James Gunn Reveals the DC Movie He Pitched 20 Years Ago!

James Gunn’s Early Plastic Man Pitch

James Gunn recently shared an intriguing piece of DC history, revealing that he pitched a Plastic Man movie at Warner Bros. in the early 2000s. A fan asked on Threads,

If it was true, he was “gonna do a Plastic Man movie in the early 2000s at WB with Matthew Lillard.”

Gunn confirmed the rumor, stating:

“This idea [was pitched] to Lorenzo DiBonaventura, and he was into it.”

At the time, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, now famous for producing the Transformers franchise, served as Warner Bros.’ president of worldwide production before leaving in 2002. Moreover, this early collaboration clearly demonstrates Gunn’s long-term creative vision for unique and unconventional superhero projects.

The Legacy of Failed Plastic Man Projects

Gunn and Lillard’s pitch is part of a long list of failed Plastic Man projects. This includes a mid-1990s screenplay written by The Wachowskis. Over the years, several attempts were made to bring the stretchy superhero to the big screen, but none succeeded. Despite the setbacks, fan interest in seeing Plastic Man on screen has remained consistently high.

In February 2024, Gunn addressed rumors about multiple projects, teasing:

“AT LEAST one of those things is not true. Have fun guessing!”

As a result, this statement sparked curiosity among DC fans about which projects were actually in development.

James Gunn and the Future Possibilities for Plastic Man

Despite the failed attempts, a Plastic Man movie could still happen. While no official announcement has been made, actors like Ben Schwartz and Rainn Wilson have expressed interest in taking on the role. It’s possible that Gunn’s previous denial referred specifically to Darren Aronofsky’s rumored involvement rather than the film itself.

Meanwhile, DC Studios has confirmed several exciting upcoming projects, including Teen Titans and Sgt. Rock movies. In addition, they have cast Ruthye for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. These announcements further suggest that the DC cinematic universe continues to expand, and consequently, they keep hopes alive for a future Plastic Man adaptation.