‘Creature Commandos’: James Gunn’s Animated DCU Series Adds David Harbour, Maria Bakalova, Frank Grillo & More

Zack Sharf Digital News Director “Guardians of the Galaxy” writer-director James Gunn revealed in a recent interview with ComicBook.com that Zoe Saldana’s Gamora was nearly killed off in 2017’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” about a year before the character met her demise in “Avengers: Infinity War.” According to Gunn, it was Marvel executives that talked him out of the decision. “Gamora almost died in ‘Vol. 2,'” Gunn said. “I knew from the beginning Zoe only wanted to play the character for so many years, and she’s been very honest saying that she’s done [after this]. And so I was going to have her die. I thought she was the one that was going to sacrifice herself…I was kind of talked out of it by Kevin [Feige] and Lou [D’Esposito], and then it just didn’t work that well. It didn’t feel right, it felt much more right to go where we go in that movie. That seemed what was correct for the story.”

When it was announced that Peter Safran and James Gunn were taking over as co-CEOs of DC Studios and were working on a brand-new slate of films to fill out the new DCU, fans were assuming that meant the death of every other project that was being developed prior. This included the highly-publicized ‘Superman’ film being produced by J.J.

Marvel bosses regretted the sacking of Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunn.Gunn was dropped by Disney after the first two Guardians films in 2018 when a series of controversial tweets allegedly written in the past by him, surfaced online.Cast members of the franchise rallied behind Gunn and he was eventually rehired in March 2019 to direct the the third film.Now Feige has said that Marvel bosses never interviewed anyone to replace Gunn during his absence.“We didn’t even put a preliminary list together just because we couldn’t do it,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “We couldn’t stomach it.”Gunn also said Disney film chairman Alan Horn regretted the decision to sack him and he was having trouble sleeping over it.“It’s a 100 percent because Alan Horn felt sick.

James Gunn has weighed in on Ezra Miller’s future in the DC franchise, and it looks like things still remain up in the air.Earlier this week, Warners Bros. shared a new trailer for The Flash, the upcoming debut film adaptation of the long-standing DC superhero, which gave fans their first look at Michael Keaton’s return to portraying Batman.The film was beleaguered by multiple delays on the film’s production and development, including directorial changes, but it has also been the subject of controversy surrounding the behaviour of Miller, who plays the titular superhero.The actor was embroiled in a number of legal issues last year, most recently accusations of using violence and other intimidatory methods to influence an adolescent, as well as two arrests in Hawaii – one for disorderly conduct and harassment and another for second-degree assault.In January, they pleaded guilty to a trespassing charge related to a burglary case in Vermont.

Pom Klementieff reprises her role of Mantis in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” with an added layer that she is related to Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill as of last year’s Christmas Special.During the “Guardians” Christmas Special starring Kevin Bacon that aired in November 2022, Mantis quietly brought up to Drax (Dave Bautista) that Ego was her father, meaning she is Peter’s sister. And that changes things going into this last fillm in the “Guardians” franchise.“The stakes are bigger for sure,” she told TheWrap.

Now that James Gunn is leading the DC franchise, what are the odds that audiences might see Superman sharing the screen with Spider-Man?

It’s easy to forget now, given the wild success of the franchise since, but remember the context of the time: filmmaker James Gunn did the unthinkable and overcame great odds with 2014’s “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 1.” Moreso than almost any other Marvel characters that led their own movies in the last 20+ years, the Guardians were mostly unknown C-list characters, and many skeptical pundits were expecting a bomb because audiences would be unfamiliar.

Charna Flam James Gunn told Variety Thursday night that his upcoming DC Studios movie, “Superman: Legacy” hasn’t found its leading man just yet — but the production is considering “some really great choices.” On the red carpet for Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” MCU actors, Pom Klementieff and Will Poulter also teased whether or not they’d join the director for his upcoming DC movie. Gunn explained exactly what he is looking for his Clark Kent. “The next Superman has to be someone who has all the humanity that Superman has but he’s also an alien,” Gunn told Variety’s Marc Malkin. “It’s gotta be somebody who has the kindness and the compassion that Superman has and be somebody who you want to give a hug.” As for whether or not Gunn is recruiting “Guardians” star Chris Pratt for the role, he said. “It’s not Chris Pratt. If he was a few years younger, maybe.” The DC Studios co-head announced in December he was writing the upcoming feature, and in March he was then confirmed as the “Superman: Legacy” director. He recently revealed that “costumes, production design and more are now up and running.”James Gunn reveals what he's looking for in the next Superman at the premiere of #GuardiansoftheGalaxyVol3. https://t.co/G3QElsKbUh pic.twitter.com/GkWRmVy5Pq— Variety (@Variety) April 28, 2023

