James Gunn’s Superman Slammed as ‘Terrible’—Now Facing Reshoots & Marketing Overhaul

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Reflecting on the recent DCU press event led by James Gunn, it feels like the gathering may not have served its intended purpose. Instead of sharing updates, it seemed more like a platform for delivering less-than-positive news. The lack of progress on projects was evident, and the state of Batman’s storyline appears to be in disarray, creating quite a mess. I can’t help but wonder if there was a clear objective behind holding this press conference.

Currently, there’s a lot of chatter stating that Gunn’s Superman film is “poorly rated.” Prior to the release of the Superman trailer, whispers indicated that Warner Bros. executives weren’t satisfied with it. The trailer itself didn’t garner much praise, the first “Icon” TV spot has faced criticism over David Corenswet’s appearance, and the Puppy Bowl promotional event turned out to be a major letdown.

It appears that Gunn is giving himself a significant role within the DC Universe. He’s included himself in the start of Creature Commandos, his pet dog features in Superman, and both he and his pet appeared during the Puppy Bowl. Moreover, Gunn was seen in an NBA ad, and even graced the cover of a DC Comics Superman comic book. One might wonder where the main characters are amidst all this?

It’s possible that Gunn has stirred up some controversy among his peers in the filmmaking industry because of his frequent interactions with fans on social media. He’s been vocal about Matt Reeves’ Batman project and Andy Muschietti, who was initially set to direct Brave and the Bold, though that seems less certain now. During a recent press event, Gunn even mentioned that Muschietti isn’t actively involved in the creative process for this project, while he himself is collaborating with an unnamed writer. Unlike other studio heads such as Kevin Feige, who typically keep their internal workings private, Gunn often engages fans on social media about these topics.

Superman is “terrible”

The idea that Superman is “awful” originated from Jeff Sneider during a recent episode of The Hot Mic with John Rocha. During their discussion about the DCU press event, Sneider mentioned that he had published a newsletter praising Superman based on positive feedback he’d received. However, following its publication, his most reliable source informed him that the movie is actually very poor.

After receiving the newsletter, I received a call from my top informant. He complimented the newsletter, but pointed out one mistake: it seems there’s still a consensus that Superman is ‘awful’.

As a movie enthusiast, I didn’t get the nitty-gritty details, but Sneider hinted that he has more information up his sleeve. Furthermore, I must admit, I wasn’t pleased when Gunn dismissed my Daniel Radcliffe as Clayface speculation, and I question the sincerity of his statement.

DC Studios now has a consultant

It appears that a few unfavorable events related to Superman have occurred recently, such as reports suggesting he’s in trouble and the less-than-ideal outcome of Gunn’s press event. Interestingly, it has been revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery has enlisted Ricky Strauss, an experienced marketing expert, to advise DC Studios on the Superman project.

According to The Wrap, Ricky Strauss – with three decades of experience in the field – has just completed a 16-month stint as the head of marketing for Apple TV+. Prior to this, he had been associated with Disney where he orchestrated marketing campaigns for iconic franchises like Star Wars and Marvel.

At a recent press gathering, DC Studios’ co-head, Peter Safran, emphasized that they will make every effort to ensure that their movie is well-known and experienced by the audience.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but reflect on the impressive marketing strategy that was put in place for the release of “Barbie”. However, unexpectedly, Warner Bros. Discovery made a significant change by dismissing Josh Goldstine, the mastermind behind the film’s marketing, which ultimately led to its staggering $1.5 billion box office success. Now, it seems Ricky Strauss is taking over for “Superman”.

Superman reshoots

Earlier, it was mentioned that Gunn had stated he wouldn’t be conducting full reshoots for Superman, only that he was working on pick-up shots in Los Angeles.

It seems that Gunn is indeed returning to Atlanta for what appear to be complete reshoots. This could be because of the latest test screenings, although it’s just one possibility.

Gunn said at the press event:

As a film enthusiast, I’ve had the privilege of conducting genuine screenings. Constantly learning and refining, making minor adjustments here and there. Sometimes we even capture small, insignificant details. Extra photography is an arduous task for me, as it was something I initially resisted. After all, who wants to shoot again? It’s a hassle, no doubt.

I enjoy expressing myself by saying, ‘You know what? If only I could have taken a shot when that fist connected with…’. As a result, I often revisit such scenarios. It’s not about significant events, but rather these kinds of moments, yes, I will share a few more examples like that.

Release info

The movie titled Superman is scheduled for release on July 11, 2025, featuring Rachel Brosnahan in the role of Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult portraying Lex Luthor.

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2025-02-28 20:01