James Gunnsent two fandoms into a tizzy by sharing a simple, charming photo on his social media pages yesterday. The reason? The other person appearing with him in the photo was none other than former DCEU creativeZack Snyder. Yep, that would do it. While this was most likely just what it appeared on the surface - an image of two old friends getting together to shoot the breeze - the internet was never going to contemplate that possibility unless it was the final option available.
Both filmmakers have been separately invested in the world of comic book movies, with Snyder’sMan of Steelkicking off the old DCEU in 2013, and Gunn set to introduce his live-action DCU with this summer’sSuperman. However, while Snyder’s time was brought to a premature end due to personal circumstances – leaving one of the biggest “what ifs” hanging forever in suspended animation – Gunn is just getting started on what is set to be a much longer journey as the joint CEO of DC Studios.
James Gunn Reveals Exactly What DC Comics Era the DCU Is Inspired By
James Gunn has some incredibly ambitious plans for the DCU, and he is not holding back.
However, bringing the two men together is always going to cause a stir online, and it is therefore no surprise to anyone that the fans of the Snyderverse had plenty to say.
Gunn vs. Snyder Is a War Waged Only Among Fans
One thing that is clear from Gunn’s post is that he and Snyder continue to be friends and there is no kind of animosity between them, no matter how much some fans attempt to manifest it. Back in 2002,Gunn wrote the screenplay for Snyder’s remake ofDawn of the Dead, and although their paths have not professionally crossed since, their friendship has certainly not been changed as a result of Gunn taking the helm of the DCU.
But fans have their own issues with that fact. Many recall Snyder’s heavy influence on early DCEU films, and the release of hisJustice Leaguecut in 2021 bolstered his followers' belief that he should return to the franchise to continue the story he originally planned to tell.“Hopefully Zack gets to do his Snyderverse. With no interruptions,”said @Incognitocalm. @MarkdeSilva, however, shared a much more descriptive and blunt opinion – one shared by many others – saying,“Ah yes, as [Superman] is about to come out and everyone is negative about it, Gunn pulls the “I’m friends with Snyder” card, secretly praying this will make Snyder fans see his sh*t move. Won’t work, but sure, show us how insecure you are.”
On the flipside of the fandom coin, some Gunn fans were just as vocal about how their idol should not be allowing Snyder anywhere near the DCU. @MeleeGames urged“Please keep him away from anything you are doing with DC.”But in the main, followers of Gunn were happy to accept the photo as nothing more than a shot of two friends catching up, and then there were those who were just there to see the fallout. @BrunoPatatas said the thing that many rational X users were thinking,“The internet is definitely going to react to this photo in a calm and reasonable manner…”
Will Snyder direct a DC movie again? Who knows? Gunn and Peter Safran are building a new DCU, and they will need many new directors to be able to do that, and let’s not forget the Elseworlds branch of the franchise that will be telling its own stories based on DC Comics characters alongside Matt Reeves’The Batmanuniverse. For now, though, DC Studios is going to remain a Snyder-free zone, which will clearly make many Gunn fans happy, and an equally large number of Snyder fans incredibly annoyed.
