James Gunn -- and his tweets -- have been in the news a lot recently. After being fired from the third Guardians of the Galaxy film, things are only getting more interesting. The latest reports indicate that he’s in demand by various high-level studio execs , many of whom have chosen to remain anonymous while Gunn muddles through his exit contract with Disney. And even now, rumors are persisting that Marvel is attempting to negotiate with Disney to bring the writer and director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films back on for Vol. 3. This could be a response to the sudden fevered interest other studios have taken in the box office phenomenon, Marvel president Kevin Feige’s loyalty to Gunn, the outpouring of support from the Guardians cast, or some combination of the three.

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Even though Gunn is reportedly unable to accept new offers until his Disney contract situation is sorted out, it’s impossible not to speculate about what’s next for the mind behind The Specials, Slither, and Super. Gunn’s ability to merge elements of horror, humor, and emotional insight has proved a winning formula for Marvel, and with DC still playing catch up to Marvel on the big screen, it would be a smart move on their part to bring in Gunn. So, without downplaying the nature of his current situation, here are a few DC characters that would be the ideal fit for James Gunn.

Deadman

Booster Gold

Doom Patrol

Metal Men

Swamp Thing

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Deadman has been kicking around the DC universe since the late ’60s, debuting in Strange Adventures #205 just two years before the first Guardians of the Galaxy appearance over at Marvel. Much like some of Gunn’s older films, Deadman’s story immediately pushed boundaries, featuring the first known depiction of narcotics under the Comics Code Authority. Beyond that, the trapeze artist-turned-vengeful spirit could provide for DC a gritty-yet-comedic answer to the success of Marvel’s Deadpool films. And the conflicted loner variety of protagonist that Deadman is would be an apt project for Gunn right about now. Plus, if the oft-discussed Justice League Dark project is to ever come to fruition under Warner Bros., a standalone Deadman film would only make sense.The time-traveler with an ego on par with Marvel’s Ego would provide comfortable territory for Gunn. A glory-hound from the future, Booster Gold uses his access to advanced technology to travel back in time and try to upstage real superheroes. However, he eventually redeems himself by protecting reality from other nefarious time-travelers. The character was first introduced in the wake of Crisis on Infinite Earths, so we can assume his introduction to the film world would similarly provide some of the levity Warner Bros. is clearly seeking with titles like Shazam! Furthermore, the chance to incorporate time travel elements into the DC cinematic universe would be an amazing opportunity for future films, breathing some much-needed life into the franchises.An ensemble team of misfits whose history in comics is filled with lineup changes, cancellations, and guest-spots in more lucrative series, the parallels between Doom Patrol and Guardians of the Galaxy are plain to see. A Doom Patrol TV series is in the works for the DC Universe streaming service, but that’s no real obstacle to a potential film these days (see also: The Flash and Supergirl). James Gunn would be the perfect fit for a film about these superpowered outcasts who manage to create a family for themselves while also saving the world.The Metal Men date back to comics’ Silver Age, and have gone through cycles of popularity and obscurity. First depicted as robots with advanced AI, they were retconned as people whose minds and personalities were transferred to robots with no other programming. There’s a New 52 storyline that revolves around the military attempting to use the Metal Men as assassins, which turns them into refugees. Again, it’s all about conflicted outsiders joining forces for the greater good, practically the bread-and-butter of Gunn’s film portfolio. For modern audiences, they’re obscure, but you could argue the same was true about the Guardians before Gunn took them on. They’re also one of the superhero teams he’s mentioned wanting to work on before. And really, the Metal Men would be such a fun break from the same superhero groups we keep shelling out money to see time and again. Give James Gunn some robots to work with and he’s sure to turn out a visual spectacle with a killer soundtrack.This one might seem like a bit of a stretch, but James Gunn has explicitly mentioned wanting to work with the Swamp Thing character in the past. Unlike the other characters mentioned here, the Swamp Thing series is heavy on gothic horror and light on self-awareness and levity, both traits embodied in Gunn’s Guardians films. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, with public perception of Gunn mixed at best right now, it could be that moving from GotG to another comedy-action superhero film might come off as a cynical cash-grab or attempt at fan service if done carelessly. A character like the Swamp Thing offers rich, new, and potentially introspective material for Gunn to explore. And let’s not forget that even the Alan Moore run on the book wasn’t without humor; a weirdly cute plotline where the titular hero dies and learns to regrow his body looks a whole lot like what happened to Groot at the end of Guardians. But more importantly, it would make for a refreshing change of pace to see Gunn take on this darker story matter, ripe as it is with themes of redemption and outsider characters. There’s already a forthcoming Swamp Thing TV series in the works for the DC streaming service (though that need not disqualify a film, as mentioned above), and the Justice League Dark film (rumored to feature Swamp Thing) that’s been in development for years.Things are still obviously turbulent in Gunn’s world, and there will be more eyebrow-raising announcements before this all shakes out. Be sure to sound off in the comments section with your favorite DC characters who deserve standalone titles -- or the James Gunn treatment!

Lauren Lavín is a freelance writer and illustrator who loves a good redemptive arc almost as much as she loves Swamp Thing. Follow her on twitter @YasBruja