James Gunn on Fan Wars as Superman, Fantastic Four Debut

This summer is gearing up for an epic box office showdown between two superhero giants, with the DC Universe's reboot of Superman premiering on July 11, followed by the Marvel Cinematic Universe's blockbuster The Fantastic Four: First Steps just two weeks later on July 25. While DC and Marvel fans continue their online debates, DCU head James Gunn has made it clear he has no interest in engaging with this rivalry, preferring instead to celebrate the strengths of each film.

On the social platform Threads, Gunn was questioned about The Fantastic Four amidst ongoing fan comparisons between the two comic book powerhouses.

“They come out two weeks after us,” Gunn responded. “There’s plenty of room for both films! I have great respect for my colleagues at Marvel. You can find endless debates online, but I’d rather focus on the positive energy surrounding these releases instead of getting caught up in fan wars.”

Gunn brings extensive experience from his time with Marvel, having written and directed the beloved Guardians of the Galaxy film series. He also has strong roots in the DC world, having written and directed the critically praised 2021 Suicide Squad film.

Now serving as co-head of the relaunched DC Universe alongside Peter Safran, Gunn has written, directed, and produced the upcoming Superman film. He is guiding the DCU in a direction that Warner Bros. hopes will achieve greater success than its predecessor, the DCEU. With numerous DCU films and television projects currently in development, future encounters with Marvel seem inevitable.

Consider Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, scheduled for June 26, 2026. It arrives just over a month ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which debuts on July 31, 2026. On the television front, the DCU will introduce the HBO series Lanterns sometime in 2026, while Marvel Television plans to release several Disney+ series, including the second season of Daredevil: Born Again and Vision Quest.

For the moment, however, the spotlight remains firmly on Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, with each film facing immense pressure to deliver outstanding box office results. No matter which comic book universe you favor, July is shaping up to be an incredible month for superhero enthusiasts.

It's also worth noting that Marvel and DC have come together to unveil what promises to be one of 2025's best-selling comic book releases. The two publishers are collaborating on a duo of crossover specials starring Batman and Deadpool. This marks the first official crossover between the Marvel and DC Universes in more than two decades. Even better, they're not stopping with Deadpool/Batman #1 and Batman/Deadpool #1—Marvel and DC are already planning another crossover event for 2026.