The director responded to a social media follower listing James' movies — including the newly-released Clayface — alongside a caption which read: "What is this building towards???"

James then wrote in response: "DCU is just an alternate universe; we can enter at any location or time and tell THAT story. I dislike the idea that individual stories aren't meaningful unless they lead to something else.

People not understanding this is strange to me, because Star Wars has essentially been doing this for 50 years across movies, shows, games and books, admittedly without the tonal variety."

James also said that there is "connectivity" between his films — such as the story from Superman extending from the first movie into the sequel Man of Tomorrow.

Speaking about the Superman follow-up, he said: "(It) contains many characters we've introduced in other stories." "But that doesn't mean those other stories only exist to set up what's happening there.

"I would love people to be seeing Clayface because it's a great, fun horror movie unto itself, not because of where else Clayface will show up three movies from now."

Clayface follows the Batman bad guy, played by Tom Rhys Harries, who volunteers for an experimental surgery after his face is disfigured.

Reviews have been largely positive, with Variety critic Guy Lodge saying of the film: "(Clayface) is its own ugly animal; perhaps the characters and conflicts introduced here would pall if given the franchise treatment, but in the context of a single, genre-melding romp, they're fresh and ickily enjoyable."

James' next movie to hit cinemas will be Superman: Man of Tomorrow, which is due for release in summer 2027.

Amanda Seyfried turned down the chance to star in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie over fears it would "ruin" her career.

The 40-year-old actress was offered the chance to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) by playing Gamora in the 2014 superhero film, but she turned the role down over fears the movie could be "bad" and the part went to Zoe Saldana instead.

Speaking in a question-and-answer session with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Amanda explained: "I think turning down Guardians of the Galaxy was just so obvious to me at the time.

"I'm like: 'This is not going to be a hit. The tree and the raccoon are talking to each other. And also they're all in space.' And I was just like: 'This will ruin my career if this is bad. And there's a high chance that this could be bad'."

The movie was a huge hit becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 2014 and it went on to spawn two successful sequels while the cast also appeared in the Avengers series.

Amanda now admits she was "wrong" about the film but she doesn't regret her decision.

She added: "I mean, obviously I was wrong. But I still don't take back that decision. I made it for myself. I made it for my family that I knew I wanted to have.

"And I just don't want to spend all the time in the make-up trailer. I just can't sit still anyway. I really don't like stunts, and I don't like heights, and I don't like pretending the entire world. I need something to hold on to."

It comes after Zoe previously confirmed she is walking away from the role of Gamora, but she's hoping another actress will revive the character in the future.

She told Variety: "I keep saying this time and time again — I can't wait to see what's next for Gamora. I hope they're not done with her, and I hope a woman of colour or a woman with special needs can take on the role next. That would be incredible."

Zoe also previously told the publication she didn't fully understand the character until she'd finished work on the films, saying: "I wish I could go back and reshoot what Gamora was going through in the Avengers movies.

"I was not quite understanding what the Russo Brothers [were doing]. They're excellent filmmakers and the opportunity they gave me was of a lifetime. To highlight Gamora in such a way in their films is something I'll always be grateful.

"I wish I could go back and redo it so I could push a little harder because it was such a great opportunity to play a daughter having issues with a dad and whether or not she's having this opportunity to reconciliate or to simply just walk away.

"That would've been a great opportunity had I been a little more aware of it then."

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