James Gunn Urges DC Fandom to Change How They Make Requests
James Gunn is speaking directly to DC fans again, and this time he is asking them to change the way they talk to filmmakers. In a recent message, Gunn encouraged fans to share their opinions honestly without acting like they speak for everyone.
He wrote, “If you want to see something from a filmmaker, consider phrasing it as ‘I’ as opposed to ‘we’… Your personal desire is meaningful and has weight, but when you frame your personal desire as a universal one, it rings false and becomes forgettable. Own what you want!”
Gunn’s post comes after a lot of discussion around Batman’s suit in future DC movies. Fans often tell him what they think the next Batsuit should look like, and many of these requests sound like demands coming from the whole fanbase.
Gunn explained that this is not the case. He said people have very different opinions about what they want to see, even when they think they’re speaking for everyone.
The information comes from Gunn’s own comments online, where he talks directly to fans. He said the blue and grey look for Batman’s suit is the most talked about. He shared, “The most requested thing would be the blue & grey. Then the yellow around the bat… But all of those things I find less important than the character himself, the writing, & the person who plays him.”
Gunn also pointed out that even the most popular request is not as universal as some fans claim. He explained that the design people ask for the most is also the one many others do not want at all.
He said, “Even the most requested thing – the blue and grey – is split evenly with people who don’t want that. And the other two most requested things are also things just as many people say they don’t want to see. So you have to do what’s right by the specific film and story.”
His message shows how divided fan opinions can be, even on details that seem simple. It also explains why he is asking fans to say “I want” instead of “we want.” In big fandoms, it is common for people to speak in a way that sounds like they represent everyone, and sometimes that comes off as rude or bossy. Gunn is reminding fans that their own personal opinions matter more when they share them honestly.
Gunn handled this in a calm and honest way. Fans care a lot about these movies, but sometimes they forget that not everyone wants the same thing. When people speak for the entire fandom, it can come across as pushy and unfair. It makes sense that Gunn prefers when fans simply say what they personally like. What do you think about his message? Share your thoughts in the comments.