Post-credits scenes have long been a staple of Marvel movies, offering fans exciting glimpses into future storylines. While they fuel speculation and anticipation, they also come with major drawbacks, which is something James Gunn knows all too well from his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As he now leads the charge for the DC Cinematic Universe, Gunn is being more mindful about how and when to tease what’s next.
During a recent DC Studios presentation, Gunn and fellow DC Studios head Peter Safran discussed their approach to shaping the franchise. When asked about how they handle teasing upcoming projects especially considering DC’s new strategy of prioritizing script quality over strict release schedules, Gunn didn’t hold back on the challenges of post-credits scenes.
“In terms of the teases, like those post-credit scenes, they can be a real nightmare,” Gunn admitted. “I’ve done things before where I’ve put in post-credit scenes, and, you know… Like writing Guardians 3, I wasn’t really sure if Adam Warlock should be in it, but I f*cking promised people, you know what I mean?”
I’m sure you remember that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 went heavy on post-credits scenes, delivering five separate tags. One of the most exciting moments teased the creation of Adam Warlock, a genetically perfect being designed by Ayesha of the Sovereign.
While Gunn never explicitly stated Warlock would debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the scene created an expectation he felt obligated to fulfill even if it didn’t always fit naturally into the sequel’s story.
Gunn explained: “I’m writing the script and things change, and I’m like, ‘Hmm. He’s kind of… you know, cramming him in there. And I like him in the movie, I like the character, but it made it a little less elegant in some ways, the film. And so I’m really careful about those sorts of promises that we don’t know that we can deliver, you know?”
This doesn’t mean Gunn is eliminating post-credits scenes entirely as his upcoming Superman movie may very well include one, but his experience with Marvel has made him more deliberate about what gets teased.
Rather than making promises that might not pan out, Gunn seems intent on ensuring that every narrative thread introduced has a clear purpose and payoff.
Source: CinemaBlend