Karen Gillan is bidding a fond farewell to her time as a Guardian of the Galaxy.«I actually have to admit it, I've been in denial about this… But yeah, all stories must come to an end,» the actress told ET's Ash Crossan at thepremiere in Los Angeles on Thursday. «It's bittersweet and sad, but we're proud of what we've done.»When asked to describe the final installment for fans, Gillan offered a rollercoaster of adjectives, saying, «Fun, funny and devastating.»But she was loving her time on the last red carpet, surrounded by the ardent support of MCU fans once more.«These premieres are always like premieres on steroids,» she marveled.

Sure, James Gunn is making the publicity rounds, promoting his upcoming Marvel Studios film, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” But there’s another hero in Gunn’s life right now who is taking a bit of a shine away from his ragtag group of space heroes—Superman.

Tuesday, April 18 was an exciting day for James Gunn.

DC co-Boss James Gunn announced on Twitter today that his Superman: Legacy, which he’s writing and directing, is going into pre-production. Separately, per sources, we hear that physical production will start at the top of 2024.

new “Superman” movie is off to the races. The “Guardians of the Galaxy” writer/director announced on Tuesday morning that early pre-production has begun for the new film, with costumes, production design “and more” now “up and running.” Gunn also revealed that he’s finished writing the full script.“Superman: Legacy” — which Gunn wrote and will direct — is slated for release on July 11, 2025 and will tell the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director James Gunn announced on Twitter that pre-production on “Superman: Legacy” has begun. The 2025 comic book tentpole will be the official launch of the new DC Universe as supervised by Gunn and his DC Studios co-head Peter Safran. “I’m honored to be a part of the legacy,” Gunn wrote alongside a photo of the “Superman: Legacy” script cover page. “And what better day than Superman Anniversary Day to dive fully into early pre-production on ‘Superman: Legacy’? Costumes, production design, and more now up and running.” Gunn has been keeping fans updated on “Superman: Legacy” every step of the way. The film was confirmed in January when Gunn and Safran revealed the first slate of film and television titles for their new DC Universe. In addition to “Superman: Legacy,” films such as “Supergirl: World of Tomorrow” and “The Brave and the Bold” (a Batman and Robin movie) are also in development. Gunn is writing and directing his “Superman” movie.

Promo for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has officially begun!

The cast for DCU’s newest animated feature has been announced.

Frank Grillo, David Harbour, Maria Bakalova, Indira Varma, Zoe Chao, Alan Tudyk, Sean Gunn and Steve Agee have been set as the voice cast for DC’s new animated series Creature Commandos.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment Writer The “Creature Commandos” can speak! The animated series — which is set to premiere in 2024 as the first title in the new DC Universe headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran — unveiled its voice cast featuring David Harbour, Indira Varma, Alan Tudyk, Maria Bakalova, Zoe Chao, Steve Agee and more. Varmawill voice the show’s main protagonist, Bride of Frankenstein, a version of the classic horror character; Frank Grillo will play Rick Flag Sr., the father of Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag, Jr. from 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” (written and directed by Gunn); Harbour will voice Eric Frankenstein, a version of the classic monster and ostensible love interest for the Bride; Chao will voice Nina Mazursky, an amphibious scientist; Gunn will voice G.I. Robot, a military android; and Tudyk will voice Doctor Phosphorus, who is permanently radioactive (and often a Batman villain).

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, saying it is “about the Guardians saving themselves”.The third film in the series is due out in UK cinemas on May 3, and sees Gunn returning to direct alongside star Chris Pratt.“It is a trilogy,” Gunn told Empire of the series’ overall narrative arc. “The first movie is about the mother, the second movie is about the father and the third movie is about the self.

James Gunn has a unique perspective on both the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), having directed movies for both Marvel (his trio of “Guardians of the Galaxy” films) and DC (“The Suicide Squad”), and, of course, in his new role as co-head of DC Studios.