Before ‘Superman,’ James Gunn Made a Gritty Sci-Fi Thriller That's Officially Leaving Streaming

Before he took over DC Studios as the co-CEO and directed a Superman reboot that espoused kindness and humanity, James Gunn produced a dark take on the character's mythos. The movie embodied every cynical idea that one could have about Superman. Instead of portraying the archetype as a beacon of hope, the movie depicted him as a Carrie White-like figure who becomes violent because of childhood alienation and bullying. The movie was released to mixed reviews and mediocre box-office reception in 2019, serving as a bridge between Zack Snyder's divisive Man of Steel and Gunn's own colorful Superman. It's now streaming on Peacock, but only for a little while longer.

Directed by David Yarovesky, the film was a Gunn family affair. It was written by Gunn's brother and cousin, with his wife Jennifer Holland in a supporting role. Also featured were his frequent collaborators Michael Rooker and Steve Agee. Only a couple of years later, Gunn would find himself directing an official DC movie — The Suicide Squad. This happened between his firing and rehiring by Disney as the director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. A lifelong comic book fan, Gunn is now in charge of creating a new universe of DC movies, which will continue next week with the horror film Clayface.