In a landscape often obsessed with Oscars and critical validation, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn is doubling down on his love for populist filmmaking. Speaking on a recent episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, the director opened up about his creative priorities as he steers the new DC Universe.
The Art of the “Pop Cinema” Machine
Gunn addressed the topic of prestige directly during the conversation: “I don’t care about prestige. I mean, sure, would it be cool to be nominated for Best Director or something? Yeah, would I rather have that than not? But it’s not really my concern. Occasionally I have ideas that are more independent movies, but I like making the kind of movies that I make, and I like making pop cinema, for lack of a better term.”
Source: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Warner Bros
For Gunn, the true artistry lies in the complex architecture of a blockbuster and its ability to connect with a global audience on a spiritual level. He noted: “If I can have those things also be something that are emotionally resonant to people, or affect people in a deeper, more spiritual way, like a lot of people have told me that ‘Superman’ did, a lot of people have told me that ‘Guardians 3’ did, then that’s fantastic. That’s what I would love to be able to do. But I like making the big movies too.”
Ultimately, the director views his work as a delicate balance between high-concept engineering and raw emotional payoff. He concluded: “There’s an artistry to it, the creative flow. But then I also like the part of it that’s putting the big puzzle together and creating this machine that works for an audience to elicit a reaction from them, whether it’s emotional, whether it’s laughter, whether it’s screaming, whether it’s whatever it is. That’s the fun part of it.”
