From ‘Peacemaker’ To ‘Superman,’ 7 Ways James Gunn Is Changing The DCU

James Gunn is swooping in to save the DC Universe from its own serious self, trading brooding Batman glares for actual fun and characters who remember how to smile.

The DC Universe was stuck in a serious slump, but James Gunn just might be the hero it needs. After enduring years of brooding superhero films that made watching Batman feel like homework, the Guardians of the Galaxy mastermind is finally injecting some much-needed personality into these iconic DC characters. His work on The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker already shows what happens when someone who actually loves comics takes the wheel. With Superman, Gunn is making fans remember why they fell in love with these characters in the first place. Here are seven ways the filmmaker is turning the DC Universe into something worth getting excited about again.

1. Making DC Movies Fun Again

The Zack Snyder era gave us some visually stunning moments, but watching those films kind of felt like we were attending a very expensive funeral. Luckily, Gunn has flipped the script completely, remembering that superhero stories are supposed to be, well, enjoyable.  His Superman is the guy that smiles, cracks jokes, and makes saving the world look effortless, not like the brooding, conflicted hero we got in Man of Steel. Peacemaker somehow manages to tackle heavy stuff like daddy issues and generational trauma while still delivering moments that’ll have you snorting with laughter. Gunn clearly grew up reading comics and remembers that these characters were created to make people feel hopeful, not like they needed therapy.

2. Giving Forgotten Characters Their Moment to Shine

While other DC movies kept recycling the same handful of A-listers, Gunn’s is digging through comic book crates to pull out heroes who don’t get much screentime. Putting Krypto the Superdog in the new Superman film is exactly the kind of bold move that shows he’s not afraid to embrace the full, weird, wonderful world of DC. Peacemaker took a character most people had never heard of and turned him into everyone’s favorite dysfunctional antihero. It’s proof that good storytelling can make audiences care about literally anyone, even a guy whose costume looks like it was designed by a particularly creative kindergartener. 

3. Celebrating the Ridiculous Instead of Hiding From It

Superhero stories can be weird and wacky, and Gunn’s totally cool with that. While other directors tie themselves in knots trying to make spandex-wearing crime fighters seem “realistic,” he just rolls with the crazy. Peacemaker features a dude whose helmet looks like a toilet seat, and the show treats this with the same gravity as any other superhero origin story. It’s refreshingly honest after years of movies that seemed embarrassed by their comic book roots. This self-aware approach creates a much more genuine connection with audiences who grew up loving these characters despite (or because of) how utterly ridiculous they are.

4. Tackling Real-World Issues Head-On

Gunn’s superhero stories never shy away from contemporary social issues, using fantastic scenarios to explore very real problems. His Superman film addresses immigration and war – themes that feel natural for a character who is literally an alien refugee. Then there’s Guardians of the Galaxy 3, which took what should’ve been a fun space romp and turned it into a brutal takedown of animal testing through Rocket’s backstory. That movie didn’t just make people cry—it made them think about some seriously messed-up real-world issues. While other directors are worried about alienating audiences, Gunn’s out here using talking raccoons and flying aliens to tackle problems that actually matter. It’s risky as hell, but that’s exactly why it works.

5. Delivering Visual Effects That Actually Work

Remember Henry Cavill’s digitally removed mustache? Or that nightmare fuel version of Steppenwolf? Yeah, DC’s visual effects track record has been… rough. Gunn’s The Suicide Squad was a breath of fresh air, with effects that actually served the story instead of distracting from it. And the special effects in Superman were crisp, clear, bright, and totally realistic. This attention to visual storytelling creates immersive experiences rather than distracting spectacles. Even Peacemaker on a TV budget managed to pull off action sequences that didn’t look like they were rendered on a PlayStation 2. The difference is immediately apparent to audiences who’ve grown tired of obviously fake, video-game-like superhero battles.

6. Using Music as a Storytelling Tool

Most superhero movies treat music like background noise, but Gunn’s always understood that the right song can make or break a scene. That Peacemaker opening credits sequence became a meme sensation partly because of how perfectly the music matched the character’s delusional self-image. His Guardians movies basically turned classic rock into a plot device, with Star-Lord’s Walkman becoming as important as his blasters. This isn’t just about picking cool songs — it’s about using music to tell stories and build emotional connections. When a soundtrack becomes something people actually want to listen to outside the movie, that’s when the music starts doing real work beyond just filling silence.

7. Bringing Back Comic-Accurate Costumes (And Making Them Work)

While other directors tried to modernize superhero costumes into boring tactical gear, Gunn is bringing back the colorful, comic-accurate looks that fans actually want to see. Sure, Superman’s classic costume with the trunks might look a bit goofy by today’s standards, but Gunn understands that’s exactly the point. These characters were designed to be visually striking and fun, not to blend in with military fatigues. Peacemaker proved that even the most ridiculous costume design can work when you commit to it completely — that chrome helmet should look stupid, but somehow it’s become iconic. By embracing the inherent hokiness of comic book fashion instead of running from it, Gunn makes everything feel more authentic and, frankly, way more entertaining than another round of dark, “grounded” superhero gear.