Writer/director James Gunn called in a 'favor' to Bradley Cooper to appear in a key role in his new DCU feature.

The movie — launching a new era for DC Studios — will be only the third Hollywood pic of the year so far to cross the century mark in its domestic box office debut.

The actor has a man-out-of-time quality that makes him surprisingly like his character. But he is hyperaware of the present expectations riding on his performance.