It’s not simple being tasked with rebooting a whole cinematic universe and reinventing the world’s first and arguably best superhero. There are occasions when it’s secure to say the stress is weighing on James Gunn, author and director of 2025’s Superman. He’s drained. Overworked. Miserable, even.
Gunn admits as a lot in a roundtable interview with reporters invited to the Cleveland, OH set of Superman in June 2025. When requested how he’s dealing with the balancing act that’s directing Superman with spearheading the Creature Commandos animated collection and serving as co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn makes it clear the job isn’t all roses and sunshine.
“Just giving up every little thing in my life and soul, actually,” Gunn says with out betraying a smile. “I’m depressing, frankly. Really, I’m depressing, however hopefully it is for the better good.”
It’s a sometimes candid admission from a director who’s by no means been afraid to talk his thoughts in interviews and on-line. It’s additionally one which’s not less than considerably made with tongue planted in cheek – a means of blowing off steam after a tough few weeks on the sweltering sizzling set. But although Gunn might have been feeling the stress of the job that day, it’s apparent that he’s deeply captivated with his Superman reboot. There’s a cause he’s giving up physique and soul to inform a narrative about Superman’s lonely quest to advertise kindness in an unkind world.
The actual takeaway from that roundtable is that Gunn is working to inform a Superman story in contrast to any followers have seen earlier than on the massive display, one that provides new depth to the dynamic between Clark Kent and Superman. What makes Gunn’s Superman so distinctive? Here are 10 issues we discovered in regards to the new film straight from the director himself.
On Casting Corenswet
Unsurprisingly, one of many best challenges with making Superman was discovering the suitable actor to play the Man of Steel. Gunn tells reporters that he adopted the same technique as he did when casting a then comparatively little-known Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The objective is to search out the very best actor for the function, not essentially the largest title.
“I’ve all the time believed that the casting is an important and that so long as the actor is the absolute best actor for that function, that is extra necessary than it’s for a reputation,” Gunn says. “Especially in at this time’s market, which is you see film stars will not be the identical as they was by way of you’ll be able to’t, like what it was 15 years in the past, open up a Melissa McCarthy film. Instantly, you are going to make this a lot cash. Open up an Adam Sandler film, immediately you are going to make this a lot cash. It’s not like that anymore. So I simply needed to go for who was the very best Superman.”
Gunn continues, “Lots of people auditioned, and the bizarre factor is I used to be so crazily nervous about getting Superman prepared, on [the] very first day of the tapes coming in, I had seen [David] Corenswet in Pearl. So … I stated, ‘Get him on the tape.’ And then the very first day got here in David’s tape and Rachel’s tape, and I noticed each of these and I went, ‘Oh my God, we will be okay.’ Because each of those persons are superb. There had been different actually good actors for each of these roles, however on the finish of the day, it was each of them as people. Then we did one thing that I did not do with Guardians, which is I solid the 2 leads collectively and so they all got here in and we had this 15-minute-long scene that they must act collectively and speak and focus on and simply talk. And I combined and matched all of the completely different {couples} and it was easy magic when the 2 of them got here up. I obtained to say, it is certainly one of my best moments in filmmaking.”
Gunn notes that a part of the problem in casting the suitable lead is that he wasn’t merely searching for a great Superman or a great Clark Kent. He wanted an actor who might discover that refined floor between the 2 and convey it to life.
“It’s not simply Clark. It’s not simply Superman. It’s Clark/Superman. And the one people who know Clark/Superman are his mother and his dad and some others who know who he’s, and people are very various things,” Gunn says. “People stated all kinds of various issues. They stated, ‘Clark’s the actual one.’ They stated, ‘Superman’s the actual one and Clark’s the key identification.’ But I do not – and it says it in my script on the second web page – I do not imagine both of these issues. I do not suppose anyone is aware of Superman until they know each of him. And once they know each of him, they know the actual man. And meaning not too many individuals.”
