James Gunn Has Talked To GOTG Stars About Joining The DCU

Now that James Gunn runs DC Studios with Peter Safran, people have been asking whether he’ll be casting GOTG actors in the DCU. As any superhero fan would know, actors can portray roles in either MCU or DCU; it all boils down to contracts. The third and, so far, the last movie Gunn has with Marvel Studios is coming up this May—speculations as to DCU casting surface as the GOTG Vol 3 approaches theatres.

It isn’t unlikely that actors could portray roles from both franchise umbrellas. In fact, many have done it before.

Right off the bat would be Michael Keaton, the Caped Crusader who swung from DC and flew into the MCU and Sony’s Spider-Man as the Vulture. Another Batman is Christian Bale himself from the Christopher Nolan trilogy. He appeared as Gorr the God Butcher in the MCU’s Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi.

And speaking of the Thor franchise, it was Zachary Levi’s intro to superhero movies as the Asgardian Fandral before taking on the mantle of the Wizard’s Champion Shazam! Even director Taika Waititi is an actor for the MCU and DCU with his role as Korg also in the Thor movies he directed and Ratcatcher in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.

Gunn’s Peacemaker series has already taken in a Guardian of the Galaxy as a dancer in one of its episodes. Pom Klementieff, MCU’s charming Mantis, was seen dancing inside a bar. Gunn’s The Suicide Squad movie itself is home to many actors from the MCU. Thus, it won’t be surprising to discover that after the GOTG Vol 3 comes to theatres, Gunn may just opt to cast them in his DC slate.

James Gunn May Cast GOTG Stars Into The DCU

Some of them.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 12, 2023

Last April 13, James Gunn answered a fan’s question as to whether the director-executive has talked to the Guardians of the Galaxy cast about a future with the DCU. Gunn replied:

Some of them.

For the DC slate, Gunn and Safran are the only ones who know 100% of what is going on in development. Even more so for the upcoming movie Superman Legacy and the series that will follow, such as Waller and, of course, his second season of Peacemaker.

Gunn has been known to be a rather likeable director to work with. That is coming from actors who’ve actually experienced working with him. Even during his most trying time prior to getting to direct the third Guardians movie again, stars of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies stood by him, expressing their support. Dave Bautista, MCU’s Drax, was not mincing his words in support of the director.

In the Happy Sad Confused Podcast via The Direct, Gunn talked about the actor as well as Klementieff’s cameo, where he shared:

Well, I mean, people know I almost cast Dave [Bautista] in a role and he couldn’t do it, so he didn’t. But other than that, well, there might be a Guardian somewhere in the film that no one has seen yet…

James Gunn Can Bring GOTG Stars In The DCU For Future Projects

DC Writer Tom King Says James Gunn Is Directing New Superman Movie

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Now that Gunn’s Guardians team is coming to the end of their tale, they might just find a new page to turn in the new DCU. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper and many more, will definitely have a spot in the new mega-franchise if it fits.

However, it may not be likely that they’d all be together in one project at once. Maybe in separate movies, but eventually coming together on a grander scale. Since DCU is positioning its universe as interconnected stories from series on television and streaming, animation, theatrical releases and even the video games, there are so many aspects of the story to cover.

Also, a point to consider is that, unlike the MCU, DCU has a universe that is entirely separate. DC Elseworlds is also part of the brand. Many actors will really have a chance to take part in the new pie Gunn and Safran are baking.

In the meantime, MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 comes to theatres this May 5th with the following synopsis:

In Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere. But it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past.

Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life-a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

What do you make of James Gunn possibly casting GOTG actors into his DCU slate? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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