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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
James Gunn Took a Huge Risk By Changing Superman's Origin Story, Does It Work?
This article contains spoilers for Superman. Superman's origin was first revealed on a single page during his debut in 1938's Action Comics #1. In the eighty-plus years since then, the story has shifted and changed but the broad strokes have stayed the same: As the dying planet Krypton implodes, aliens send their infant son to Earth to save him. It's an archetype as old as Moses that got a sci-fi twist from iconic creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and has been enchanting readers and viewers ever since. But in James Gunn's Superman, that origin is given a twist, one that sees what we know about Superman upended. But as writer/director Gunn explained to IGN at a screening of the film on the Warner Bros. backlot in Los Angeles, there's precedent in both the comics and some long-running television shows, and it fits into the new, more vulnerable and human Superman that his film centers around. Is James Gunn Teasing This Iconic DC Villain for Superman 2? With the New Lex Luthor, James Gunn Unlocks the Trick to Supervillains Superman Ending and Post-Credits Scene Explained Superman Review Superman and Why the Battle for Truth, Justice and A Better Tomorrow Is Neverending Ranking the Superman Actors The Utterly Bizarre History of Superman's Powers Superman Movies Ranked Worst to Best and Where to Watch Them We spend a decent amount of the film believing that it's business as usual when it comes to Superman's biological parents, as does the Man of Steel. He has his traditional loving relationship with Ma and Pa Kent (played by Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince respectively), but it is Jor-El (Bradley Cooper) and Lara Lor-Van (Angela Sarafyan) that he turns to when he needs inspiration or soothing. The message that was sent with Kal-El to Earth is, he believes, what drives his central ethos of protecting Earth and all of its creatures. Problem is, that message is fragmented. Kal-El knows that Jor-El and Lara's message is broken, but he believes that it continues on offering loving missives to the son they gave up so that Earth can be safe and the Kryptonians can live on. Unfortunately for our hero, that belief couldn't be more wrong. Jor-El and Lara's real mission for their son is revealed after the Engineer hacks into the Fortress of Solitude's super snow computer. Soon we learn that the end of the transmission — one which Kal-El never heard until it is publicly released by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Holt) to smear him — showcases a different side of the El family, who actually chose Earth due to the perceived weakness of the human kind in the hopes that their beloved Kal-El would spread his Kryptonian seed among Earth's women and eventually rule Earth with an iron fist as the so-called "Last Son of Krypton." For Gunn, it was his love of the character that inspired the surprising twist. "I'm a huge Superman fan, so first of all I had to trust myself that I was going to honor the pieces of Superman that we needed to keep the same and also allow myself to make changes where changes might work and wouldn't go against the integrity of who the character is," he told IGN. Gunn seems to have never wavered in that trust in himself, at least not so far as Kal-El's origins are concerned. Taking such a risk in the first film of the new DCU might seem like a big swing, but Jor-El and Lara's nefarious intentions were in the script from the earliest days of the project. "It was in James's first draft," DC Studios co-chairperson and co-CEO Peter Safran shared with IGN. "The story hasn't changed at all. It's exactly what he initially pitched and wrote. James was always very specific about the story that he wanted to tell," Safran continued. "What you see is the movie that he genuinely wanted to make." So how does Safran feel about the change? "I love it. I never questioned it," he told IGN. "I thought it was an incredibly effective thing. I just love the idea that family is about bond, not necessarily about blood. And that's his family. These people are his family and they're there for him when he's down, and then they're what bring him back up as well at the end. So I loved that in the script and I love it even more in the movie because I think the performances are so strong." We'll get to the 'bond, not necessarily about blood' bit in a moment. In the meantime, let's take a quick look at Superman's Kryptonian Parents Been Evil Before? In the words of Gunn, making the Els essentially antithetical to who Superman becomes was "simply allowing ourselves to change part of the story in a way that was interesting for the DCU but wasn't something that went against who Superman was." It allows for some of the film's most powerful emotional moments and gives Clark an impressive amount of agency over his heroic legacy. Gunn is aware of the impact of the choice, but correctly points out that "it's something that has been played with in the comics before." Fans of Superman's television outings know that it's not just the comics either. Eagle-eared Smallville fans were likely the first to notice a similarity between the film's representation of Jor-El and Gunn's. On the cult WB coming-of-age Superman