Filmmaker and DC Studios chief James Gunn says his upcoming “Superman” film is far less of a risk for the studio than some are suggesting it is.
In the build-up to the film’s release, there’s been talk that its success or failure at the box-office will go well beyond the movie itself. That talk keeps expanding, some suggesting it will determine the future of Gunn’s potential DC Universe films, the future of DC Studios itself, even potentially the future of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Speaking with GQ as part of a cover story on the film’s star David Corenswet, Gunn says the film is “not the riskiest endeavor in the world” and the numbers it needs to reach are a lot less than you might think:
“Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it’s not as big as people make it out to be. They hear these numbers that the movie’s only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it’s just complete and utter nonsense. It doesn’t need to be as big of a situation as people are saying.”
One upside to Gunn’s script completed first approach is that the film hasn’t required extensive reshoots or rushed visual effects to the extent some Marvel titles have in recent years.
The film’s budget is still big, at around $200 million, so Warners is no doubt hoping to generate at least $500 million at the worldwide box-office at a time when numerous comic book films have fizzled, even decently reviewed ones like Marvel’s “Thunderbolts”.
At present, “Superman” is on track to earn anywhere between $90-135 million for its domestic opening weekend with social media reactions set to arrive in the next few hours. Two reviews have leaked so far, one negative and one positive, with several outlets having spoken with critics and saying the reactions have been widely varied.
“Superman” is set to open in cinemas on July 11th.
