could be, well, uproarious & unkind, to say the least.
Our choices for the DCU are based upon what we believe is best for the story & best for the DC characters who have been around for nearly 85 years. Perhaps these choices are great, perhaps not, but they are made with sincere hearts & integrity & always with the story in mind.
No one loves to be harassed or called names – but, to be frank, we’ve been through significantly worse. Disrespectful outcry will never, ever affect our actions.
We were aware there would be a period of turbulence when we took this gig, & we knew we would sometimes have to make difficult & not-so-obvious choices, especially in the wake of the fractious nature of what came before us.
But this means little to us in comparison to our jobs as artists & custodians in helping to create a wide & wonderful future for DC.
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But as The Hollywood Reporter uncovered Thursday:
Cavill found himself in a confluence of different headwinds at the studio. Dwayne Johnson pushed for his return via the much-hyped cameo in Black Adam, a potential linchpin for Johnson’s own DC universe franchise. But Black Adam has grossed only $389 million worldwide, its soft performance calling into question Johnson’s much-touted plans for a sequel and an eventual Adam vs. Superman movie even before Gunn’s decision. New Warner Bros. film co-chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, meanwhile, wanted to make a Man of Steel sequel, hiring Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight to write the treatment. (Classic character Brainiac was to have been the villain of that piece, a source says.)
“In the end, he was a pawn in Dwayne’s failed attempt to control a piece of DC,” one insider observes.
Cavill, sources say, did not have a deal in place to return as Superman, only a verbal agreement that the studio would develop future projects. He was paid $250,000 each for his cameos. The actor in recent years had a resurgence thanks to starring in Netflix’s popular fantasy series The Witcher, which saw him earning $1 million per episode. Cavill left the show this fall, although it’s unclear if the promise of more Superman appearances were behind his exit.
