The DCEU is dead. As dead as Krypton. December’s a brand new continuity for all DC films and shows going forward. In other words, the days of the Snyderverse are long gone.
And yet, that’s not to say that James Gunn, who may have a Marvel history but is actually old pals with the former DC architect too. The pair worked together on 2008’s Dawn of the Dead remake, which Gunn scripted and Snyder directed. And it turns out the latter learned something from the former that will go on to influence his work in the DCU.
The one way Zack Snyder changed how James Gunn made movies
An old clip of Gunn praising the Justice League director has resurfaced on Reddit, which makes clear the all-important way that Snyder inspired the Guardians of the Galaxy veteran to be a better filmmaker.
“I liked Zack a lot as a guy, and he was incredibly thorough,” Gunn explains in the clip as he reflects on his experience working on Dawn of the Dead. “You know, he did all his own storyboards and stuff, which I think influenced me when I went on to my movies and did the same thing. And I saw how incredibly prepared he was. I thought he was great.”
It’s true, Gunn frequently teases fans by posting storyboards from his films during pre-production on social media. Likewise, the way he learned to be “incredibly prepared” from Snyder has clearly paid off well on Superman: Legacy, which has managed to sail through the writers and actors’ strikes without any serious delay and is now gearing up to start shooting soon ahead of its release on July 11, 2025.
Of course, although you might think hearing that Snyder is still serving as an inspiration for the DC multiverse would warm the hearts of his legion of loyal followers, Netflix with his Rebel Moon franchise. The two clearly remain on good , too, as Snyder has itted he phoned Gunn up after the news of his DC promotion and wished him all the best.
In other words, the lines between the DCEU and the DCU might be more blurred than you think. Just don’t go expecting a Henry Cavill vs. David Corenswet crossover movie to be added to Warner Bros. slate anytime soon.
Published: Jan 4, 2024 09:49 am