Summary
Before taking the helm of the newSupermanmovie,James Gunnpenned the script for a forgotten superhero satire that was directed byThe Last of Usco-creator Craig Mazin. Gunn is one of the biggest names in superhero entertainment, having written and directed some of the most well-received outings in recent memory with theGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy andThe Suicide Squad. Gunn and Peter Safran also took over DC Studios for Warner Bros., withSupermanset to kick off their cinematic DC Universe plans.
Craig Mazin has gained notoriety for co-creating the video game adaptationThe Last of Usfor HBO, as well as their dramatic miniseriesChernobyl, which garnered him an Emmy. However, Mazin got his start with the world of comedy, penning scripts forScary Movie 3,Superhero Movie, and theHangoversequels. Mazin also directedSuperhero Movie, but the spoof comedy wasn’t his first directorial effort, which came years earlier from a script penned by Gunn calledThe Specials.
James Gunn Wrote A Superhero Satire Directed ByThe Last Of UsCo-Creator Craig Mazin
The Specialswas released in 2000, withGunn penning the script, which was passed via Sean Gunn to Jamie Kennedy, who then gave it to Peter Safran. The chain of events would see Safran sign Gunn as a client, withThe Specialsbeing produced on a shoestring budget with Mazin directing 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 movie also featured famous actors in smaller parts, like Jenna Fischer and Melissa Joan Hart.
The plot of the comedic satire follows the seventh most popular superhero team, The Specials, who have been unable to garner notorietydue to their anti-corporate stance and lack of merchandising, leaving them to tackle the jobs that more prestigious superteams deem too low-priority. Using the team’s newest member, Nightbird, as a way to introduce the characters and the stakes, things quickly turn sour when a new toy deal produces lackluster results and the team’s leader, The Strobe, disbands the team after his wife, Ms. Indestructible, is caught cheating with the team’s most popular member, The Weevil.
The stakes forThe Specialsis comically low, with the film clearly beingmade on a small budget. However, it thrives on humorous dynamics and character insecurities. Gunn’s Minute Man is capable of shrinking to a small size, but constantly has his name mispronounced as minuteman, Kennedy’s Amok is a crude reformed villain who often feels out of place, and Nightbird can lay eggs that each contain different weapons, making for uniquely bizarre powers and stakes at play throughout the movie. While the themes come down to teamwork, forgiveness, and believing in yourself,The Specialskeeps audiences laughing at just how low-stakes the whole movie can be, even when some of their powers can seem grandiose.
The SpecialsPaved The Way For Gunn and Mazin’s Future A-List Projects
The Specialsserves as humble beginnings for both Mazin and Gunn, who have gone on to create some of the most well-known shows and movies of recent memory. Mazin’s career beginning in comedy seems almost odd given that his greatest successes have been with dramatichits likeThe Last of UsandChernobyl. However, those shows thrive on characters just likeThe Specials.While Joel and Ellie inThe Last of Usmay not be going for chuckles, their bond is forged through a shared struggle, much like the misguided superhero team inThe Specials.
Gunn’s career has remained in line with comedic hero content, as he would go on to refine what he started withThe Specialswith smaller films likeSuperbefore shifting into the MCU. TheGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy highlighted an eclectic team of oddballs that were capable of delivering laughs and action-packed thrills in equal measure. Furthermore, theGuardiansfilms are emotionally moving, drawing tears from audiences as deftly as laughs. Gunn even continued the trend when he moved over to DC, writing and directingThe Suicide Squadand the TV seriesPeacemaker, which were both hailed for their ability to have audiences laughing through the bombastic action.
When Gunn and Safran were given control of DC Studios, it was the culmination of a long partnership that began withThe Specials.Now that Gunn’sSupermanis slated to hit theaters, the writer and director looks set to continue his skillful melding of action, emotion, and comedy on his biggest scale yet.
The SpecialsHas Fallen Into Almost Complete Obscurity, Despite Genuine Star Power
After its initial release,The Specialsfell into obscurity, with many Gunn fans having not seen it due to it merely being difficult to find.The film was given a limited DVD release, with the most recent being a 20th anniversary Blu-ray release in 2020. However, the physical media releases ofThe Specialshave become hard to find, with even the DVD versions often going for high prices online.
The Specialsgarnered lukewarm reviews, proving to be a distinct early effort from Gunn and Mazin, who have gone on to do better things. However, even with their level of notoriety in the industry, their first superhero movie remains difficult to find.The movie can’t be found on any streaming service as of now, though that could change if audiences show an interest in the obscure comedy, especially with Gunn and Mazin’s continuing careers. AsThe Last of Usconcludes its second season and Gunn’sSupermanis about to take cinemasby storm,The Specialsserves as a unique time capsule of superhero satire that highlights the early work of two stellar creative minds.
