‘Suicide Squad’ developer vows to never work for DC again if James Gunn upholds controversial casting strategy

After a long wait, yesterday James Gunn unveiled his and co-leader Peter Safran’s plans for a connected DC Comics vision across film, television, and gaming in the coming years. A few of the projects were familiar, some were surprising, and one aspect of the envisioned continuity is a sore spot with many of the genre’s best actors.

Del Walker (formerly of Rocksteady Studios Ltd., the makers of the Batman: Arkham trilogy and the upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League) posted the above on Twitter yesterday afternoon. In his view, the plan (or aspiration, depending on how you look at it) to have actors perform the same role across film, television and gaming does not work, as game acting involves more complex production processes, and so does animation, most of the time. While some projects in this space can be simple, most are not, and only a few entertainers who started out elsewhere and later made the jump have been able to keep up with folks as good as Troy Baker.

Several Twitter users say they are certain this will go away once the logistical complexity dawns upon Gunn and others behind the scenes, while others have opted to remind Del via re-tweets that the Elseworlds label exists, and as long as it does and is used for some projects, more-famous folks shouldn’t be undercutting any voice performers.

Gunn has not yet responded to Walker’s sentiment as of this story’s filing. He is, however, asking the public questions about how Superman should be dressed in his upcoming film. As for more replies to Walker’s sentiment, and reactions to the general plan from Gunn and the group, another user adds that voice acting may break some actors, like failed anti-hero Dwayne Johnson.

More to come…