James Gunn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Gunn
Gunn on the set of Superman in 2024
Born	James Francis Gunn Jr. (1966-08-05) August 5, 1966 (age 58) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Education	Loyola Marymount University Saint Louis University (BA) Columbia University (MFA)
Occupation	Screenwriter director producer studio executive
Years active	1989–present
Employer	Warner Bros. Discovery
Title	Co-chairman and Co-CEO of DC Studios
Spouse(s)	Jenna Fischer ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2008)​ Jennifer Holland ​ (m. 2022)​
Relatives	Sean Gunn (brother) Matt Gunn (brother) Brian Gunn (brother) Mark Gunn (cousin)

James Francis Gunn Jr. (born August 5, 1966) is a famous American filmmaker. He writes, directs, and produces movies and TV shows. He started his career in the mid-1990s.

Gunn is well-known for his superhero movies. These include Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). He also directed the horror-comedy film Slither (2006).

In 2022, James Gunn became a co-leader of DC Studios. This is a big company that makes movies and TV shows based on DC Comics characters. He helps create the new DC Universe (DCU) stories. He is writing and directing the upcoming Superman movie (2025).

He also wrote and directed the TV series Peacemaker (2022). Another special he made was The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022). Gunn also wrote the live-action Scooby Doo movies (2002 and 2004). He also wrote the remake of Dawn of the Dead (2004).

Early life and education

James Francis Gunn Jr. was born on August 5, 1966. His parents were James F. Gunn and Leota "Lee" (Hynek). He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He has five siblings: Sean, Matt, Brian, Patrick, and Beth. His brother Sean is also an actor.

When he was young, Gunn loved low-budget horror films. Movies like Night of the Living Dead inspired him. He read magazines about movies and went to film screenings. At age 12, he started making his own 8mm zombie films. He made them with his brothers in the woods near their home.

Gunn went to St. Louis University High School. He graduated in 1984. He then earned a degree from Saint Louis University. While there, he drew political cartoons for the school newspaper. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University in 1995.

Career in film and TV

Early work and first films

Gunn started his film career in 1996 with Troma Entertainment. He co-wrote the independent film Tromeo and Juliet. He learned a lot from his mentor, Lloyd Kaufman. He learned how to write scripts, produce films, and direct actors.

In 2000, Gunn wrote and produced The Specials. This was a superhero comedy film. His first big Hollywood screenplay was Scooby-Doo in 2002. In 2004, he wrote the remake of Dawn of the Dead. He also wrote the sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

Gunn's first movie as a director was Slither in 2006. It was a horror-comedy film. It was praised as one of the best horror movies.

Superhero movies and big projects

Gunn in 2013

In 2010, Gunn released Super. This was a dark comedy about a superhero. He also directed a part of the comedy film Movie 43 (2013).

Gunn became very famous for directing Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) for Marvel Studios. He also co-wrote the script. His brother, Sean Gunn, had a role in the movie. Gunn put a lot of effort into these big films. He showed that popular movies can also have a lot of heart.

He wrote and directed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). He also wrote and produced the horror film The Belko Experiment (2016). Gunn even directed three Stan Lee cameo scenes for Marvel movies.

Gunn was set to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, in 2018, Disney stopped working with him for a short time. This was because of some old social media posts he had made. Many people, including the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy, supported him. They asked Disney to rehire him. In March 2019, Disney did rehire him. He then directed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).

Gunn in 2014

In 2018, Gunn was hired by DC Extended Universe to write a new script for The Suicide Squad. He also directed this film, which came out in 2021. He also created and directed the TV series Peacemaker for Max.

Leading DC Studios

Gunn at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con

In November 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran became the co-CEOs of DC Studios. This means they are in charge of all movies, TV shows, and animated projects based on DC Comics characters. Gunn focuses on the creative side of things.

Under DC Studios, Gunn is writing and directing a new Superman movie. It is planned for release in 2025. He also wrote an animated series called Creature Commandos. He is involved in many other DC projects, like producing Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Other work

Gunn has also worked on other projects. He wrote a novel in 2000 called The Toy Collector. He also co-wrote a book about filmmaking with Lloyd Kaufman. Gunn wrote the story for the video game Lollipop Chainsaw (2012). He has also directed scenes for theme park rides, like Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! at Disneyland.

Personal life

Gunn married actress Jenna Fischer in 2000. They divorced in 2008 but remained friends. Fischer even helped Gunn cast Rainn Wilson in his film Super.

Since 2015, Gunn has been in a relationship with actress Jennifer Holland. They got engaged in February 2022 and married in September 2022.

He adopted a dog named Ozu in 2022. Gunn often shares photos of Ozu and encourages people to adopt pets. Because of his work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and his love for animals, PETA named Gunn their 2023 Person of the Year.

Gunn was raised in a Catholic family. He has said that prayer is still important in his life. However, he also mentioned that he is "in some ways, anti-religion."

Filmography

Film

In development

Executive producer

Other roles

Short films

Acting roles

Television

Acting roles

Video games

Theme parks

Awards and nominations

See also

• James Gunn's unrealized projects