James Gunn isn’t holding back when it comes to what he thinks is ruining the movie industry: unfinished screenplays.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the DC Studios co-head got brutally honest about why so many recent films have missed the mark, and he thinks the root of the problem lies in starting production before the script is ready.
“People are making movies without a finished screenplay,” Gunn said. “That’s the number-one reason why the movie industry is dying.”
Gunn, who now runs DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, explained that setting release dates before scripts are locked leads to half-baked storytelling and weak final products. He’s seen it happen firsthand, even to people he once worked with at Marvel.
“There were people that were lazy and didn’t put their time in,” Gunn said. “And then there were other directors that worked really hard and maybe didn’t have the best movie come out, but they did everything they could.”
He pointed out that even hard work can’t save a film if the foundation, the screenplay, isn’t solid. Gunn’s solution? Nothing at DC Studios gets the green light until the script is complete and he’s personally satisfied with it.
“I just killed a project,” he revealed. “Everybody wanted to make the movie. It was greenlit, ready to go. The screenplay wasn’t ready. And I couldn’t do a movie where the screenplay’s not good.”
It’s a strong stance in an industry that often prioritizes release calendars and content quotas over storytelling. But Gunn says the strategy is paying off.
“So far we’ve been really lucky,” he added. “Supergirl’s script was so f****** good off the bat. And then Lanterns came in, and the script was so f****** good. Clayface, same thing. So f****** good.”
Another factor helping DC Studios, according to Gunn, is that they don’t have to follow a strict content schedule. Unlike Marvel, which was under pressure from Disney to churn out more and more projects, Gunn and Safran can focus on quality.
“We don’t have the mandate to have a certain amount of movies and TV shows every year,” he explained. “So we’re going to put out everything that we think is of the highest quality.”
Gunn knows not every DC project will be a hit, but he believes this script-first approach gives each one a real shot.
“We have to treat every project as if we’re lucky,” he said. “Nothing goes before there’s a screenplay that I personally am happy with.”
In a time when quantity often outweighs quality in Hollywood, James Gunn’s words hit a nerve. His focus on storytelling and his refusal to rush production may be exactly what the industry needs.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
