James Gunn Deleting Social Media Accounts Because Of Horrible Batman Takes

By Charlene Badasie | Updated

michael keaton
Michael Keaton as Batman

Opinions about anything can become a double-edged sword for celebrities. This is especially true for James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios, who recently found himself at the center of a controversy that seemingly prompted him to delete his personal Facebook account. The catalysts for his digital exodus were the resurfacing of decade-old comments about Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton’s Batman films.

“I have problems with both of Nolan’s films – I don’t think either one is classic, and I don’t even really think Batman Begins is good.”

James Gunn comments from 2012

The comments in question date back to 2012 when James Gunn, without knowing he’d ever be involved with DC, unleashed a flurry of critiques on Facebook. The filmmaker referred to Michael Keaton’s Batman as having a “ridiculous voice” and labeled Tim Burton’s Batman film as “poorly written” and “one of the most boring films ever.”

James Gunn even took a shot at Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the Joker, delivering a blunt “f**k you” to everyone involved in the performance. His critiques didn’t stop there. The director also voiced his discontent with Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, expressing, “I have problems with both of Nolan’s films – I don’t think either one is classic, and I don’t even really think Batman Begins is good.”

After these comments were recently recirculated on social media, James Gunn’s personal Facebook account disappeared from view, with users now greeted by a cryptic “content deleted” message when trying to access it. However, Gunn’s professional Facebook page remains active, fueling speculation that the DC Studios boss deactivated his personal account.

James Gunn eventually took to Instagram to respond to speculation about the disappearance of his Facebook profile. According to Gunn, his account was temporarily hidden due to a security breach. The director also addressed the media frenzy surrounding the incident, saying he has been inactive on the platform for so long that he can’t answer the security questions to regain access.

In 2012, James Gunn referred to Michael Keaton’s Batman as having a “ridiculous voice” and labeled Tim Burton’s Batman film as “poorly written” and “one of the most boring films ever.”

Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman

This isn’t the first time James Gunn’s old comments have stirred up controversy. In 2018, during his tenure as the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Gunn faced backlash over controversial jokes he made on Twitter between 2008 and 2012. As a result, Disney severed ties with him at that time, only to reinstate him as director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in March 2019.

In light of James Gunn’s Batman movie comments, it’s essential to consider that the filmmaker made them 11 years ago, long before his association with DC Studios. It’s entirely plausible that his views on those films have evolved since then, particularly given the substantial amount of new Batman content released in the intervening years.

In light of James Gunn’s Batman movie comments, it’s essential to consider that the filmmaker made them 11 years ago, long before his association with DC Studios.

Despite his past criticisms of Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton’s Batman movies, James Gunn remains fervently enthusiastic about the Dark Knight’s future on the big screen. He has expressed his excitement for his own take on the superhero within the DCU and hinted at more “amazing stuff” from Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

Meanwhile, James Gunn is set to take the helm of Superman: Legacy, slated for release on July 11, 2025. The movie will feature an all-new Superman, played by David Corenswet, known for his roles in Pearl and The Politician. Rachel Brosnahan, known for her work in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, has been cast as Lois Lane.