After the intense backlash to the recent major shakeup in the DC Universe, James Gunn broke his silence.
Gunn, who took over DC Studios as co-chairman and CEO with producer Peter Safran earlier this year, sparked outrage last week when he announced that he was in the process of writing a new Superman film without Henry Cavill in the lead role.
On Monday, Gunn lashed out at the “uproarious and unkind” reactions of a “certain minority of people online” to his and Safran’s plans for DC Entertainment, though he didn’t specifically mention Cavill or Superman.
He wrote on Twitter:
“Our choices for the DCU are based upon what we believe is best for the story [and] 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 [and] integrity [and] always with the story in mind.”
He added:
“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 in a separate tweet:
“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 concluded his lengthy statement by telling critics that the backlash “means little to us in comparison to our jobs as artists [and] custodians in assisting in the creation of a broad [and] wonderful future for DC.”
Cavill issued an Instagram statement last week clarifying the future of his superhero character in the DC Universe.
He began:
“I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran, and 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. The changing of the guard is something that happens.”
Cavill thanked fans and reminded them that they could “mourn for a while,” but that “Superman is still around.”
He added:
“Everything he stands for still exists, and the examples he sets for us are still there! My turn to wear the cape has passed, but what Superman stands for never will. It’s been a fun ride with you all, onwards and upwards.”
Gunn previously stated that the role would need to be recast because the Superman film he is working on will focus on “an earlier period in Superman’s life.” In addition, the director stated that he and Safran are “big fans” of Cavill and hope to “work together in the future” on a different project.
As of this writing, no other information about the upcoming Superman film has been released.
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