James Gunn has clarified recent remarks where he suggested Disney "killed" Marvel by pushing for increased Disney+ content production. The Guardians of the Galaxy director-turned-DC Studios co-CEO told Rolling Stone that Disney's streaming-driven content demands during Disney+'s launch unfairly strained Marvel's operations.
Gunn stated Disney's mandate requiring more Marvel content "wasn't fair" and "wasn't right," adding the strategy "killed them." Some interpreted this as declaring the MCU permanently damaged, but Gunn later explained on social media he meant the approach temporarily hurt Marvel before recovery.
"To clarify—as evident in the full interview context—I didn't mean 'it killed them' as permanent damage," Gunn posted on Threads. "They were disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control but have since rebounded. The reckless streaming-first approach damaged many projects by prioritizing quantity over quality."
Gunn emphasized Marvel faced "an impossible task" during this period but has since stabilized its production approach.
Marvel Cinematic Universe: Upcoming Releases
View 17 Images
Post-Avengers: Endgame, Marvel has faced well-documented challenges, with most subsequent films underperforming commercially except for hits like Deadpool & Wolverine. Critics also note decreased quality standards compared to earlier phases, though exceptions like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 succeeded.
Marvel now adopts a "less is more" strategy, announcing just three 2025 releases (Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers, The Fantastic Four: First Steps) and two for 2026 (Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday). After recent box office struggles, industry watchers see The Fantastic Four as crucial for MCU's revival.
Gunn noted DC Studios faces no similar output pressures from Warner Bros., allowing more focus on quality control. "We'll only release projects meeting our highest standards," he said. The rebooted DC Universe launches with July's Superman, followed by 2025's Supergirl and 2026's Clayface. Peacemaker Season 2 arrives this August, with Lanterns slated for early 2026.