Superman and Lex Luthor Don’t Know Each Other Yet
Gunn has been adamant from the start that he has no real interest in rehashing Superman’s origin story. He’s as sick of superhero origins because the followers are. Superman is pointedly set a number of years into Clark Kent’s profession as a costumed hero. Corenswet’s Superman is a longtime hero at this level, although he’s nonetheless cultivating the relationships that can come to outline him.
One of these relationships is his rivalry with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor. Surprisingly, although this movie is ready a number of years after Superman’s preliminary debut, Clark has but to essentially conflict with Metropolis’ favourite tech billionaire. The two males are conscious of one another’s existence, however solely now does Lex start making strikes towards the Man of Steel.
“It was about actually placing us in the midst of the motion from the start,” Gunn says. “And there’s a whole lot of these items on this film now that I’ve been making it for over a yr that I consider as regular. But now whenever you carry it up, I am going, ‘Oh yeah, that is fairly uncommon.’ We simply begin in the midst of the motion. Superman’s already current. Lois and Clark already know one another. Lex hates Superman’s guts from the start, though they do not know one another personally. So we begin proper in the midst of the motion. It takes place over a brief period of time.”
It’s Less Comedic Than The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy
Fans have actually come to count on a sure kind of superhero film from Gunn within the wake of three Guardians of the Galaxy motion pictures and 2021’s The Suicide Squad. Tonally, these motion pictures are extraordinarily comedic, with loads of quippy dialogue and a whole lot of interpersonal banter. Superman isn’t fairly that. Gunn makes it clear that whereas this new movie positively has its humorous moments, the tone is extra earnest and fanciful than followers could be anticipating.
“It’s humorous, but it surely actually will not be as comedian or as a lot a comedy as both Suicide Squad or Guardians,” Gunn says. “There’s loads of humor in it. People like Rachel [Brosnahan] are so humorous and David [Corenswet] could be very [funny as well], so there’s humor in it, but it surely’s attempting to create one thing that’s grounded, but in addition it is an extremely fanciful world, it is fantasy, it is taking from different issues like Game of Thrones, the place it is this universe the place superheroes truly exist. What are they like? There’s a magic there that is simple.”
The Soundtrack Is Less Song-Driven
Similarly, the Guardians motion pictures are notable for his or her soundtracks, which inject loads of iconic basic rock tunes right into a cosmic sci-fi setting. Superman isn’t following the identical strategy. While the movie will characteristic a handful of songs (hand-picked by Gunn, naturally), the emphasis is way extra on composer John Murphy’s rating. That rating will invoke the enduring work of John Williams at occasions, but it surely additionally blazes its personal path with the franchise.
“There’s nods to Williams after which additionally John Murphy’s created this extremely stunning rating,” Gunn says. “But the one factor is it’s a rating, it isn’t a soundtrack, so it isn’t in regards to the songs. There’s just a few songs in it. And, in fact, I selected these songs beforehand, but it surely is not like all of my earlier motion pictures actually by way of the rating is what drives it. It’s a a lot, far more of a rating movie.”
Superman’s Costume: Trunks or No Trunks?
There’s been a bent over the previous couple of a long time to modernize Superman’s look by eliminating his costume’s pink trunks. That was the strategy taken by 2013’s Man of Steel and subsequent DCEU movies. But simply as the trunks have made a comeback within the comics lately, Gunn goes retro by giving us a Superman who proudly wears his underwear on the surface.
That stated, Gunn admits that he himself was divided on the trunks/no trunks debate. Initially, he leaned towards together with them, till Corenswet made a convincing argument for his or her inclusion.
“At the tip of the day, it wasn’t that heated; it was heated for some time,” Gunn stated. “I used to be on the no trunks group for a very long time. For a very long time. And Zack [Snyder] stated that when he was doing it, he tried a billion completely different trunk variations as we did. And I stored going again to no trunks, no trunks, no trunks. And I’m like, effectively, let’s simply grind it out. Let’s simply hold attempting trunks and see what occurs. And David stated one thing to me that actually affected me. We had been attempting on all these completely different variations, and we screened-tested with trunks and no trunks. And one of many issues David stated is that Superman needs children to not be afraid of him.”
