James Francis Gunn Jr. (born August 5, 1966) is an American filmmaker. He began his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s, starting at Troma Entertainment with Tromeo and Juliet (1996).
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Critics who caught the early premiere are split between calling it DC's best film yet and an uneven third outing, with Tom Rhys Harries singled out as the standout.
James Gunn has recommended 12 classic body horror films ahead of the October 23, 2026 release of Clayface, a dark origin story for one of Batman’s most grotesque villains. The list includes works by Cronenberg, del Toro, and Carpenter.
Clayface, DC Studios' R-rated horror take on the Batman villain starring Tom Rhys Harries, releases in theatres on 23 October 2026.
Clayface hits theaters on October 23, 2026, with a $40 million budget and a projected opening of $20–$29 million. The R-rated horror film, starring Tom Rhys Harries as a disfigured actor turned vengeful monster, is seen as a potential lifeline for DC Studios after a string of underperforming releases, including Supergirl. Directed by James Watkins, it’s set in James Gunn’s DC Universe but doesn’t’
James Gunn’s The Belko Experiment is now streaming for free on Pluto TV after being added on October 1, 2026. The 2017 horror thriller, which earned $11 million worldwide against a $5 million budget, follows 80 office workers trapped in a building and forced to kill two people every 30 minutes or die themselves. Starring John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjona, Melonie Diaz, and John C. M
Clayface hits theaters October 23 — and the DC Universe just got weirder. The film, directed by James Watkins and starring Tom Rhys Harries as a disfigured actor whose identity unravels after experimental treatment, isn’t just another superhero flick. It’s body horror with a side of existential dread, and it’s already stirring debate before a single frame has been seen by critics.
Lanterns ended with a bullet to the head — and a promise of more. The DCU’s first series concluded with Hal Jordan’s death, a twist even his actor Kyle Chandler says he didn’t see coming.
James Gunn has confirmed he’s already working on the screenplay for his next film, even as Superman: Man of Tomorrow enters its final stages of post-production. The announcement came via a casual reply on Threads, where he said he 'had to do something while I was waiting for the assembly!!' The film, scheduled for release on July 9, 2027, stars David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex,
Lanterns Season 1 concluded with Hal Jordan’s death, but Damon Lindelof confirms Season 2 is in early development. John Stewart returns in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow (July 9, 2027).
The director confirms he’s 'already in it' while awaiting the final edit of Man of Tomorrow, setting the stage for a sequel that pits Superman against Lex Luthor—and introduces John Stewart to the live-action DCU.
Clayface, the DCU's third theatrical release, is tracking for a $50-55 million global opening, far short of what it needs to overtake Superman's $618.7 million worldwide total, per early estimates.
Lanterns closes out its eight-episode first season Sunday without an official HBO renewal, though showrunner Chris Mundy says a Season 2 writers' room has been running for six weeks and James Gunn has confirmed it was a season, not series, finale.
Box Office Pro projections suggest Clayface, the DCU's horror-tinged Batman villain origin story, could open below Supergirl in North America when it arrives on October 23, closer to Halloween.
Mike Flanagan says he has not seen Clayface and calls it James Watkins' film, even though he wrote the original script. The DC horror movie releases October 23.
Gunn and Safran stay at DC Studios after Paramount's WBD takeover — but the clock is ticking on their legacy.
Robert Pattinson says it would be tough to place his Batman inside James Gunn's rebooted DC universe, pointing to the tone and darkness of Matt Reeves' films as reason enough to keep them apart.
Clayface has received an R-rating from the MPA for bloody violence, gore, language, nudity and brief drug use, cementing DC Studios' bet on a horror-first superhero film out October 23.