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James Gunn is in the unique position as both the co-head of DC Studios and the director of the Superman film, out July 11. On one hand, he's an executive representing the interests of the studio, but on the other, he's a filmmaker turning out work for the studio. Not even Marvel Studios's Kevin Feige has ever worn that many hats at once.  

In an interview with Collider, Gunn spoke about how he stepped into his role in creative development at DC Studios. "I find most of the influences [with supporting directors on DC Studios projects] come from before, when I've had other people sort of shepherding my films and trying to support my films. Kevin Feige was actually a really great model for me in that way. He let me do my thing, but he also was really honest with what he thought, and he never stopped trying to make a movie better up until the very last minute. So, that really affected me," Gunn said. 

Gunn iterated later on in the interview how that honesty has shaped his direction as a studio head. "I want to be able to support people, but also be really honest. I don't pull punches. I'm really blunt. I think we need to come from the common space that we're just trying to make the best movie possible without ego being a part of it," Gunn delineated. 

Filmmaking is nothing without collaboration, and Gunn understands the ways that ego can kill the spirit of collaboration. (It is its kryptonite, so to speak.) Clearly, Gunn has an entirely different set of skills than Feige - related to actually writing and directing films - and I don't think it's too much of a leap to say that years of practical experience working on sets can be a boon when working with other filmmakers. DC Studios' DCU is still in its infancy, but it's got a bright future ahead of it. 

Superman will fly into theaters on July 11, 2025. 

Enjoy our guides to how to watch the recent DCEU, the Arrowverse, and James Gunn's upcoming DCU.