Fans get #FireJamesGunn trending as the DCEU's future becomes unclear
Burbank, California - Many shake-ups that have rocked the DC Extended Universe have turned numerous die-hard fans against the movie company's new co-CEO, James Gunn.
Back in October, Gunn and Peter Safran were confirmed to be co-CEOs of DC Studios, with Gunn spearheading the creative side of the franchise.
Cavill's statement made it clear that the decision was not his own, but rather the wish of Gunn and Safran.
The Man of Steel star said that he had been told by the studio prior to the pair's takeover that he would be reprising his role, but that decision was reversed by the new CEOs.
"The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that," Cavill previously said on Instagram. "James and Peter have a universe to build."
Where the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been able to incorporate even seemingly disconnected installments successfully, the DCEU often recasts or reboots rather than trying to tie things together.
It seems that Gunn and Safran are looking to create a clean state for the struggling franchise yet again, but this possibility is increasingly polarizing for some fans of the DC universe.
James Gunn responds to fans' criticism
Over on TikTok, DC fans offered up in-depth perspectives on the backlash towards James Gunn.
One creator blamed the frustration on the franchise's tendency to "throw in the towel" every time they have a failure. The MCU became successful largely due to a willingness to accept its failures and not dwell on them, whereas DC has been hindered significantly by its repeated attempts to rebrand.
Just take a look at how the MCU managed to spin fan perception of Sony's Amazing Spider-Man series. Once considered a major miss by many fans, the canceled franchise was redeemed thanks to Andrew Garfield's iconic return in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which even led fans to petition for an Amazing Spider-Man 3.
The DCEU, meanwhile, has been hindered by the films that underperformed. With endless attempts to rebrand certain heroes and team-ups, the franchise often comes across as disjointed. As Gunn looks to recast other prominent roles in the DC lineup, fans are getting increasingly frustrated.
In response to the fan fury, the Guardians of the Galaxy director shared a thread of tweets defending his and Safran's decisions: "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."
He continues on to say that the negative reaction was, in part, expected, and added that "disrespectful outcry will never, ever affect our actions."
In the replies to the thread, Gunn dispelled "untrue" theories about DCEU recasting rumors, writing, "We're not recasting everyone except The Suicide Squad."
Cover photo: collage: KEVIN WINTER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP, IMAGO / Everett Collection