WB has had a tough time finding a head for DC Films, and it’s no wonder they weren’t able to find one because there’s only one Kevin Feige, Feige himself. Warner Brothers Discovery CEO David Zaslav had been searching for a Feige-figure for DC Films for quite a while now. Zaslav’s dream remained a dream until this week when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 director James Gunn was appointed as co-CEO of DC Studios.
David Zaslav Wanted Kevin Feige To Run DC Studios
Earlier this week, THR reported that Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran were tapped to lead DC’s film, TV, and animation efforts as co-CEOs of DC Studios.
Neil Turitz from Above The Line (which is led by Jeff Sneider) reported that Warner Brothers Discovery boss David Zaslav wanted someone like Kevin Feige to run DC Studios, and apparently even asked him to do so, which Feige politely declined. A reminder that Kevin Feige DID consider joining DC a few years ago when he was working under Marvel’s CEO Ike Perlmutter.
While the fandoms are busy fighting among themselves, the execs themselves have a very healthy relationship. Kevin Feige is famous for being very encouraging to budding filmmakers and actors. Just yesterday, James Gunn was asked on Twitter if he hated “Kevin Feige and Marvel”, now that he is DC’s Kevin Feige. Here’s what he said:
“Not only do I love Kevin, he was the 1st person I told after I did the deal with DC (John Cena was the 2nd). Contrary to popular belief, a dollar less for Marvel is not a dollar more for DC. DC & Marvel have the common goal of keeping the theater-going experience vibrant & alive!”
James Gunn on Twitter
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the red carpet world premiere event for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Feige commented on Gunn’s full-time move to Warner Bros.
“I speak to James almost every day. We have a wonderful thing called the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special coming out. We have a wonderful thing called Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 coming out in May. How he’ll have any time to work on DC until May I don’t know, but once he does have the time I’ll be very excited. I’ll be first in line.”
Kevin Feige