Superman is a towering icon of hope and heroism, as well as a writer and director James Gunn is acutely aware of the heavy expectations that come with carrying Supermanand the larger DCU, to life.
Gunn recently shared his insights on balancing fan expectations and creating a Superman that resonates with a new generation of audiences.
In an interview with Screen Brief, Gunn addressed the challenge of meeting the diverse and often conflicting expectations of DC fans. Acknowledging the passion and strong opinions surrounding the “Trinity” of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, Gunn explained:
“The biggest challenge is for everyone in the world to know who Superman is and where he comes from. Part of that is an advantage, since we don’t get into origin stories in this film.
“Pretty much everyone knows that Clark Kent arrived here as a child on a rocket ship, sent by his Kryptonian parents, and a couple of farmers adopted him. So we don’t have to go through all this. That’s an advantage, in a way.”
However, Gunn also noted the emotional attachment fans have to these characters:
“But also, so many people in this world are so intimately connected to Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman: the Big Three. They have specific ideas about what that character means to them.”
Gunn acknowledges that Superman, in particular, has been a difficult character for many fans to connect with due to his immense power. In this regard he said:
“A lot of people have come to me and said, ‘I never really related to Superman because he’s just too powerful. I relate to Batman because he’s like the underdog.’
“So that’s something I took into account from the beginning, that a lot of people don’t identify with him. I think it has a little to do with how we see him at the beginning of the trailer, and also at the beginning of the movie.”
However, there is another side to Superman’s appeal, as Gunn acknowledged:
“And other people like Superman because he can punch planets in half. So you have to deal with all these different people who have different ideas about what Superman should be.
“And you have to deal with all of them and I hope people are able to say, ‘Well, okay, I like my idea of what Superman is. Let’s see what this idea of Superman is. Let’s sit down for two hours and watch this movie and see what it’s all about.'”
The director also touched on the importance of allowing the DCU to evolve with time and with different creative visions:
“This is what you’re dealing with with the DCU, because things will continue to change and evolve. A lot of people keep telling me, ‘Oh my God, you made this trailer just for me! I can’t believe it!’
“And you know, other people will feel differently about it, but they will still be able to enjoy the story and appreciate our take on Superman, or whatever other DC characters there are.”
Gunn’s take on Superman is set to launch a new era of DC movies for DC Studios. As the first feature film in this reinvented universe, Superman It looks like the film will include a mix of epic action, humor, and heart.
Gunn aims to provide a Superman driven by compassion and a belief in humanity’s inherent goodness.
Superman will tell the story of “Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas.
“He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.
“It’s set in a world very different from ours and very far from the DCEU. Heroes have been around for centuries and we’ll see how that has influenced the history of this world and shaped the DCU.”
Superman stars David Corenswet in the role of Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane; Nicola Hoult as Lex Luthor; Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern; Isabela Mercede as Hawkgirl; Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific; Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen; María Gabriela de Faría in the role of Angela Spica, aka The Engineer; Sara Sampaio as Eva Teschmacher; AND Terence Rosemore as Otis.
The film will arrive in theaters on July 11, 2025.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant

Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.