James Gunn prioritizes emotional impact over prestige in his creative vision.

As Hollywood prepares for this year’s awards season, James Gunn has expressed that he isn’t overly concerned with “prestige,” preferring instead to focus on “making pop cinema.” The DC chief, currently working on the Superman sequel, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, emphasized that his priority has always been to craft stories that resonate emotionally with audiences.

“I don’t care about prestige,” Gunn stated. “Sure, it would be nice to be nominated for Best Director or something like that. Would I prefer that over not being nominated? Absolutely. But it’s not my main focus.”

He added, “Sometimes I come up with ideas that lean more towards independent films, but I enjoy creating the type of movies I make, and I like making pop cinema, for lack of a better term. If I can also make those films emotionally impactful or spiritually significant, like many have said about Superman or Guardians 3, then that’s fantastic.”

Gunn highlighted the joy of making big movies, noting the artistry involved and the creative process. “There’s something special about piecing together a big puzzle and crafting a machine that works for an audience, eliciting reactions—whether it’s laughter, tears, or screams. That’s the fun part,” he concluded.

In the same conversation, Gunn described Superman as the “hardest” film he’s ever tackled. “I was reorienting something that everyone thinks they already understand. Oddly enough, it’s the most comic book-driven project I’ve ever worked on, even more than my other superhero films,” he explained.

Superman, which was named movie of the year for 2025, features David Corenswet as the Man of Steel and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Both actors are set to reprise their roles in the sequel, scheduled for release on July 9, 2027.

Before that, fans can look forward to Milly Alcock starring in Supergirl, hitting theaters on June 26.