James Gunn has publicly defended Christina Hodson, the screenwriter for the upcoming DC Universe Batman movie, following backlash from fans after her hiring was announced. Hodson, known for her work on The Brave and the Bold, has faced criticism largely due to her association with previous DC projects, which have struggled at the box office and with fans.
Last week, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Christina Hodson is writing The Brave and the Bold, intended to be the first Batman movie under the rebooted DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Hodson’s previous notable screenwriting credits include 2018’s Bumblebee, 2020’s Birds of Prey, and the 2023 Flash movie, which was both a commercial disappointment and a critical failure. She also scripted the Batgirl film that Warner Bros. canceled despite being completed.
Fan Discontent Linked to Past DC Failures Including The Flash
The negative fan response to Hodson’s new role is largely connected to the fate of The Flash, a 2023 superhero film starring Ezra Miller that earned just $271 million worldwide and was broadly deemed a failure. The film’s struggles, combined with controversies surrounding Miller and the outgoing DCEU brand, fuel much of the current skepticism about Hodson’s involvement in future DC slash Batman projects.
In addressing this backlash on social media, Gunn argued that Hodson’s script for The Flash differed substantially from the final film audiences saw in theaters. He stated,
“I will only say anyone maligning Christina Hodson’s screenwriting skills has almost certainly never read an actual screenplay by Christina Hodson — she’s one of the writers who was with us early in the DCU planning stages,”
followed by,
“I don’t think you can judge my writing based on films others directed, as massive liberties are sometimes taken.”
Flash Director Andy Muschietti Responds to Criticism Over the Film’s Reception
Andy Muschietti, director of The Flash, previously defended the film, suggesting much of the criticism came from those who never actually watched it. Speaking in October to promote the IT prequel series Welcome to Derry, Muschietti claimed,
“A lot of people did not see it,”
adding,
“But you know how things are these days — people don’t see things, but they like to talk s*** about it, and they like to jump on bandwagons. They don’t really know. People are angry for reasons that are unrelated to these things.”
Muschietti acknowledged the negative impact of Ezra Miller’s off-screen controversies on the movie’s public perception, saying,
“Of course, we had a publicity crisis with Ezra that is undeniable,”
but also insisted,
“And I’m not questioning that. But yeah, we love the movie. And actually, we really recommend it.”
He further emphasized his personal belief in the film, saying,
“And again, we love the movie. We, you know, we gave it our blood, sweat, and tears all the way to the end. And I watched it, like a week ago, and loved it again.”
The Flash’s Commercial Failure Explained by Director’s Comments
In an earlier January statement, Muschietti pointed out that The Flash failed partly because the character lacks widespread interest. He explained that the movie did not attract “the four quadrants,” a film industry term referring to males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25, all of which a blockbuster ideally appeals to in order to justify its budget.
“The Flash failed, among all the other reasons, because it wasn’t a movie that appealed to all four quadrants. It failed at that,”
Muschietti said.
He added,
“When you spend $200 million making a movie, [Warner Bros.] wants to bring even your grandmother to the theaters,”
and revealed that in private conversations he found many people, especially females,
“just don’t care about the Flash as a character.”
His remarks reveal how the character’s limited appeal contributed to the film’s disappointing box office performance and, by extension, the negative reactions to works associated with Hodson.
Future of The Brave and the Bold and Muschietti’s Role
Regarding The Brave and the Bold, Muschietti is reportedly still involved but may have limited availability due to commitments to the second season of Welcome to Derry. THR mentioned that development of the film remains slow, with the studio taking a cautious approach.
“It would be some time before a definitive draft comes in as the studio is taking a measured approach to its development,”
the report stated.
James Gunn’s Approach to Batman Films and Timeline for New Projects
James Gunn faces the challenge of managing the release of The Batman 2 and possibly The Batman 3, starring Robert Pattinson, planned for October 1, 2027. Matt Reeves, who directs these films, has confirmed his intention to create a Batman trilogy. Those films will exist in a separate universe from Gunn’s DCU, and Gunn has ruled out Robert Pattinson reprising his role in The Brave and the Bold, signaling a new actor will take up the mantle of Batman in the DC Universe reboot.
Gunn recently indicated that updates on The Brave and the Bold will likely not come until after The Batman 2’s release, suggesting news may not arrive until 2028 or later.
“I’m dependent on when there’s an actionable script ready so there is no way of me guessing this,”
Gunn said.
“Also, frankly, we’re well into Batman 2, and I wouldn’t want to cloud the Batsphere until after that.”
Additionally, Gunn confirmed he will not release two Batman movies in the same year.
“I think both Batman and WW [Wonder Woman] are incredibly important,”
he stated in response to a fan,
“But I’m also not going to have two Batman movies come out in the same year.”
Hints of Upcoming DC Universe Developments
Aside from Batman-related projects, Gunn teased potential involvement of Martian Manhunter, a character fans suspect will appear in next year’s Man of Tomorrow movie, hinting at broader storytelling directions within the DC Universe going forward.
