"Superman" Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: James Gunn Talks Staying True to Superman’s Legacy in New Look
James Gunn shares insights into his upcoming Superman movie, exploring the challenge of balancing Superman's classic ideals with the complexities of a more morally ambiguous world.
So, how are you celebrating Superman Day?
Today is April 18th, and it’s recognized as Superman Day, marking the anniversary of Superman's first appearance in Action Comics #1 back in 1938. That was 87 years ago, when the world was first introduced to the Man of Steel. Back then, he represented everything good in the world and everything we aspired to become—truth, justice, and the American way.
Over the many decades, Superman has become a global icon, widely recognized as a symbol of hope, justice, and resilience. He is often considered the boy scout of comics, a superhero who can’t help but embody the highest ideals, always striving to do what’s right no matter the cost. But then came the rise of the anti-hero, and comic books soon saw a sea change with audiences demanding darker material. Heroes once seen as good and innocent have evolved, with morally complex characters emerging as the new norm, challenging the very definition of heroism.
Superheroes were becoming more comfortable living in the gray, where choices and ideals weren’t always black and white. So where does Superman fit in this new world? Does he remain the shining beacon of virtue, or does he evolve to face the complexities of a more morally ambiguous universe?
Well, that’s the balance a filmmaker like James Gunn must contend with—how to stay true to Superman’s timeless ideals while adapting him for a world that increasingly embraces the darker, more complex side of heroism.
“Being a child, I loved the purity of Superman,” James Gunn divulges in this new behind-the-scenes featurette for his upcoming Superman movie (watch it above). “It was a time I started to understand what movies were.”
Gunn seems to be referencing the Richard Donner 1978 classic, which stayed true to the Man of Steel's core ideals while bringing him to life on the big screen.
Donner’s film remains the definitive portrayal of Superman for many. Christopher Reeve will always be Superman to a certain generation who was raised on those films. In a lot of ways, Donner and Reeve only add more pressure to anyone tackling the character, as they were so successful in bringing Superman to film that it almost feels like canon.
“I had been trying to crack it for years,” Gunn continues in the video. “This character is noble and he’s beautiful.”
Clearly, Gunn has a lot of admiration for the character. And there’s no question about Gunn’s ability to direct and stage an epic superhero spectacle. He’s done it before, quite successfully, with his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. But with so many eyeballs on this new DC project and a high-profile Marvel movie (The Fantastic Four) opening in the same month this summer, let’s just say... the pressure is on.
But for any skeptics or on-the-fence sitters out there who still need a sneak peek to fully decide whether or not to see Gunn's Superman on the big screen this summer, you might want to check out what Gunn and his stars have to say in this new behind-the-scenes look.
Starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent, aka Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as famed Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Superman's arch-nemesis Lex Luthor, Gunn’s Superman will be soaring into theaters on July 11, launching a new era for the DCEU.
