How DC Almost Lured Marvel’s Kevin Feige Before James Gunn Took the Helm
DC Tried to Woo Kevin Feige After Justice League’s Struggles
After the 2017 Justice League underperformed both critically and financially, DC made a bold move: they tried to convince Marvel Studios’ head, Kevin Feige, to jump ship and lead their superhero universe instead.
- DC approached Kevin Feige post-Justice League flop
- Talks didn’t pan out, Feige stayed with Marvel
- James Gunn later joined DC to reshape their superhero slate
- Superman (2023) marks Gunn’s first official DC Universe film
- Upcoming projects include Peacemaker season 2 and a new Justice League film
Warner Bros. and DC were clearly eager to fix their superhero mess after Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon’s Justice League scored just 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned about $660 million worldwide — underwhelming for such a big franchise.
The Feige Approach That Didn’t Work
According to a detailed Wall Street Journal report, Warner Bros. actually met with Kevin Feige to try and persuade him to leave Marvel and take over DC’s cinematic universe. Feige, who’s been the mastermind behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since Iron Man in 2008, didn’t bite — those talks quickly fizzled out.
So, Feige stayed put, continuing to produce blockbuster hits for Marvel, while DC kept chugging along with movies like Aquaman (the only DCEU film to cross $1 billion at the box office) and Birds of Prey. But eventually, Warner Bros. decided to reboot the whole DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Enter James Gunn and the New DCU Vision
That reboot brought in James Gunn and producer Peter Safran to lead the charge. Gunn, previously known for his work on The Suicide Squad (which is technically part of the old DCEU), is now helming the new DC Universe. His first official DCU film, Superman, is set to hit theaters this Friday and has been getting good buzz from critics. Pre-release surveys even suggest it could open with more than $125 million domestically.
Right on its heels is The Fantastic Four: First Steps, produced by none other than Kevin Feige, coming out July 25 — so Marvel and DC will be duking it out at the box office this summer.
DC fans also have plenty to look forward to: Peacemaker season 2 premieres on August 21, and a Supergirl series is scheduled for June 2026. Gunn and Safran are focused on bringing back DC’s iconic Trinity — Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman — and uniting them in a new Justice League film. As the report puts it, maybe second time’s the charm?
