Rick Devens Missed a Role in the New Superman Movie, and James Gunn Explains Why

James Gunn has revealed an intriguing behind-the-scenes story involving Rick Devens, a familiar face to fans of the hit reality competition series Survivor and Big Brother. According to the DC Studios co-CEO, Devens had originally been lined up for a brief cameo appearance in Man of Tomorrow, the upcoming Superman sequel scheduled for release in 2027. Those plans, however, had to be scrapped after Devens joined the cast of Big Brother.

The story came to light following Big Brother’s July 16 eviction episode, during which Rick Devens surprised viewers by giving James Gunn a special shout-out on national television. In response, the Superman director shared the clip on Threads and wrote, “Thanks to the shoutout from my friend.”

Soon afterward, fans began asking whether Devens might still appear in Man of Tomorrow. Gunn personally replied, “No because he’s on Big Brother! Otherwise he would have been.”

When another user questioned whether Devens was simply trying to flatter the filmmaker, Gunn clarified that the two genuinely know each other. He wrote, “We do [know each other]. He was gonna appear in the background of MoT but he had to cancel (his awesome wife and kids still came). He couldn’t tell me why but told me I’d be excited. Obviously I was!”

Gunn’s comments revealed that Devens had been scheduled to appear as a background extra in Man of Tomorrow. Although he was forced to withdraw because of the secrecy surrounding his participation in Big Brother, his wife and children still visited the film set as originally planned. At the time, Devens was unable to explain why he had suddenly canceled, telling Gunn only that he would be excited once he discovered the reason. The DC Studios executive later realized that the mystery was Devens’ surprise appearance on Big Brother.

For longtime reality television fans, Rick Devens joining Big Brother comes as little surprise. He became one of the most memorable contestants in Survivor history thanks to his fearless gameplay, remarkable ability to recover from difficult situations, and highly entertaining personality. Although he did not win during his first season, Devens built a loyal fan base and has since returned for multiple Survivor-related projects, cementing his status as one of the franchise’s standout personalities.

Before entering the world of reality television, Devens worked as a television news anchor and local broadcast journalist. His background in journalism sharpened his communication skills, quick thinking, and on-camera presence—qualities that have consistently helped him stand out throughout his reality TV career.

Now competing on Big Brother Season 28, Devens is once again drawing significant attention as he vies for the show’s $750,000 grand prize. This season features a diverse cast that includes Survivor winner Dee Valladares, Big Brother 26 breakout Angela Murray, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Salina EsTitties (Jason De Puy), making Devens one of the competition’s most talked-about contestants.

Beyond sharing the story about Devens, Gunn has also demonstrated his long-standing enthusiasm for reality competition shows. Over the years, he has frequently discussed both Big Brother and Survivor on social media, openly expressing his admiration for the franchises and regularly following new seasons.

In an earlier interview, Gunn revealed that he has developed friendships with former Big Brother champions Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur. Asked whether reality stars could eventually appear in DC projects, he responded, “I’ve become very friendly with Taylor and Derrick. And so if they want a cameo in a DC project in the future — not necessarily with dialogue, but if they want to come by and do what other people have been doing in my movies for so long, they’re more than welcome to do that.”

However, Gunn made it clear that such appearances would likely remain brief cameos. He joked, “But they could be a cashier or something.” According to the filmmaker, he is unfamiliar with most reality stars’ acting abilities and therefore would not cast them in substantial speaking roles without knowing what they could do.

Including friends and familiar faces in cameo appearances has become something of a trademark for James Gunn. Throughout films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and more recently his DC projects, Gunn has frequently invited actors, celebrities, and longtime collaborators to make memorable background appearances.

Today, James Gunn is widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers in the superhero genre. After the enormous success of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, he became co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran. Together, they are overseeing the creation of DC’s new interconnected cinematic universe, beginning with Superman, starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel.

Under Gunn’s leadership, DC Studios is pursuing a unified storytelling strategy that connects its films, television series, and animated productions into a single shared universe. Man of Tomorrow is expected to continue Superman’s story following the launch of this new era for the iconic superhero franchise.

Away from filmmaking, Gunn married actress Jennifer Holland in 2022 after several years of dating. Holland has appeared in several of her husband’s productions, most notably Peacemaker. The couple generally keeps their personal life private and has largely stayed away from major Hollywood controversies.

Rick Devens also enjoys a stable family life. He is married to Becca Devens and is the father of several children. Through social media, he frequently shares family moments and has often described his wife and children as his greatest source of motivation throughout both his broadcasting career and his reality television adventures.

Looking back at the situation, Devens’ decision to miss his cameo in Man of Tomorrow had nothing to do with any disagreement between him and James Gunn. On the contrary, Gunn’s public comments clearly illustrate the genuine friendship between the two men. According to the filmmaker, Devens had already been scheduled to appear in the film before Big Brother’s confidential production schedule forced him to withdraw at the last minute.

Even so, the door to the DC Universe does not appear to be closed for Rick Devens. Based on James Gunn’s comments, fans have every reason to believe the reality television star could still receive a cameo in a future DC project if scheduling allows. For now, however, Devens remains focused on his quest to win Big Brother Season 28, while Man of Tomorrow is set to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.