James Gunn Explains Why “Prestige” Movies Don’t Matter to Him

James Gunn is moving fast and carrying a lot on his shoulders. The filmmaker is currently working on the next chapter of DC’s movie universe while also preparing his next Superman story, “Man of Tomorrow.” The film will follow this year’s “Superman” and is already in early production stages. Gunn is directing the movie while also running DC Studios with producer Peter Safran, a role that puts him in charge of both creative and business decisions.

Gunn recently spoke on the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, which is the source of these comments. During the interview, he talked openly about his workload and the pressure that comes with leading DC’s future. He described the project as the toughest challenge of his career, mainly because he is juggling so many responsibilities at once.

The timing of the interview also showed how unstable the entertainment world has become. Only a short time after the conversation, Netflix announced a massive $82 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. The news highlighted how quickly things can change in Hollywood, especially for filmmakers working inside major studio systems.

During the podcast, Gunn made it clear that awards and critical labels are not what push him to make movies. He said that while recognition can be nice, it is not his focus. “Would it be cool to be nominated for Best Director or something? Yeah … But it’s not really my concern.” He explained that even though he sometimes thinks about making smaller films, he enjoys the type of large-scale movies he is known for. “I like making pop cinema, for lack of a better term.”

Gunn also spoke about why big movies still matter to him. He believes they can reach people in real ways, even when they are made for wide audiences. “If I can have those things also be something that are emotionally resonant to people, or affect people in a deeper, more spiritual way,” he said, pointing to feedback he has heard from viewers of “Superman” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”

For Gunn, the process is just as important as the final result. He said he enjoys both the creative side and the challenge of building something large that works for an audience. “I like making the big movies too. There’s an artistry to it.” He added that putting all the pieces together to create emotional reactions, laughs, or excitement is what makes filmmaking fun for him.

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