James Gunn’s directorial work for Suicide Squad has earned him a ton of well-deserved attention, but his work on the recent hit for DC Comics is not his only foray into the action-packed world of movies based on comics. Gunn previously worked as director and writer for multiple movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and he’s slated to be back at the helm for an upcoming and much-anticipated release for the franchise. 

Gunn has come a long way since his days of working on Scooby-Doo (2002), but the fun-loving family man has managed to give his own pup some sweet cameos in his blockbuster hits. 

James Gunn has directed multiple Marvel movies

In addition to his work on Suicide Squad, Gunn is best known for his creative efforts on Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2. Like many films within the MCU franchise, these additions have been carefully scrutinized for tiny details, and Gunn made sure to deliver the goods to eagle-eyed fans. 

For one thing, the soundtrack has been instrumental to the characterization of the films’ lead, Peter Quill (portrayed by Chris Pratt). Quill’s Walkman is an iconic part of the series, and the mixtape that gets him through some of his hardest moments is a representation of his mother, giving the upbeat tunes a somber and important meaning. 

Another moment where attentive fans hit payday is in the tiny details between characters. Some pointed to the way that Drax positioned himself between Gamora and Thor as a protective moment rooted in the theme of “family” that runs throughout the film series. 

James Gunn’s dog gets special treatment in his films

Family is important to Gunn in real life, too, and one place where it shows up in an adorable way is the inclusion of his pet dog in his films. 

Dr. Wesley Von Spears — important enough to warrant his own Marvel Fandom Wiki entry — was James Gunn’s beloved dog who died in 2020 at the impressive age of 16. IMDb identifies the late Dr. Spears as part Cocker Spaniel and part Siberian Husky “with a little bit of Greyhound thrown in.” The pooch was no stranger to life in the spotlight and got a credited role in 2008 short PG Porn. 

He also had an uncredited cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy where he portrayed the holographic dog. Attentive fans took to Reddit to point out that the pup also had a brief cameo in Suicide Squad. 

Gunn confirmed that the fictional cigar brand featured in Suicide Squad was named after Dr. Wesley Von Spears, and the logo even featured the dog’s likeness. 

Are more Gunn family cameos in Marvel’s future?

It isn’t just the family pets who are getting 15 minutes of fame from Gunn’s success. His entire family is in on the fun! When someone pointed out that Gunn’s parents had a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 (with hilarious character role titles of “Weird Old Man” and “Weird Old Man’s Mistress”), Gunn was quick to jump in and clarify that his parents weren’t alone. 

Gunn’s family cameos included his brother, sister-in-law, and their kids as well as other nieces and a brother-in-law who all got the chance to appear briefly in the film — at the cost of getting “mowed down.” Gunn quipped cheerily, “My family loves getting killed in my movies!” 

The acting gene runs in the family, and James Gunn’s brother Sean Gunn — best known for portraying Kirk in Gilmore Girls — has also gotten to take on some roles in his brother’s hits. For both Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, Sean Gunn played Kraglin. 

Now that filming for Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 is underway, fans can expect to spot even more cameos with Gunn’s family.