According to The Suicide Squad producer Peter Safran, Disney firing Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn was an "overreaction" that directly benefited Warner Bros.

During an interview with Deadline's Hero Nation podcast, Safran spoke about the situation at Marvel that led to Gunn's removal and subsequent hiring at Warner Bros. and DC films. "I think that people felt it was an overreaction from Disney and Marvel, and I think ultimately Disney and Marvel felt it was an overreaction from Disney and Marvel," Safran said. "Because not that long after he signed on to do Suicide Squad -- and by the way, the two are not related -- but not long after he signed on to do it, they reversed their decision and they invited him to come back and finish his [Guardians of the Galaxy] trilogy."

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"So I think that people realize that he was maybe caught up in forces that were much bigger than he was and beyond his control," Safran said. "And the fact that he had both apologized for many years before those tweets and had also lived a pretty exemplary life since his apology for it." Gunn's return to Marvel Studios happened the day after he signed on to direct DC's The Suicide Squad. Gunn called his return a "happy ending," but also suggested it was scary given his new DC employment.

Following Safran's defense of Gunn, the producer suggested that Disney and Marvel dropping Gunn was directly beneficial to DC and Warner Bros. "Listen, it was a terrible thing when it happened, but Marvel's mistake turned out to be a giant benefit for DC and Warner Bros," Safran said. The Suicide Squad has already garnered highly positive reviews, praising Gunn's humor as well as the large cast's performances in the film. Currently, at a total 97% approval rating, the movie is the DC Extended Universe's best-reviewed movie on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Gunn was originally fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after offensive tweets he made years prior regarding rape and pedophilia were unearthed by an alt-right blogger. Gunn apologized for the comments in a series of tweets following his Marvel removal, stating that he viewed himself as a "provocateur, making movies and telling jokes that were outrageous and taboo." He mentioned having developed as a person, both in his work and his humor, suggesting that he now attempts to root his work in "love and connection and less in anger."

Written and directed by Gunn, The Suicide Squad hits both theaters and HBO Max on Aug. 6.

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Source: Deadline