Our conversation with James Gunn and other journalists on the set of 2025’sSupermanrevealed exciting new information about the first newDC Universemovie. Alongsidea hopeful newSupermanposter,plenty of details about the film have recently been made available, giving insight into the story, characters, and the shape of the universe being constructed.Some of these reveals were expected, while others were shocking. All of them, however, contribute to an incredible new vision for DC’s Man of Steel.
ScreenRant’sRob Keyesattended aSupermanset visit during production in Cleveland, Ohio in June, where they discussedtheSupermanmovieand the wider DCU release schedule with James Gunn. This interview revealed much about how the movie would draw from the rest of theSuperman movie roster, and also how it already clearly differs. Following this, much of what Gunn shared at this event helps to shed light on the new iteration of the DC hero, his supporting cast, and his world, which will hopefully continue to matter for many years.
15James Gunn’s Superman Starts In The Middle Of Things And Takes Place Over A Short Amount Of Time
Gunn Emphasized How Much Has Already Occurred Before The Start Of The Film
James Gunn confirmed that the film takes place with many of its pieces already set up. Superman is already Superman in the film, and several of his relationships have already been established. This has been vaguely known, but what is important here is that, referring to the film, James Gunn said,“It takes place over a short amount of time.”
Gunn explains that"We start right in the middle of the action"with the film, suggesting it begins at an exciting point of the story and keeps the pace from there. Much of this suggests a fast-paced tone for the film, with tensions and relationships already set up. This is a significant contrast to releases like Christopher Reeve’s first film, which took a long, sprawling, and epic approach to the story of the Man of Steel. Instead,Supermanwill begin in medias res, starting likely at a point sure to grab viewers to ensure they’re invested from the first moments of the movie.
Read More:James Gunn Addresses Where Superman’s Story Starts In His 2025 Movie
The Film Will Deviate From Gunn’s Usual Style
One of the biggest concerns raised about James Gunn’s taking onSupermanhad to do with the director’s tone. While Gunn has made some of the most acclaimed superhero films of the current era, those films, includingGuardians of the GalaxyandThe Suicide Squad, have had a distinctly irreverent and comedic tone.Many have worried that Gunn would bring that same brand of style and humor toSuperman, a character who has not traditionally been portrayed this way in the past.
Gunn addressed this, comparingSupermanto his previous work, saying that"[i]t’s humorous, but it’s certainly not as comic or as much of a comedy.“WhileThe Suicide Squad’s funniest charactersadded a great dimension to that film, it seems that humor will be more restrained here. This will likely allowSupermanto have more gravitas and room to grow the entire universe around itself.
13Superman’s Casting Process Gave James Gunn One Of His “Greatest Moments In Filmmaking”
Gunn Was Compelled By The Chemistry Between David Corenswet And Rachel Brosnahan
Casting has been an important part of the newSupermanfilm, and Gunn shared several details about a few of the performers. A number of people read for the main roles, and Gunn was quick to express that he loved Rachel Brosnahan as Lois and David Corenswet as Clark, saying"it was both of them as individuals"that drew him to their casting.
From there, however, the director moved into chemistry readings together before finalizing the casting. Among thecontenders for theSupermanactors, the cast was mixed and matched in a way Gunn had not done on previous projects. When Corenswet and Brosnahan were put together,Gunn described seeing the chemistry between them as"something magic”, and"one of [his] greatest moments in filmmaking."
Read More:James Gunn Addresses Casting David Corenswet As Superman And Rachel Brosnahan As Lois Lane
12Lois And Clark Already Know Each Other When Superman Begins
Their Relationship, However, Is Not Entirely Clear
In explaining how the film starts in the middle of all the action, and that much of the world already exists at the start of the film,Gunn mentions that"Lois and Clark already know each other"when the film begins.This is an important contrast to other Superman stories, includingSupermanandMan of Steel, which saw the two characters meeting for the first time. With that said, it is unclear exactly how well the two know one another whenSupermanbegins.
On the relationship between the two, Gunn didn’t provide many concrete details. However, he did address the effectiveness of their relationship on-screen, stating:“I don’t think it’s something we’ve ever seen [in] any superhero movie ever.“Considering some of his casting notes, and the chemistry between the stars, it seems the film may offer a special and unique look at the relationship between Clark and Lois.
Read More:What To Expect From Clark Kent And Lois Lane’s Relationship In Superman
11Lex Already Hates Superman At The Start Of The Film
Nicholas Hoult Plays Lex Luthor In The Film
There have been many excellentLex Luthor actors, and each of these has brought something special to the role. It appears Nicholas Hoult’s iteration will be no different in this regard based on some comments from Gunn. Most important, however, isthe acknowledgment that Hoult’s hatred of Superman will already be established in the world.Departing from stories like the DCEU and even the Christopher Reeve films, this conflict will already exist in some capacity.