Gunn continues, “He’s an alien. He’s obtained these unimaginable powers. He shoots beams out of his eyes, can blow the truck over. He’s this extremely highly effective, might be thought of scary particular person and he needs folks to love him. He needs to be an emblem of hope and positivity. So he clothes like knowledgeable wrestler, he clothes in a means that makes folks unafraid of him, that exhibits that. And that actually clicked in for me. And I feel attempting to fake that Superman’s costume does not have some frivolity to it at its base, attempting to make it look severe is foolish as a result of he’s a superhero. He’s the primary one, brightly coloured and that is who he’s. And in order that’s the place we landed and ultimately all of us got here to a spot the place virtually all of us agreed on the trunks.”
Mister Terrific Is the Most Important Supporting Hero
Superman could also be about reintroducing audiences to the Man of Steel, however Superman is hardly the one costumed hero showing within the movie. There’s a whole ensemble solid at play right here, together with members of the Justice League like Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific. Gunn notes that there wasn’t any specific rhyme or cause to which DC characters he included past his private attachments to the characters, although he did reveal that Mister Terrific has essentially the most distinguished function within the movie.
“I feel it was simply who I needed to essentially [use], actually,” Gunn says. “I really like Mister Terrific. These characters all get their second within the solar. They all have their moments. They’re not simply cameos, these are the characters. They’re supporting solid, however Mister Terrific is the primary character of these characters. He truly has an enormous a part of the plot. And in order that was enjoyable. And, in fact, attending to work with Nathan is all the time one thing, and placing him in a silly look, after which Isabela is nice. I’ve been a fan of hers for a very long time. But it was about stability.”
The Influence of All-Star Superman and Other DC Media
Gunn is adamant that, as a lot because the movie is influenced by earlier cinematic incarnations of Superman, it’s additionally very completely different from the likes of Richard Donner’s Superman and Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. In truth, if anybody piece of DC media influenced Gunn’s Superman, it’s Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s seminal graphic novel All-Star Superman.
“I feel that each one earlier DC media influenced me,” Gunn says. “I feel that clearly the unique Donner film influenced me, however there’s additionally a whole lot of issues that this is not, like I’m simply making a Donner-type film. It’s very completely different from that. Zack [Snyder] did some glorious stuff. So there’s a whole lot of ways in which influenced me. There’s a whole lot of methods through which the DC animated universe [influenced me], after which there’s a whole lot of stuff from the comedian books – above and past the rest, All-Star Superman – that influenced me greater than something. To take that type of Silver Age really feel, that type of science-fiction strategy to it with devices, Lex [Luthor] is mostly a type of sorcerer in a means. He’s a scientist, however he is so good at science and I consider him as like a sorcerer.”
Gunn continues, “So every little thing [influenced me], after which it is simply one thing that is fully us. The relationship between David and Rachel’s [characters] on display is one thing I do not suppose we have seen in – I hate to say stuff like this – however I do not suppose it is one thing we have ever seen [in] any superhero film ever.”
Why the Lois/Clark Dynamic Is Different
When requested to elaborate on why precisely the Lois/Clark dynamic is so completely different on this film, Gunn hinted that we’ll see new sides to their relationship because the movie explores what it’s like for a crusading reporter to strike up a friendship with a strong alien from one other world.
“It’s an advanced relationship and we actually get into it and there is lengthy scenes which are about their relationship and the way in which they relate and what it will be like for an individual, who’s this extremely clever, strong-headed, cussed, skeptical journalist, to have a relationship with somebody who can elevate a skyscraper.”
