A Man of Every Talent

James Gunn dishes on The Suicide Squad, life, and music.

- Charles Warner and Corey Noles

James Gunn has done it all. He’s been a musician, comic book artist, author, actor, writer, director, and producer. Gunn has produced several blockbuster films in his career, including Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, and The Belko Experiment. He got his start making movies for famed B-movie studios Troma Entertainment, has written and directed cult classic films such as Slither and Super and has produced several blockbuster films including Avengers: Infinity Wars and Avengers: Endgame. He also wrote and directed one of Marvel’s most memorable film franchises, Guardians of the Galaxy (including Vol. 3 coming in January 2023.) Gunn has also written/directed/produced the upcoming television series Peacemaker, a show about a DC superhero so dedicated to world peace he’s ready to use violence to get it.

Most recently, though, he’s the man behind The Suicide Squad — set for an August 6, 2021, release in the US. The new flick serves as a standalone installment following the 2016 Suicide Squad feature. Filmed in the style of a 1970s B-movie, the movie tells the tale of a task force of convicts from Belle Reve penitentiary sent to destroy a Nazi-era prison and laboratory. The film has a stellar cast, including Margot Robbie (returning as the deranged Harley Quinn), Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, and Sylvester Stallone. Innovation & Tech Today recently chatted with Gunn about life, films, and his passion for music.

Innovation & Tech Today: Growing up in St. Louis, what were some of the early influences that moved you and your brother Sean into music and film?