James Gunn Talks About The Possible Marvel And DC Crossover
As James Gunn becomes the co-CEO of DC Universe, he comments on the possibility of a movie crossover between MCU and DCU.
Following his appointment as co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, James Gunn has discussed the potential for a crossover between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Universe.
As the new creative leader of DC, Gunn is spearheading the reboot of the film franchise, which aims to bring DC closer to its comic book roots in a similar way to the MCU. This could lead to future collaboration between the two comic book giants.
In a conversation with Empire Magazine, Gunn disclosed that a crossover between DC and Marvel is a genuine possibility now that he is leading DC Studios. However, Gunn emphasized that any collaboration between the two companies is still “many years away,” as the DC Universe, helmed by Gunn, needs to establish itself first.
Despite this, James Gunn remains optimistic and affirmed that there had been discussions regarding a potential crossover between Marvel and DC in some capacity.
Although there hasn’t been an official crossover between the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and either the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) or the DC Universe (DCU), the two universes have intersected in comic books several times.
One noteworthy example is JLA/Avengers, a prestigious series published by both Marvel and DC in 2003, created by Kurt Busiek and George Pérez. Another fan-favorite crossover is The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans one-shot, written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by Walt Simonson in 1982, which saw the two groups teaming up to prevent Darkseid from obtaining the power of the Dark Phoenix.
How A Marvel/DC Crossover Might Take Place
It is noteworthy that Gunn has acknowledged the existence of discussions about a potential Marvel and DC crossover, no matter how minor they may be. As a director-turned-executive, Gunn has a rare opportunity to facilitate collaboration between the two largest comic book companies in the film industry.
Gunn’s association with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is long-standing. He was the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and was once thought to be the one who would head the whole cosmic division of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, before moving over to DC.
Considering Gunn’s statements and his current role at DC, a crossover between Marvel and DC appears inevitable. However, DC needs to concentrate on its development before any such collaboration can occur, as per Gunn’s words.
The previous controversies associated with the old DCEU must be left behind, and Gunn is taking steps to address criticisms about DC’s previous leadership. The new DC Universe will emphasize the company’s legendary heroes, such as the often-overlooked Green Lantern, aiming to bring them closer to their comic book iterations while retaining Gunn’s hallmark inventiveness.
Once the new DC Universe is established, with Gunn writing and directing 2025’s Superman: Legacy reboot and serving as a launchpad for the new universe, the opportunity will arise to consider how Marvel and DC can collaborate.
The multiverse will undoubtedly be a significant factor in companies’ crossover strategy. While the MCU is already well underway with its Multiverse Saga, DC will begin exploring the Multiverse in June with The Flash. An unprecedented and historic live-action crossover would occur if the newly announced DC Universe versions of Batman and Superman were to interact with MCU characters like Spider-Man or Daredevil.
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James Gunn Wants Something Different For DCU
Gunn has recently shared his perspective on the DC Universe, expressing his desire for it to have a distinct ambiance from previous narratives depicted in the DCEU, which commenced with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013.
He stated, “I don’t believe the film would be worthwhile if it replicated any prior Superman adaptation. For our studio to genuinely flourish, we must pay homage to the history of these characters while simultaneously perceiving them from a fresh perspective”.
James Gunn, who is directing and writing the upcoming Superman: Legacy film, which is set to release on July 11, 2025, has assured fans that the movie will have a distinct tone from his previous work on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
While acknowledging that he has learned a lot from creating the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Gunn noted that Superman’s vibe would differ from that of a Guardians movie. He also expressed interest in bringing Krypto the Superdog to the live-action adaptation.
Could Marvel And DC Crossover Ever Happen
It isn’t peculiar for Marvel and DC to have a crossover as they are under different companies, with Marvel under Disney and DC under Warner Bros. The complexity of the negotiations in navigating the rights and financial issues is immense, and it is also unclear which side would make the movie.
The prospect of a crossover between Marvel and DC has always been a topic of excitement among comic book fans, but the likelihood of it ever happening has always seemed slim. With the film rights to these respective superhero universes held by different studios, the complexities involved in negotiating the rights and financial issues for such a crossover seemed daunting.
However, the recent appointment of James Gunn at DC Studios as the director of the upcoming Superman: Legacy reboot has sparked new hope for fans of such a crossover event.
Nevertheless, such discussions have taken place as a significant step forward for fans who have long dreamed of seeing their favorite heroes team up on the big screen. Gunn’s friendship with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and his experience directing the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy gives him a unique perspective and ability to bridge the gap between the two studios.
However, for now, fans will have to content themselves with the numerous crossover events in the comics, such as JLA/Avengers, The Uncanny X-Men, and The New Teen Titans.
It is improbable that Marvel and DC would consider crossing over their respective superhero universes, except maybe in the unlikely event that the superhero genre was declining.
Despite recent challenges, such as the struggles of Ant-Man 3 and the financial failure of Shazam 2, the superhero genre is still popular and thriving, with both Marvel and DC franchises generating a lot of enthusiasm among fans for their upcoming projects.