Does that imply Lois is aware of Superman’s secret identification? Gunn was cagey on that query, although he did affirm that, in contrast to Superman and Lex, the 2 have an current relationship coming into the film.
“Well, we’ll see,” Gunn teases. “She is aware of who Superman is.”
Superman Doesn’t Seek to Set Up Other Projects
There’s loads driving on Superman as the primary, foundational pillar of a brand new cinematic universe. Gunn and fellow DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran have a whole roadmap plotted out, one dubbed “Gods and Monsters.” But although the brand new DCU will get loads larger from right here, Gunn is adamant that he’s not utilizing Superman as a platform to tease future motion pictures. Every scene within the movie is there to serve the movie, and there gained’t be many moments that overtly lay seeds for different DCU tasks.
“Zero. Zero. I imply, perhaps two little issues, two moments, however principally if one thing’s there simply to arrange one thing else, f*** it. I even say that,” Gunn says. “And for all I do know, these issues could be minimize by the point we get to the modifying room as a result of one thing has to exist for this film. And if that works in tandem with establishing characters that exist in different media, then that is nice. If this units up stuff in Peacemaker, which it does, then that is nice. But that’s by no means, ever, ever, with me, going to be one thing [that] I’m going to sacrifice even a second or a beat in a narrative for, particularly a film. With TV, you’ve got obtained a bit of bit extra leniency to have the ability to do this. But in a film, each beat needs to be in there for the film itself.”
Gunn explains that he needs the film to have the ability to stand by itself toes with out moviegoers needing to fret about having seen the rest prior or questioning what comes subsequent. He teased that future DCU motion pictures might begin to embrace extra teases for the broader DCU, however in the end, the objective stays the identical.
“Everything wants to face by itself,” Gunn says. “I do not need any individual to must go see this film and be counting on the rest. Now pay attention, as soon as we get down the road, which will change a bit of bit. In Guardians, what did you need to see in Guardians 3 to essentially perceive it? You’d be higher off seeing the primary two Guardians, however even Infinity War, [the characters] defined it in an elevator, the entire plot. It’s like attempting to maintain issues so simple as potential so you do not have to have homework, particularly TV exhibits that some folks aren’t into.”
Gunn continues, “Now, are seeds being planted? Yes, there’s seeds being planted, however that’s by no means going to be the predominant factor in any scene for me. It’s all the time about attending to the following scene. What’s within the second? How are we making this film the very best we could be? And it will keep like that as a lot as I can presumably make it like that.”
Why the Title Changed
Early on, Gunn’s Superman carried the title “Superman: Legacy,” earlier than it was shortened to easily “Superman.” Gunn reveals that whereas the movie actually nonetheless explores the legacy theme, he determined early in manufacturing that the easier strategy was the suitable one.
“We do that factor known as the pre-mortem earlier than we begin taking pictures,” Gunn says. “You ever hear of this? It’s nice. We go right into a room with me and all of the division heads and we are saying, for example this film is a colossal f***-up. We discover out two years from now when this film comes out, it goes terribly fallacious. What are we doing proper now that we’re not speaking about [that’s] making this film fallacious? It provides an opportunity for all the events concerned to talk their thoughts, whether or not it is in regards to the script, whether or not it is in regards to the casting, whether or not it is about how departments aren’t speaking with one another. Everybody is allowed, from transportation to no matter, they’re all allowed to say what they suppose. And I discovered it extraordinarily useful.”
Gunn continues, “And one of many issues was I believed perhaps the title was had a looking-back feeling about it. And this is not about wanting again, that is about wanting ahead, so, though whenever you see the film, you will perceive the place Legacy comes from as a result of it’s, once more, it is about Clark and his relationship to his Kryptonian mother and father and his relationship to his human mother and father and whose legacy is he actually? And so it is about that.”
Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025.
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For extra on the way forward for the DCU, try the primary theatrical poster for Superman and brush up on each DC film and collection in improvement.
Jesse is a mild-mannered employees author for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your mental thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
