Why Was James Gunn Fired by Disney? Inside the 2018 Controversy – Hollywood Life

James Gunn has a complicated past with the Walt Disney Company, and amid his forthcoming departure from DC Studios as its CEO, many have recalled his 2018 firing over a set of controversial tweets he previously shared. Disney wasted no time in severing its ties with him, but that cut-off didn’t last long.

Gunn eventually returned to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 before making an unexpected career move to DC.

Here’s why Gunn got fired by Disney in the past.

Why Did Disney Fire James Gunn in 2018?

On July 20, 2018, Disney announced that it had severed its business relationship with Gunn after several of his old social media posts resurfaced. The tweets, many of which dated back to 2008 and 2009, contained offensive jokes about sexual abuse and pedophilia.

“The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values, and we have severed our business relationship with him,” Alan Horn, Walt Disney Studios chairman, said in a statement at the time, per Deadline.

The controversy gained traction online after conservative commentators circulated the posts online. Gunn had previously been outspoken in his criticism of Donald Trump. 

At the time, Gunn was already attached to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He had directed the first two installments, which became major box-office successes and helped establish the franchise as an important part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Following the announcement, Gunn issued an apology, taking responsibility for his past comments.

Gunn’s firing prompted an immediate reaction from his Hollywood colleagues, particularly the cast members of Guardians of the Galaxy.

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel and other franchise stars signed an open letter expressing their support for the filmmaker. The cast acknowledged that they did not support the offensive jokes but defended Gunn’s personal growth and questioned the circumstances surrounding his dismissal.

“His story isn’t over — not by a long shot,” the actors wrote at the time. “James is likely not the last good person to be put on trial. Given the growing political divide in this country, it’s safe to say instances like this will continue, although we hope Americans from across the political spectrum can ease up on the character assassinations and stop weaponizing mob mentality.”

Why Did Disney Rehire James Gunn?

In 2019, Disney reversed its decision and reinstated Gunn as the writer and director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

According to Deadline, Disney chairman Horn reconsidered the decision after Gunn issued his public apology.

Why Did James Gunn Leave DC Studios in 2026?

On November 9, 2026, Skydance announced a major leadership shake-up at DC Studios, confirming that Gunn and his business partner, Peter Safran, would step down as co-CEOs and chairmen of the company.

The announcement came after Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and marked the end of Gunn and Safran’s four-year run overseeing DC’s film, TV and animation projects.

Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham was appointed the new president and chief creative officer of DC Studios, with his appointment set to take effect Dec. 1, 2026.