Before ‘Superman,’ James Gunn Made a Gritty Sci-Fi Thriller That’s Officially Leaving Streaming

James Gunn produced *Brightburn*, a dark horror take on Superman’s origins, before taking charge of DC Studios and directing *Superman*. The film imagines an alien child who, after facing childhood alienation and bullying, turns violent, offering a cynical contrast to Superman as a symbol of hope.

Directed by David Yarovesky, *Brightburn* stars Elizabeth Banks, David Denman and Jackson A. Dunn. Released in 2019, it earned about $33 million worldwide against a reported $6 million budget and holds a 57% Rotten Tomatoes score; it leaves Peacock on 1 November. Gunn is now working on a *Superman* sequel, *Man of Tomorrow*.