James Gunn Shoots Down The Coolest DC Rumor
Whether you love him or hate him, one has to admire how much James Gunn loves engaging with fans via the social media site Threads. He is obviously a great source of insider information about the DCU, and he is candid enough that fans often ask him to confirm or deny the wildest announcements about his upcoming cinematic universe. Sometimes, this can get a bit heartbreaking, though: for example, Gunn recently took to Threads to officially deny that he is working on a Mr. Freeze movie.
No Mr. Freeze Movie Currently Planned
The context for this revelation is that a fan replies to James Gunn on Threads with a screenshot of a news headline from Comic Book Club breathlessly announcing that a Mr. Freeze movie was currently in development from The Batman director Matt Reeves. The fan posted the image to Gunn and asked him whether there was any truth to the rumor. Gunn responded, “it’s not a bad idea, so I wouldn’t say never but there’s no truth to it at all.”
Where Did The Mr. Freeze Movie Rumor Start?
So, how did these rumors about a Mr. Freeze movie get started in the first place? It started with information posted to Production Weekly, a publication that helps those in (you guessed it) production find their next gig. It can be a valuable source to both industry insiders and those hoping for clues about the next big blockbuster, but there’s just one problem: the publication does nothing to verify the truth of its listings, so you are just as likely to read some empty rumors as you are to read anything reliable.
New Batman Universe Announcement Made It Believable
In this case, James Gunn himself confirmed that a Mr. Freeze movie wouldn’t be happening, so it seems like Production Weekly really missed the mark with this particular listing. What made the rumor that much more believable, though, is that it had just enough plausibility, especially for those keeping track of DC production news. For example, in the wake of The Penguin’s success, Matt Reeves revealed that he wanted to have his own separate universe that expands on the stories of villains, a universe that he has dubbed the Batman Epic Crime Saga.
We Need A Mr. Freeze Movie
In a world where a show centered around the Penguin has become a major television success, a Mr. Freeze movie from Matt Reeves could potentially be a major hit. This is especially true if it hews closer to his Batman: The Animated Series origin that imagined the villain as a tragic figure who became a monster in his effort to save his doomed wife.
Other rumors included that Reeves would instead be developing this movie for the DCU proper, using his gritty style to help this burgeoning cinematic universe find success.
There’s Still Hope
Sadly, James Gunn had to cool down the rumor mill, and he confirmed that there is no Mr. Freeze movie currently in development. As huge fans of the character, though, we’re excited that he isn’t willing to completely dismiss the possibility. The supervillain is one of Batman’s (ahem) coolest foes, and he frankly deserves a better live-action incarnation than Arnold Schwarzenegger screaming ice puns into the unreceptive nipples on Batman’s freakiest suit.
