James Gunn, Hollywood’s box office superhero

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A long time before Superman returned to life with his new films, James Gan thought about himself as a hero. In 2010, the director-not as much as it is now-directed a dark, low-budget comedy excellent. He starred Ryan Wilson from the American version of Office As Frank, God was convinced of his God who wanted him to be a super hero. Laughter came from a homemade Frank’s uniform, but they grew up in a strange flavoring film. “Frank is me, in many ways,” Gan said at the time. The comedy did not make more comfortable.

But Hollywood will always have a place for a good man’s type that hand over what Gunn, 58, at the box office. Starting in 2014, he made three films greatly common in Galaxy guards privilege. Together, they got 2.5 billion dollars. Now came the opportunity for Gunn to place its seal on Superman – the most heroic of all heroes.

Gon’s story was not indisputable. In 2018, his career went out of its path after revealing the historical tweets. But his denial was brief and enabled his success, which followed from ascending to C-SUite. As well as writing and guidance SupermanHe is now his own product, as co -chair and co -chairman of DC Studios, Arm Arm Warner Bros Discovery. The appointment was appointed in 2022 by CEO of Warner David Zasslav. Despite the strangeness of some of his previous works, Gon is known as a genetic personality. Zaslav has a reputation for being hard. However, his respect for Gunn is that he allowed him to work very personal Superman Film for $ 225 million.

This great bet comes as it is in danger in a fatal danger. The time traveler for 10 years was reading this sentence in disbelief. At that time, the comic book films in general prevailed – and the Disney branch in particular – the supreme thanks to two commercial brands. One of them was the jewel of the crown Avengers series. The other was Junzo GuardiansThe first batch of Gon’s mark.

If the superheroes of the superheroes sometimes can feel unaware, this method has been loaded with signatures: Zany characters, modern animals, and every man in the star Chris Pratt dressed. Gon was once close to that, and he admires the real life of garbage worship films from a large Catholic family in Manchester, Missouri. Even after the success of the first Guardians The film was angry enough because Marvel’s lack of respect for his peers in Hollywood to write a public post on Facebook wandering in the “self -assigned elite”.

Mostly, though these were the days of glory. The audience of super pictures was very large and very loyal. Even, for at least the surprise, it was not.

Since the last time Avengers was assembled in 2019, the box office demand has diminished, as it seems that the company is struggling to inspire. As if the emphasis on this point was her latest blow Deadpool opposite WolfirinHalf a capacity made jokes at the expense of Marvel’s business.

What killed the superheroes, or at least left them in the salon of the last opportunity? One answer is the repeated raging of the endless cross that this type led to. Another is the changing society, the increasing polarized that the superheroes themselves found.

In 2018, John himself was arrested in Crossfire. The problems with the director who made skeptical comments on Donald Trump began. The portfolio, The Daily Caller, then republished the tweets he wrote in 2008-2009 that involve jokes on taboo topics such as rape and 9/11. (Their younger provocative tone was required excellent). He made a long apology, but despite the support of colleagues, Disney has publicly cut her relationship with him. Gon later said he felt that his career had ended.

The following year, Disney was reviewed. Gunn was set to make a third Guardians film. The last giant success has proven. But it is not difficult to imagine his smile from contentment when Zasslav asked him to jump for Warner, with a promotional offer. The paradox may also be estimated that, if Superman saves the superhero movie, this may also help in Marvel.

If the experiment was in 2018 Cowed Gunn, it is not clear from this movie. Politics in sight. Superman is a foreigner in America, and makes its position a target for the bad guys in Kahot with the United States government. Gon publicly spoke of Superman as a “immigrant” story.

Yes, he said, he expects complaints about a story about “basic human kindness”. But the people who make them will be “shaking.” “

It may be part of his revenge on the tremors Superman He still feels the movie James Gan – a fool and a comedy. But there is also the dangerous issue of its hero. Because although this is a light -hearted superman, it is not an Edgeard like Deadpool. Instead, it is eccentric with severe optimism about humanity, and the will to gather people.

And continue doing this. The film is full of hints of future sequences. Currently, this can feel like a tempting fate. At the end of this week, we will discover whether the audience still wants or needs a super hero, the way Gunn and the studios.

SupermanSo, a gambling of $ 225 million. A new franchise will be another victory. Likewise, the stirring will be placed at its door. But more than the functional effects alone, you feel that Gon may have a greater task. First, you can save Superhero – then, perhaps, the world.

danny.leight@ft.com