James Gunn may not have DCU anymore, but he has an exciting collaboration pitch from Mahershala Ali. The Oscar-winning actor is already familiar with the world of superheroes. He has played the crime boss Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes in the first season of Marvel's Luke Cage. He also made an uncredited voice cameo as Eric Brooks (Blade) in the post-credits scene of 2021's Eternals. And his well-documented feud with Marvel over the troubled Blade project has been no secret either. 

Considering that history, his interest in working with Gunn, who has gone from directing Marvel projects to heading DC Studios, makes for an interesting development. And with Michael B. Jordan part of the equation, there is even more reason to pay attention.

Mahershala Ali recently sat down for a chat with the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast where he expressed a desire to work on an action movie alongside Sinners star, Michael B. Jordan. When probed on whom he would like as the director for the projected, Ali nominated James Gunn, though he wasn't entirely definitive about it.

"Maybe like James Gunn or somebody. That’s a name for you".

Ali's wish for being in another action thriller, as he told 7 PM in Brooklyn, came after the success of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, which received rave reviews from fans and critics alike. Fun fact: the film was directed by Bassam Tariq, who was originally going to direct the scraped Blade movie. And Gunn could after all be looking to branch out into different genres after stepping away from his Marvel and DC commitments.

James Gunn's 'Superman: Man of Tomorrow' Falls in a Major Shake-Up Just Days After Exit

James Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran have been removed from their leadership roles at the DCU, following restructuring and creative tensions. 

Former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham is reportedly stepping in as DC Studios’ new president and chief creative officer, replacing James Gunn and Peter Safran. The move comes amid a major leadership shake-up following Skydance and Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Reports suggest that concerns over high-budget projects failing to deliver sufficient returns also played a role in the decision.

This concern was heightened by the box-office disappointment of Supergirl, which lost an estimated $200 million. Gunn has also pointed to the demanding business responsibilities of running a major studio as a factor behind his exit. Nevertheless, reports indicate that the move was influenced just as heavily by the studio's leadership transition and mounting financial pressures.

“Lot of Untrue Rumors” - James Gunn Debunks Claims of Major ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Changes After Skydance Takeover

What do you think about James Gunn being in demand after DCU exit? Let us know in the comments!