James Gunn and the ‘Superman' cast on why the world needs the Man of Steel now more than ever

Boston Globe

2 days ago

As a fan of the comics, Gunn enjoyed the concept of Clark Kent existing in a wider world alongside other heroes, his dog Krypto, and work friends at the Daily Planet. So it's no surprise that he incorporated many of those elements into his film, which stars David Corenswet (
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From left: Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and David Corenswet as Superman.
Jessica Miglio
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Corenswet's Kent is a few years into his crime-fighting career in the film, and already has a budding romance with Brosnahan's Lane. However, the world is starting to question Superman's role in global affairs, with nefarious billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) putting plans in motion to physically and emotionally break the Man of Steel.
The film is an important first step for DC Studios as it looks to reboot its stable of characters following the collapse of the previous DC cinematic universe, which launched in 2013 with director Zack Snyder's
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'I know that, when I do something my way authentically, that it is always going to be its own thing, it's not going to be somebody else's Superman,' said Gunn. 'My Superman is not the same as [Richard] Donner's Superman. It's not the same as Zack Snyder's Superman.'
David Corenswet as Superman, with Krypto.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Leaning heavily into Superman's comic book roots of 'giant monsters and robots and flying dogs,' Gunn said he wanted to create a fantastical world that captivates audiences the way he was drawn in as a child. And there's no character who better exemplifies the weirder side of DC than the mysterious Metamorpho, a hero who can change his body into any element (including kryptonite).
Winchester native and Emmy-nominated actor Anthony Carrigan ('Barry') plays Metamorpho in 'Superman,' and, despite the many hours in the makeup chair, was thrilled to bring him to life. The actor admitted he was 'kind of floored' by Gunn's 'massive scope of vision' for the movie, which also, at times, felt 'like a really small passion project, almost like an indie film.'
Nathan Fillion ('Castle,' Gunn's 'Slither'), who plays Guy Gardner,
a Green Lantern and brash member of the film's 'Justice Gang' superhero team, has worked with Gunn on several occasions and praised the filmmaker for his ability to elicit emotions with his style of storytelling.
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'If I walk out of a movie and I feel something, I consider that a good movie,' said Fillion. 'And James is fantastic at that, and he always has been.'
From left: Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, David Corenswet as Superman, and director and writer James Gunn.
Jessica Miglio
Gunn noted that Corenswet was the second person he saw audition for the role, and 'knew from the beginning' that he had a potential Superman on his hands.
'If I couldn't find Superman, I was prepared to not make this movie,' said Gunn. 'It was not for sure that I was going to find Superman.'
In real life, Gunn revealed, Corenswet is just as much of a Boy Scout as Big Blue, recalling the actor's love of 'old jazz standards.'
'He listens to music you can snap your fingers to, which is oh so Superman,' said Gunn. 'He's just this complete good-natured, grounded, aw-shucks kind of guy.'
'And so he fits Superman well, but in a way, I don't care whether he fits Superman well. What matters is that he can play Superman well,' he added, noting how Corenswet brought both the comedic and dramatic chops needed, particularly for the 'fast-paced David Mamet-style dialogue.'
And as this version of Superman plays up his old-fashioned good-guy tendencies, Carrigan and Fillion believe
people need a symbol like that now more than ever.
'I think it's incredibly timely that we are reminding people that it's important to be good, it's important to stand up for what's right, and to be kind, ultimately,' Carrigan said.
'I think we're all in the mood, in the headspace for some hope that someone in a position of power would feel like, the more powerful I am, the more careful I have to be about doing the right thing,' said Fillion. 'I think David brings something to this role that we haven't had yet.'
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James Gunn, David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Wendell Pierce, Sara Sampaio, Edi Gathegi, María Gabriela de Faría, Mikaela Hoover, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, and Anthony Carrigan at the "Superman" press junket on June 28 in Los Angeles.
Eric Charbonneau/Warner Bros. via Getty Images
For Gunn, creating a Superman who's 'the ultimate Boy Scout' makes more sense now than when Snyder's grittier take came out more than a decade ago.
'When Zack made his movie, like that [kind of Superman] seemed almost too Pollyanna, too earnest,' said Gunn. 'I think in today's world, maybe things are a little bit darker, sadly, and that earnestness actually goes against the grain so much in today's world. The most rebellious thing you can possibly do is be unironic and earnest.'
Gunn, who directed and wrote the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' movies for Marvel and 2021's 'The Suicide Squad' for DC, is no stranger to superhero franchises. Before
superheroes, with Superman making his 'Action Comics' debut in 1938, Gunn felt it was only right to kick off the new DC movie universe with the Man of Tomorrow.
Between 'Superman' and the upcoming new season of 'Peacemaker' (
Fillion, who's
a lot.
'
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From left: Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
'And now here I am,' said Fillion. 'I will always be the first live-action Guy Gardner, and what an honor. … I'm beside myself.'
Gunn, too, is grateful for his time so far at DC Studios. It's even already produced a career favorite memory, as filming for 'Superman' overlapped with 'Peacemaker,' resulting in a hangout session between casts.
'I was like, oh my God, we really are building a universe,' said Gunn. 'It was one of my happiest days I've ever had in 30 years of making movies.'
'Superman' flies into theaters July 11.
Matt Juul can be reached at