James Gunn defends DC casting decisions

James Gunn has taken a lot of heat since stepping into the role of co-CEO and co-chairman of DC, and he’s not afraid to stand up to internet trolls. In the latest example (as of publication, at least), he defended the casting process at the studio, saying there is no discrimination.

Over the weekend, James Gunn was broached on Twitter with the demand to “Find fresh actors that can craft brilliant characters and forge new memories for audiences, instead of swimming in the same muddy pond.” Not unexpectedly, Gunn replied. “We have hundreds of roles to cast. As I’ve always done, some will be brand new faces, some will be actors I’ve worked with before, & some will be actors you know who I’ve never worked with. What matters most is the actor fits the role & they’re easy to work with.”

Fans thinking they can make cast decisions is nothing new. Still, James Gunn directly addressing it makes us wonder: Will any major players from the Marvel Cinematic Universe make their way over to DC Studios? With Gunn’s final Marvel outing, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, looming (it hits theaters on May 5th), it’s possible he could recruit Dave Bautista to trade in Drax the Destroyer for Lobo, a role the wrestler-turned-actor has expressed interest in playing.

No matter how or who he casts, James Gunn will undoubtedly keep getting slammed by anyone with a social media account who wants to do so. At least he’s aware of it. “No one loves to be harassed or called names – but, to be frank, we’ve been through significantly worse. Disrespectful outcry will never, ever affect our actions…We were aware there would be a period of turbulence when we took this gig, & we knew we sometimes have to make difficult & not-so-obvious choices, especially in the wake of the fractious nature of what came before us.”

What do you think of James Gunn’s statements about casting? Do you think the priority is given to the best possible actor? Will moving some from Marvel to DC feel like overkill? Let us know your take below!