Gunn explained this by saying:“Lex hates Superman’s guts from the beginning, although they don’t know each other personally.“Setting up this conflict with the idea of Superman will be important to Hoult’s take on Luthor. Based on some of the other known details regardingSuperman’s Luthor, it seems the movie is primed to have a fascinating new look at the age-old rivalry.
10Gunn Credits DC’s Entire Past, Including Zack Snyder, As An Influence
Understanding The Past And The Legacy Of Superman Is Important To The New Film
The new film has several influences, with Gunn explaining that much of the character’s DC history was important to this iteration. He acknowledged the Richard DonnerSupermanand the DC animated universe as influences before revealing his greatest influence:“All-Star Superman, that influenced me more than anything.“This is important, but what is also important is what the filmmaker said about the Zack Snyder films.
Gunn also let the press know that the Zack Snyder films were also an inspiration for this new take.While there is still some lingering disappointment that Snyder’sJustice Leaguetrilogy andMan of Steel 2were never made, it is fortunate that Snyder’s work will also serve as one of the many inspirations for this new version. Seeing how that plays out - and to what degree these influences are evident in the movie - is an exciting prospect.
Read More:How Christopher Reeve And Henry Cavill’s Superman Movies Influenced James Gunn’s 2025 DC Film
9The Movie Has A Few Songs But Will Be Mostly Score
James Gunn Tends To Use Music In A Prominent Way
The first tease ofSuperman’s music has been made with the poster reveal, and the new film has been confirmed to contain mostly score for the music. WhileJames Gunn’s needle dropsand use of music are an important stamp for the director, including his incredible opening theme forPeacemaker, it seems that will be less prominent inSuperman.“It’s much, much more of a score film,“Gunn explained.
Gunn clarified that there will still be songs, but that"it’s not a soundtrack"in the ways that his previous projects have been. Paired with Gunn’s comments about humor and comedy, it seems thatSupermanwill be something of a stylistic departure from the rest of the director’s work. It will be interesting to see whetherSupermanfeels notably different compared to other James Gunn films with these characteristic differences.
8Superman Draws From Sci-Fi & Fantasy For Its Approach
Gunn Admitted Some Surprising Inspirations And Details
In addition to pulling from the enormous history of DC media, both onscreen and off, Gunn made a few comparisons to other projects as inspiration. Speaking of the DCU as a whole, Gunn said that"it’s fantasy, it’s taking from other things like Game of Thrones.“This is a world where superheroes exist, and constructing how those different facets fit into the world and society is an enormous task.
In addition, Gunn spoke of the sci-fi gadgets pulled from Silver Age comic book inspiration. On Lex and his use of these tools, Gunn said"I think of him as like a sorcerer.“With these influences in mind, it seems clear that Gunn’s new universe is set to contend with enormous science fiction and fantasy details and influences in a way that feels sustainable and true to its own world.
7Future DCU Plans Heavily Depend On The Success Of The Film
The DCU Has Many Plans, But It Is Still Finding Its Shape
Gunn was asked about how much future plans for DCU are dependent on the success ofSuperman, to which he answered:“A lot. I mean, we’re not just going to keep making movies.“The shape of the universe, and its next projects, will clearly be directed by the success of the film. Hopefully,Supermanwill resonate with audiences and find commercial and critical success. If it does not, however, there may be other alterations made to the shape of the DCU.
TheDCU’s Justice Leagueand other overarching story elements have likely found some shape behind closed doors, but little of that has been shared with the world.As Gunn and Peter Safran find the direction of their universe, and as audiences respond to the projects that are released, it seems that some changes may be made to what the future holds. How big those changes might be, and their impact on future projects, remains to be seen.
6Top Gun: Maverick Influenced How Flight Scenes Were Shot
Flight Scenes Are Important To Superman
One of the most important parts of any Superman story is capturing the feel and tone of flight. This is one of Superman’s most important powers, and it can be used to contribute to all kinds of scenes, both in battle and in the larger story. From Gunn’s description, it sounds like this was important to the film, especially in action and fight scenes, noting that"being able to shoot stuff in the sky like that is really hard.”
The filmmaker employed the use of drones in crafting these scenes,admitting that they took a lot of influence fromTop Gun: Maverick.The Tom Cruise-starring 2022 hit resonated with audiences for its story and tone, but the craft of how it used flight and aerial combat contributed to the immersive feel of the film.Supermanlooks to use several of the same filmmaking tools to replicate that success.
