In an unexpected and hilarious twist, James Gunn and Zack Snyder set aside their supposed rivalry to appear together in the latest episode of Rick and Morty, turning their fanbase feud into comic gold. 
Season 8, Episode 7, titled “Ricker Than Fiction,” aired on July 6 and features a surprise cameo of the two directors mocking their own cinematic takes on Superman-and each other.
The animated scene, set in a Warner Bros. cafeteria, sees Snyder and Gunn engaging in a satirical exchange about the DC Universe. Snyder starts with a jab at Gunn’s version of Superman: “He’s the Man of Steel, not the Man of Conversation.” Gunn fires back before quickly apologizing for his outburst, admitting, “Your biceps are the size of my head.” Snyder’s punchline? “Yes, but so is my heart.”
The exchange pokes fun at Gunn’s introspective take on Superman, particularly a controversial 10-minute dialogue about morality and war, which Gunn has defended as a meaningful exploration of Superman’s ethical stance. Meanwhile, Snyder embraces his over-the-top style, even poking fun at his signature use of slow motion.
The episode adds another layer when the pair discuss Rick Sanchez, labeling him an ultra-fan who once trapped Christopher Nolan “in a giant bookcase” for Interstellar. Snyder reassures Gunn, saying Rick “doesn’t represent real fans. He’s just the smartest man in the universe.”
This lighthearted moment arrives in the midst of real-world tension between the Snyderverse faithful and fans of Gunn’s DCU reboot. The internet has long been a battleground, with some Snyder supporters recently caught organizing a campaign to review-bomb Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie. Gunn’s response was typically dismissive: “Lol I think we’ll survive.”
Despite fan-fueled drama, the directors themselves appear unbothered. Snyder has publicly supported Gunn’s direction for DC, and their Rick and Morty cameo (which explains a now-viral photo from February) feels like a peace treaty disguised as comedy. Even Suicide Squad director David Ayer has urged fans to ease up, briefly distancing himself from online toxicity after facing backlash for supporting Gunn’s Superman trailer.
Gunn has acknowledged the mixed reactions, noting that it’s actually beneficial not to have unanimous support. “You don’t want everything to seem 100% positive,” he told Rolling Stone. “Some of the things get ridiculous,” he added, referencing past controversies like Superman being harmed by the sun.
What’s clear is this: Gunn and Snyder aren’t at war. They’re collaborators, sometimes critics of each other, but ultimately friends. It’s the fans who keep stoking the fire-and this cameo was a brilliant way to pour cold water on it, with humor as their weapon of choice.