Gunn Champions Superman and Fantastic Four Coexistence

This summer, two highly anticipated superhero movies will compete at the box office, with the DC Universe's "Superman" reboot premiering on July 11, followed by the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" on July 25. While DC and Marvel fans debate online, DCU head James Gunn has expressed his disinterest in fueling internet rivalries, preferring to highlight the strengths of both films.

On the social platform Threads, Gunn was questioned about "The Fantastic Four" amid ongoing fan debates between Marvel and DC.

"They release two weeks after our film," Gunn responded. "There's plenty of room for both. I have great respect for my colleagues at Marvel. While online discussions will always exist, I encourage everyone to focus on the exciting developments surrounding these films rather than getting caught up in fan conflicts."

Gunn brings extensive experience from his time with Marvel, where he wrote and directed the beloved "Guardians of the Galaxy" series. He is also familiar with DC, having directed the critically acclaimed 2021 "The Suicide Squad."

Now serving as co-head of the revamped DC Universe alongside Peter Safran, Gunn wrote, directed, and produced "Superman." He is guiding the DCU in a new direction that Warner Bros. hopes will achieve greater success than the previous DCEU. As part of this strategy, multiple DCU films and television series are in development, making future clashes with Marvel releases likely.

For instance, "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" is scheduled for June 26, 2026, just over a month before "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" arrives on July 31, 2026. On the television front, the DCU series "Lanterns" is expected to debut on HBO in 2026, while Marvel Television will release several Disney+ series, including the second season of "Daredevil: Born Again" and "Vision Quest."

For now, attention remains firmly on "Superman" and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," as both films face significant pressure to deliver strong box office results. Regardless of which comic book universe you prefer, July promises an exciting lineup for superhero enthusiasts.

It’s also worth noting that Marvel and DC have collaborated on a project set to be one of 2025’s most popular comic releases. The publishers are jointly producing two crossover one-shot specials starring Batman and Deadpool, marking the first official crossover between the Marvel and DC universes in over two decades. Even better, this collaboration won't end with "Deadpool/Batman #1" and "Batman/Deadpool #1"—Marvel and DC are already planning additional crossovers for 2026.