In his new role as co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn has been tasked with building out a cinematic universe that rivals Marvel’s for Warner Bros. His initial slate of films and TV shows, which kicks off with 2025’s “Superman: Legacy,” will incorporate a wide range of DC Comics characters that includes both pop culture icons and rarities known only to hardcore fans. But don’t expect his films to be overflowing with superhero cameos.
In a recent exchange on Threads, Gunn responded to a post highlighting the confirmed cast members for “Superman: Legacy.” The director explained that he actively tried to avoid building a massive ensemble cast, instead focusing on key characters including David Corenswet’s Superman, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor.
“The whole point was it’s NOT a large film — I mean, not in terms of cast,” Gunn wrote. “It’s normal for single protagonist films to have other characters — much more unusual for them not to.”
The filmmaker also offered his views on cameos in superhero movies, saying that recent additions to the genre have leaned too heavily on brief appearances from characters that aren’t relevant to the plot.
“I call that ‘Cameo Porn’ and it has been one of the worst elements of recent superhero films,” he wrote. “If a character is in film, they have to have a reason to be there story-wise.”
Gunn explained that he isn’t entirely opposed to thoughtful cameos, but he criticized films that compromise their own stories by trying to maximize the amount of superhero characters that can be included.
“I don’t mind actual cameos – if it’s a glimpse or a moment, an Easter egg,” he wrote. “What bothers me is when they mangle an elegant story by shoehorning characters in – they aren’t there because the story calls for it, but for some other reason.”
“Superman: Legacy,” written and directed by Gunn, is scheduled to open in theaters on July 11, 2025.
