While James Gunn recently made headlines with his announcement of a new Superman and Lois Lane, fans eagerly anticipating updates on his upcoming film, Superman: Legacy, will be disappointed to learn that DC Studios won’t be present at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con due to ongoing writer strikes.
In a recent Instagram post, Gunn shared a picture featuring himself alongside the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the final installment in the trilogy and his last project with Marvel Studios. The film has had a fantastic run at the box office, and the snapshot captured the warm camaraderie of Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and Sean Gunn—the beloved A-holes we’ve grown to love. However, the comment section of the post revealed Gunn’s absence from the Comic-Con event. When a fan inquired about his attendance, he replied, “I won’t be there this year but probably next.”
Gunn, a familiar face at San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H in previous years, will not be partaking in the event this time around. This decision comes as DC Studios undergoes restructuring, distancing itself from the remnants of Zack Snyder’s abandoned DC Extended Universe. Some interpret this move as a sign of the diminishing influence of the convention, traditionally renowned for major film announcements from studios like Marvel Studios, DC films, Universal’s Fast & Furious franchise, and more.
Image via DC Comics
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You Can’t Spell SDCC Without DC
Although Warner Bros. Discovery has not officially confirmed DC Studios’ absence from SDCC, Gunn’s statement strongly suggests that the event won’t serve as a platform to generate hype for Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC movie reset, which will commence with Superman: Legacy.
Nevertheless, it does seem like a missed opportunity. Many prominent players in the film industry, including Marvel Studios, DC’s main competitor, have chosen to skip this year’s event, along with Netflix, Universal Pictures, HBO, and Sony Pictures. Given Marvel’s recent successes, this could have been an opportune moment for DC to make significant strides.
However, Gunn clearly does not prioritize the event, especially given the ongoing WGA Strike, a major factor in studios withdrawing their participation. Most celebrities involved in promoting larger projects have opted to distance themselves from studio-backed endeavors to avoid violating strike terms. As a writer himself, Gunn is mindful of this. If there are any updates from DC, he will likely be the one to share them, regardless of his location.
You can watch our interview with Gunn and Chris Pratt about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Comic-Con
Q: Will James Gunn be attending San Diego Comic-Con this year?
A: No, James Gunn has confirmed that he will not be attending San Diego Comic-Con this year.
Q: Why is DC Studios not appearing at SDCC?
A: While there hasn’t been an official announcement from Warner Bros. Discovery, James Gunn’s statement strongly suggests that DC Studios won’t be using the event to build hype for their upcoming projects.
Q: What is the reason behind DC Studios’ absence at SDCC?
A: DC Studios’ absence at SDCC can be attributed to ongoing writer strikes and the studio’s restructuring, moving away from Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe.
Q: Which other major studios have chosen to skip this year’s Comic-Con?
A: Alongside DC Studios, other major studios like Marvel Studios, Netflix, Universal Pictures, HBO, and Sony Pictures have decided not to attend this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Q: Is the WGA Strike affecting James Gunn’s decision to attend SDCC?
A: Yes, the ongoing WGA Strike has influenced James Gunn’s decision not to participate in any studio-backed events to avoid violating strike terms.
Q: Will there still be updates from DC at SDCC?
A: While DC Studios won’t be present, if there are any updates regarding DC projects, James Gunn may share them independently, regardless of his physical presence at the event.
More about Comic-Con
- James Gunn Instagram post
- San Diego Comic-Con
- DC Extended Universe
- WGA Strike
- Marvel Studios
- Netflix
- Universal Pictures
- HBO
- Sony Pictures
5 comments
omg, i can’t believe dc studios not gonna be at sdcc! this is a huge deal! but tbh, with all the strikes and stuff, maybe it’s not so surprising. still, gonna miss all the superhero announcements and trailers. sigh.
well, well, well, looks like james gunn ain’t gonna grace sdcc with his presence this time. wonder what that means for the dc movie reset. guess we’ll have to wait for him to spill the beans himself. #cantwait
sigh, sdcc is just not gonna be the same without dc studios. i was really looking forward to some epic reveals. but i guess we’ll have to settle for whatever tidbits james gunn drops on us. better than nothing, i suppose.
no dc at sdcc?! seriously?? come on, it’s supposed to be the place for big announcements and excitement. now it’s just gonna be a snoozefest without them. hoping james gunn spills some tea anyway. fingers crossed!
lol, so James gunn won’t be there for sdcc this year? that’s sad, man. i was really hoping for some big dc news. but seems like lots of studios skipping the event. what a bummer!