James Gunn answers Threads user who asked who wanted a Clayface movie
DC Studios co-head James Gunn replied on Threads to a user who asked who asked for a Clayface movie, arguing films need not be made by public vote on familiar IP. The film opens Oct. 23.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Left · 2DC Studios co-head James Gunn responded on Threads to a user who asked, in profane terms, who had asked for a Clayface movie. VarietyLC “James Gunn has an answer to the question of “who tf asked for a Clayface movie,” posed by a user on the DC Studios co-head’s Threads account earlier this week.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “took to Threads to defend the project after a user asked, “Who the f–k asked for a Clayface movie?”” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2Gunn replied by listing films such as Back to the Future, Casablanca, There's Something About Mary, Pan's Labyrinth, Fury Road, Weapons and The Matrix, and said Hollywood isn't a place where the only way to make a movie is the public voting on what IP they want to see. VarietyLC “Although it may seem like it, Hollywood isn’t a place where the only way to make a movie is the public voting on what IP they want to see that they’ve seen countless times before.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Who tf asked for Back to the Future? Casablanca? There’s Something About Mary? Pan’s Labyrinth? Fury Road? Weapons? The Matrix?” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2In a second post he said Mike Flanagan, and then James Watkins and Hossein Amini, were inspired by a relatively little-known character and crafted what he believes is a very special story, which he would take over a listless screenplay about a hugely popular character by a writer with no passion for it. VarietyLC “in this case initially Mike Flanagan and then James Watkins and Hossein Amini — were inspired by a relatively little-known fictional character” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “I’d take that inspiration a thousand times over some writer trying to make a buck by writing a listless screenplay” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 1Variety reports the original user comment has since been deleted, and says most fans have been eagerly awaiting the film since its gory trailer premiered months ago. VarietyLC “(The user’s original comment has since been deleted.)”“most fans have been eagerly awaiting the premiere of “Clayface” since the gory trailer premiered months ago” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2Directed by James Watkins, Clayface is a body horror film starring Tom Rhys Harries as actor Matt Hagen, who is disfigured after a crime boss's actions and seeks an experimental treatment that affects his grip on reality; Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan also star. It opens in theatres on Oct. 23. The Hollywood ReporterLC “As for Clayface, the film comes out Oct. 23.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan also star.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1Variety says it is the first film devoted solely to the shape-shifting villain, who debuted in comics in 1940. VarietyLC “marks the first time audiences will see the shape-shifting villain in a film all of his own” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 2The exchange follows an announcement on Tuesday that Gunn will stay at the head of DC Studios with Peter Safran under David Ellison's newly formed Skydance Corp., after Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. VarietyLC “On Tuesday, it was announced that Gunn would remain at the helm of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “fresh off having his role reaffirmed in the wake of Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter adds that Gunn also downplayed a theory that Adria Arjona will play Wonder Woman in the Superman sequel, saying Frank Grillo reposted an image because it had his photo in it and that people were making far too much of it. The Hollywood ReporterLC “People have been making wayyyyyyyyyyy too much of this.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both lean-left trade outlets present Gunn's reply as a spirited defence of an original, niche-character film, quoting his Threads posts at length.
- Emphasis
- Gunn's argument that films needn't be made by public vote on familiar IP, the film's Oct. 23 release and plot, and Gunn's secure position at DC Studios.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither includes the original poster's name or any wider fan or critic reaction beyond Variety's remark that most fans are eager; no reviews exist yet.
- Charged language
- “Fires Back”“fired back”“big swing”
- For example
-
“took to Threads to defend the project” — The Hollywood Reporter
“Gunn shot back, rather correctly:” — The Hollywood Reporter
“Gunn fired back on the platform.” — Variety
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Gunn replied on Threads to a user asking who asked for a Clayface movie.
- Gunn credited Mike Flanagan, then James Watkins and Hossein Amini, with inspiring the story.
- Clayface opens Oct. 23.
- Gunn remains at DC Studios after the Warner Bros. acquisition.
James Gunn person
Gunn defends Clayface as a passion project born of creators' inspiration rather than public demand for known IP.
“I’d take that inspiration a thousand times over some writer trying to make a buck by writing a listless screenplay” — Variety
“crafted what I believe is a very special story around that character” — The Hollywood Reporter
Left2 articles
-
James Gunn Fires Back at Fan Who Snarked: “Who Asked for a ‘Clayface’ Movie?”
Sympathetic Backs Gunn's reply ("rather correctly"), ties it to his Guardians of the Galaxy record, and adds the Wonder Woman rumour pushback.
-
Neutral Reports Gunn's reply and the film's background, noting most fans are eager and the commenter's post was deleted.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 7 Oct 18:00 First The Hollywood ReporterLC James Gunn Fires Back at Fan Who Snarked: “Who Asked for a ‘Clayface’ Movie?”
- 8 Oct 06:40 +12h 41m VarietyLC James Gunn Responds to ‘Clayface’ Criticism: ‘The Public Voting on What IP They Want to See’ Isn’t ‘the Only Way to Make a Movie’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.