James Gunn Officially Addresses DC Recasting Backlash

Calling the backlash “uproarious and unkind.”

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After the announcement that Henry Cavill will no longer be returning as Superman, DC fans were in an uproar, evidently upset by the decision by co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Now, a few days after the news that shook the superhero entertainment world, Gunn has officially addressed the recasting backlash on Twitter. While he did not specifically mention the Superman incident, many fans speculated that he was alluding to the changes. On behalf of himself and Safran, Gunn wrote, “We were aware there would be a period of turbulence when we took this gig, and we knew we would sometimes have to make difficult and not-so-obvious choices, especially in the wake of the fractious nature of what came before us.” He noted that they were aware of the how some people online were “uproarious & unkind” in their criticism but, “Disrespectful outcry will never, ever affect our actions.”

When the news broke out about Cavill, the former Superman still showed his support for the new vision at DC and Warner Bros. stating, “I respect that James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.” However, with Gunn’s need to address the backlash, it appears that many fans across the globe are not taking the shakeup well. See below for Gunn’s full statement,

“One of the things Peter & I were aware of when we took the job as heads of DC Studios was a certain minority of people online that could be, well, uproarious & unkind, to say the least.

Our choices for the DCU are based upon what we believe is best for the story & best for the DC characters who have been around for nearly 85 years. Perhaps these choices are great, perhaps not, but they are made with sincere hearts & integrity & always with the story in mind.

No one loves to be harassed or called names – but, to be frank, we’ve been through significantly worse. Disrespectful outcry will never, ever affect our actions.

We were aware there would be a period of turbulence when we took this gig, & we knew we would sometimes have to make difficult & not-so-obvious choices, especially in the wake of the fractious nature of what came before us.

But this means little to us in comparison to our jobs as artists & custodians in helping to create a wide & wonderful future for DC.”

In other entertainment news, SPY x FAMILY season two and anime film confirmed for 2023.

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Joyce Li
Joyce Li Editor

For over half a decade, Joyce Li has served as an Editor on Hypebeast's global team, leveraging profound industry insights to capture the zeitgeist. Through her editorial lens, she anticipates emerging trends while dedicating her platform to spotlighting those making the greatest impact on culture today. A storyteller first and foremost, she examines the cross-pollination of fashion, footwear, art, music, and sports. This intersectional approach has led to compelling interviews with industry-defining figures like LeBron James, Pharrell Williams, Tom Brady, NIGO, A$AP Rocky, KAWS, and more.

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