James Gunn’s Controversial DC Origins Take Is Right

The change of the guard often comes with a degree of bitterness. For fans of Zack Snyder’s vision of the DCEU, it has undoubtedly been a challenge to accept James Gunn’s reimagining of the iconic heroes and undoing all that was done before. These changes have led to Zack Snyder fans wanting to see James Gunn’s Superman crash and burn, and a continued vocal discontent with Henry Cavill’s removal as the Man of Steel.

Yet, among all the gripes, recent comments made by Gunn about things he never wants to see in another superhero movie are on the mark; sorry, Snyder bros and sisters.

Gunn’s Origin Story Ban: Bold Move or Fan Backlash Waiting To Happen?

In an interview with The Times, James Gunn would go on to say that there were three things he never wanted to see in a superhero movie again: “I don’t need to see pearls in a back alley when Batman’s parents are killed,” adding, “I don’t need to see the radioactive spider biting Spider-Man. And I don’t need to see baby Kal coming from Krypton in a little baby rocket.”

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The origin story for many of these heroes has been told many times over, reflecting a desire to move on and accept established lore without needing to reintroduce it. Online, many agreed with the take, but not everyone was thrilled with this opinion. On X, users had some harsh takes, with one user posting in reply to the news, “3 things he’d never be able to do justice filming so acts like he’s above it,” while another user stated, “We don’t care about Gunn’s opinions on DC, he should have stopped with Marvel.”

With much resting on the future of DC, fans are looking for every little tidbit to help them gauge if this will be the kick it needs to compete with Marvel and bring audiences back to theaters. James Gunn focusing on a subject that he deems “everyone hates” right now is certainly eyebrow-raising, but when it comes to tackling origin stories, the choice is a positive one.

Why James Gunn Is Right to Skip Superhero Origins

A Lot Is Riding on ‘Superman’

The primary concern, beyond Gunn choosing not to include origin stories, is that these stories are still important for introducing younger generations to the characters. As one user on X stated: “So he’s making a movie for kids and doesn’t show how Superman/Clark turned into the man he is? Origin stories are SUPER important imo. Every reboot needs one. I couldn’t care less how many times I’ve seen it. Little Jimmy might not have any clue.”

In The Times interview, James Gunn added some further substance to his argument, stating, “We have watched a million movies with characters who don’t have their upbringing explained, like when we see Good Night, and Good Luck, we don’t need to know the early life of Edward R Murrow to explain how he became a journalist. Who cares?” Gunn makes a valid point, as cinema doesn’t need to rely on crafting origin stories to explain who a character is, as their actions can define them just as much as their past, regardless of the genre.

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For those who are overly concerned about younger kids learning origin stories, you can always tell them: “Batman’s parents were killed when he was young, which caused him to become a crime fighter,” or “Superman is an alien from another planet raised on a farm as a regular kid.” Backstories explained! Yes, it is an oversimplification, but when the majority are in the know, it makes more sense not to tread familiar ground when trying to do something new. All will be revealed when Superman comes to theaters on July 11.