{
  "id": 16396641,
  "title": "James Gunn Defends the DCU's Approach to Interconnected Stories, Doesn't Want Movies Like Clayface to Exist Just to 'Set Up' Crossovers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/james-gunn-defends-the-dcus-approach-to-interconnected-stories-doesnt",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-24T22:09:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IGN",
    "slug": "ign",
    "url": "https://www.ign.com/articles/james-gunn-defends-the-dcus-approach-to-interconnected-stories-doesnt-want-movies-like-clayface-to-exist-just-to-set-up-crossovers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "James Gunn, co-chairman of DC Studios, has defended the DCU's strategy of interconnected stories, expressing his disapproval of movies like Clayface, which were created solely to set up crossovers. The horror film, which released in October, features a strong R rating and a more mature storyline, but some critics and fans argue that executives like Gunn and co-chairman Peter Safran have not effectively utilized smaller stories to build towards larger tie-in projects. Despite receiving positive reviews from critics and fans, DC watchers have continued to express dissatisfaction with the execution. Gunn firmly believes that individual stories should not be deemed insignificant unless they contribute to a bigger narrative. He compared the DCU to Star Wars' approach, which has maintained a similar structure for decades. Gunn emphasized that each movie or show in the DCU universe, regardless of its tonal variation, is connected by a shared foundation. He reiterated that fans should appreciate Clayface for its own merits as a horror film, rather than solely anticipating its future role in the DCU. While some fans may be disappointed that DC Studios prefers to focus on building a solid foundation for the universe, rather than jumping into crossover event films, Gunn remains committed to creating quality content for years to come.",
  "summary": "DC Studios co-chairman James Gunn has defended the DCU's approach to interconnected stories, saying he doesn't want movies like Clayface to exist just to \"set up\" crossovers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}