James Gunn Wrote a Forgotten Superhero Comedy That Launched His Career

by

Summary

  • Craig Mazin and James Gunn’s obscure superhero satire, The Specials, paved the way for their successful careers.
  • The movie features a superhero team with comically low stakes and quirky powers, fostering character dynamics and humor.
  • Despite falling into obscurity, The Specials showcases Gunn and Mazin’s early work in blending emotional character work and comedy.

Prior to helming the upcoming “Superman” film, James Gunn wrote the script for an overlooked superhero satire, which was later directed by Craig Mazin, a co-creator of “The Last of Us.” Known as one of the leading figures in the superhero entertainment industry, Gunn has written and directed critically acclaimed installments such as the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series and “The Suicide Squad.” In addition to this, he and Peter Safran have assumed control over DC Studios under Warner Bros., with the “Superman” movie marking the start of their plans for a DC Universe in cinema.

Known for co-creating HBO’s video game adaptation of “The Last of Us” and their acclaimed miniseries “Chernobyl,” which earned Craig Mazin an Emmy, it’s interesting to note that his career in the entertainment industry began in comedy. He wrote scripts for “Scary Movie 3”, “Superhero Movie”, and the sequels to “The Hangover”. While Mazin directed “Superhero Movie”, this wasn’t his debut as a director; that honor goes to an earlier project called “The Specials“, which he directed based on a script written by James Gunn.

James Gunn Wrote A Superhero Satire Directed By The Last Of Us Co-Creator Craig Mazin

In 2000, the screenplay for “The Specials” was penned by Gunn, then handed to Jamie Kennedy. From there, it made its way to Peter Safran. This sequence of events ultimately led to Gunn being signed as a client by Safran. On a meager budget, “The Specials” was directed by Mazin, who assembled an ensemble cast. The cast included Rob Lowe as The Weevil, Thomas Haden Church as The Strobe, Paget Brewster as Ms. Indestructible, Jamie Kennedy as Amok, Judy Greer as Deadly Girl, James Gunn as Minute Man, Sean Gunn as Alien Orphan, Jordan Ladd as Nightbird, and Kelly Coffield as Power Chick. The film also featured notable actors in smaller roles, such as Jenna Fischer and Melissa Joan Hart.

This comedic satire revolves around Team Special, the seventh-most-popular superhero squad, who struggle for recognition due to their anti-corporate ideals and lack of merchandise, which forces them to take on tasks that other high-profile superteams consider unimportant. The narrative introduces the characters and the conflicts through the perspective of their newest member, Nightbird. However, things take a turn for the worse when a new toy contract fails to deliver, leading the team’s leader, The Strobe, to dissolve the group after his wife, Ms. Indestructible, is found cheating with the team’s star member, The Weevil.

In a charmingly modest fashion, the significance for “The Specials” appears laughably minimal, as it’s evident that the film was crafted with a frugal budget. Yet, it manages to captivate through hilarious interpersonal relationships and character vulnerabilities. Gunn’s Minute Man has the ability to shrink to tiny proportions, yet his name is frequently mispronounced as ‘minuteman’. Kennedy’s Amok was once a villain who underwent reform but often feels incongruous, and Nightbird can produce eggs filled with diverse weapons, leading to an eccentrically bizarre display of powers and challenges within the movie. Although the narrative revolves around themes such as teamwork, forgiveness, and self-belief, “The Specials” keeps viewers chuckling at the amusingly low-key vibe permeating the entire film, despite some of their abilities seeming quite grandiose.

The Specials Paved The Way For Gunn and Mazin’s Future A-List Projects

For both Mazin and Gunn, The Specials marked the start of their impressive careers, which have resulted in some of the most popular series and films in recent times. It’s surprising that Mazin’s career started in comedy, considering his biggest triumphs are dramatic masterpieces such as The Last of Us and Chernobyl. Yet, these shows share similarities with The Specials, particularly the bond between Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us, which develops through a shared hardship, similar to the hapless superhero team in The Specials.

Throughout his career, Gunn has consistently focused on comedic hero content, building upon the foundation he established with The Specials. Smaller films like Super preceded this, while he later ventured into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy showcased an unconventional group of misfits capable of eliciting both laughter and adrenaline-pumping excitement. What’s more, these movies also tugged at viewers’ heartstrings, bringing tears just as effortlessly as they induced laughter. Gunn extended this style when he transitioned to DC, penning and directing The Suicide Squad and the TV series Peacemaker, both of which were praised for their ability to keep audiences entertained amidst the chaos with their comedic elements.

After years of collaboration dating back to The Specials, Gunn and Safran finally took the reins at DC Studios – a significant milestone in their partnership. Now, with Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, this talented filmmaker appears poised to further demonstrate his knack for blending action, sentiment, and humor on an unprecedented scale.

The Specials Has Fallen Into Almost Complete Obscurity, Despite Genuine Star Power

Following its initial debut, “The Specials” became somewhat elusive, as many fans struggled to locate it due to its scarcity in circulation. The movie was initially given a limited DVD release, and more recently, a 20th anniversary Blu-ray version hit the shelves in 2020. However, physical copies of “The Specials” have become increasingly hard to come by, with even DVD versions fetching high prices on online marketplaces.

The film “The Specials” has garnered mixed reactions, marking an initial attempt from Gunn and Mazin who have since achieved greater success. Despite their industry prominence, tracking down this first superhero movie of theirs is challenging. As of now, it’s not available on any streaming platform. However, if there’s enough audience interest in the quirky comedy, especially considering Gunn and Mazin’s ongoing careers, its availability might change. With “The Last of Us” wrapping up its second season and Gunn’s “Superman” set to hit theaters soon, “The Specials” stands out as an intriguing snapshot of early superhero satire, showcasing the pioneering work of two talented creative minds.

Read More

2025-06-06 18:06