“In some ways, it’s lighter. But there’s a lot of heavy stuff in the movie as well,” Gunn said. “But the character himself is lighter.” His comments come as a clear departure from the darker, brooding Superman portrayed by Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013), Batman v. Superman (2016), and Justice League (2017).
Gunn emphasized that his approach is rooted in Superman’s origins. “I loved the color and the joy of the comic books I loved growing up, and I wanted to imbue this film with that feeling,” he said. The film is the first in Gunn’s “Gods and Monsters” chapter of the DC Universe, which he has been developing since taking over the studio in 2022 with producer Peter Safran.
Superman, which hits theaters July 11, stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent. He is joined by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, and Nathan Fillion, Edi Gathegi, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, and others in supporting roles.
Gunn described Clark Kent as “that rarity of rarities,” a superhero from a loving, non-dysfunctional family. “He’s growing up in a loving household with support and emotional presence from his parents, and he’s the result of that,” Gunn explained. “He’s a pretty well-adjusted guy because of that. However, he has his flaws as well.”
In previous interviews, Gunn has also framed Superman as an immigrant story, saying the character’s journey mirrors that of many who come to America. “It’s a story about basic human kindness,” he told The Sunday Times.Gunn’s Superman aims to reset the tone for DC’s future on-screen, anchoring it in emotional authenticity and optimism. With the character returning to the big screen under this brighter lens, fans and newcomers alike will see a Superman who leads not just with power, but with heart.
