From the gritty alleys of indie cinema to the cosmic chaos of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn’s journey to helming Superman was as unpredictable as it was inevitable. Now at the helm of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, Gunn is ushering in a new era of superheroes — and it all begins with the Man of Steel. But don’t call it Superman: Legacy anymore. Just Superman. Clean, iconic, forward-looking. The rebranding wasn’t a marketing ploy — it was a creative recalibration.
“I’m sick of the superhero title, colon, other-name thing,” Gunn confessed. “It seemed to be looking back when we’re looking forward.” And that’s exactly what this Superman promises to do — push the mythology beyond its caped nostalgia and into a complex, soulful new universe.
Sci-Fi Meets Sentiment: A Silver Age Revival
In what Gunn describes as the “biggest tonally novel thing about this film,” Superman embraces the stylized, optimistic aesthetic of the Silver Age of comics — a bold choice that hasn’t been fully explored in live-action.
“There’s retro-futuristic aspects,” Gunn says, referencing elements like “the Daily Planet with a big globe” and “giant walking robots.” One of the biggest inspirations? All-Star Superman. But Gunn’s spin isn’t retro for the sake of kitsch — it’s about imaginative immersion grounded in emotional authenticity.
Take Krypto, the superdog, for example. “Rocket [from Guardians] made the world ready for Krypto,” Gunn says, grinning. “He’s just a poorly behaved dog… like my dog.”
Unmasking the Mythos: Clark Kent and the Glasses Gag
Yes, Gunn is addressing the age-old glasses conundrum head-on — literally.
“I just don’t know how to fucking deal with the glasses thing, because it bothers the fuck out of me,” Gunn confides. With help from DC writer Tom King, he found a canon-friendly explanation rooted in classic comics. “Everything for me has to come from a place where I believe it, as outlandish as it is.”
It’s this meticulous, almost obsessive desire for internal logic that sets this Superman apart. Gunn isn’t interested in glossing over tropes. He’s crafting a believable world — even if it’s one where dogs fly and buildings rise from ice.
A Softer Gunn: From Provocateur to Sentimentalist
There’s no denying the personal transformation shaping Gunn’s latest work. “My life, and career, has been a gradual softening of the edges,” he reflects. “I used to like provoking. But in my heart, I’m pretty sentimental.”
That shift is woven into Superman’s DNA. Gone is the sarcasm-laced hero archetype. In its place stands a protagonist who is “pretty pure… with a strong belief in what’s right.” Gunn admits: “In the past I would’ve done it through making fun of the character, and I don’t think that’s what I do here.”
Superman Isn’t Invincible — And That’s the Point
For all the power Superman wields, Gunn insists he had to be beatable. “I didn’t want a Superman who could punch planets,” he declares. “What’s a girl with wings gonna do in the face of that?”
His Superman bleeds, breaks, and most importantly, believes. “We have a Superman that can be beat,” Gunn says, underscoring a thematic pivot from godlike to grounded.
Lex Luthor: Envy, Ego, and Existential Rage
Gunn’s take on Lex Luthor isn’t just villainy for villainy’s sake — it’s deeply human. “I relate to Lex more than I wish I did,” he admits. “Lex looks at Superman like artists look at AI. He is the world’s greatest man… then this guy comes in who’s done nothing to deserve the ability to fly.”
It’s a timely allegory, and one that promises a Lex who is chillingly relatable, driven by the fear of being outshone, overlooked, and obsolete.
Pressure? What Pressure? “Just Make a Damn Good Movie”
Despite the fan pressure, studio expectations, and comparisons to Zack Snyder’s legacy, Gunn shrugs off the high stakes. “Other people may say, ‘It’s gotta be a home run, nothing else.’ I’m like, ‘No, I’d be very happy with a double.’”
And while online discourse rages — “some people make their livings by hating us,” Gunn notes — he’s focused on storytelling, not appeasement. “You don’t want everything to seem 100 percent positive. It’s OK to have an opposing force.”
From Guardians to Goats: Gunn’s Creative Compass
Asked whether he ever fears the creative well might run dry, Gunn doesn’t flinch. “If I do, then I’ll go raise goats.” But for now, he’s writing, directing, and building a cinematic universe brick by brick — and with scripts, not just schedules.
“No movie goes before there’s a screenplay that I personally am happy with,” he declares, revealing that a recently greenlit project was shelved for failing that bar.
Supergirl, Lanterns, Clayface — and the Batman Conundrum
Beyond Superman, the DCU is in active expansion. “Supergirl” has wrapped principal photography. Lanterns and Clayface scripts are done — “so fucking good,” Gunn gushes.
But Batman remains the toughest nut to crack. “Batman has to have a reason for existing,” he explains. “We’re not doing campy Batman… but I think I have a way in.”
And what about the possibility of Robert Pattinson’s Batman joining the DCU? “I would never say zero,” Gunn teases, “but it’s not likely.”
The Legacy That Actually Matters
While audiences might obsess over Gunn’s directorial legacy, he’s looking at something far more personal.
“I don’t give a shit [about legacy],” Gunn says plainly. “What I really do care [about is] that I’m good to my wife, and… good to my friends and my brothers and my sister and my mom.”
Because in the end, Gunn isn’t building monuments — he’s making art, fueled by a newfound vulnerability and a deeper understanding of what really matters.
“I had to stop creating so that people would like me… so people would love me.”
Superman Reborn — With Heart, Humor, and Humanity
This isn’t just another reboot. This is a cinematic reimagining driven by soul-searching, storytelling, and sincerity. James Gunn’s Superman isn’t here to please everyone — and that’s exactly why it just might save the DC Universe.