series, Jor-El is introduced as an AI representation of Kal-El's father made of his memories and experiences that exists within the walls of the Fortress of Solitude. In his early days, he was known as a harsh taskmaster who once uttered the immortal and now familiar sounding words, "on this third planet from this star Sol, you will be a god among men. They are a flawed race. Rule them with strength, my son. That is where your greatness lies." It's incredibly similar to the recording and message that Cooper's Jor-El gives to Kal-El in Superman, pre-dating it by around 20 years. More recently during the Rebirth relaunch, the Superman comics resurrected Jor-El under the alias Mr. Oz. This version of the alien father figure escaped Krypton, landing on Earth. But his time on our planet made him bitter, violent, and furious at the horrors that he watched humankind enact. This twisted version of Jor-El became both an antagonist and ally to Superman, despite the fact that he's desperate to destroy Earth and its inhabitants. The short-lived Syfy series Krypton played with the idea that the El's were just as culpable as the Zods in the planet's decline. More recently theMax animated series My Adventures With Superman, it's revealed like in Superman (2025) that Jor-El was far from a benevolent father and instead a wannabe conqueror of Earth and had planned to use Kal-El and Kara to do it. So, as you can see, this is hardly a massive break from canon and it's a key part of why the movie works. Does Superman's Origin Twist Work For the DCU? At its core, James Gunn's Superman is a story about the choices we make and the power of those choices to change not only the lives of others but also ourselves. The change in the Man of Steel's classic origin inspires a crisis of conscience that allows Superman to showcase his humanity, vulnerability, and fear. And, most importantly, it reminds the audience that no matter where or who you come from, you can be the person that you want to be. Clark chooses to be the kind, loving, and open hero that he had already become without his Kryptonian parents thanks to the nurturing of Ma and Pa Kent. Gunn has spoken about how his take on Krypton's most famous son is that Superman is the edgiest and most punk superhero because he goes against the grim, gritty, and violent grain that is the current mainstream of comic book storytelling. As the film ends, we're reminded of just that as Gary the Superman Robot plays images of Superman's parents to soothe him, but instead of the Kryptonian hologram we saw earlier it's home video footage of Clark as a child with Ma and Pa Kent at Christmas, summer vacation, and numerous other major moments throughout his life. As Clark heals and watches the films, the fictional band that he loves, "The Mighty Crabjoys," — previously introduced in a blink and you'll miss it moment in Creature Commandos — plays over the credits with lyrics about being punk rock. In Gunn's DCU the most punk thing you can do is love your chosen family,help out those in need, and care about your fellow man while the rest of the world labels such things as 'cringe' or 'twee'. That focus feels like a pretty radical take, especially for a film coming out in 2025. Superman has — for the most part — always been a symbol of hope, to the point that in different on-screen and page adaptations the S on his chest represents Krypton rather than Ma Kent's impeccable eye for graphic design and influence on her son. That influence is writ large here as Clark's midwestern upbringing is the foundation of the compassion and generosity that he shares with the world. No longer is he an alien on a mission; he's an illegal immigrant learning what it means to be a giving, caring member of his community. This all establishes some deeply interesting themes and threads for the DCU to explore. Anyone who has read the comics will know that Clark isn't the only survivor of Krypton, and we even meet another intergalactic straggler, Kara Zor-El (Millie Alcock), at the end of Superman, setting up the upcoming Supergirl film. Historically, many other Kryptonians end up making their way to safety, and in this universe we'd imagine they're less than happy that Clark became a friend and hero to the people of Earth rather than the alien conqueror he was supposed to within the confines of this first DCU film, we experience contrasts to Superman's righteous self-empowerment that show how personal choices define us. The Engineer has been enhanced by Lex Luthor's nanotech upgrades, and instead of choosing to use her fantastical abilities to heal or help others she would rather hunt and hurt. Clark's clone, seen both as the Hammer of Boravia and Ultraman, has been replicated by Lex to cause damage and disgrace the hero of Metropolis. He doesn't make choices that counter his flawed programming, submitting to the will of his creator instead of forging forward with his own intentions. Edi Gathegi's Mr. Terrific is immediately highlighted as the most sympathetic member of the Justice Gang (they're not calling themselves that) despite avoiding most human emotion because unlike Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl and Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, he chooses to help Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane save Superman when doing so comes at great personal risk. Whatever happens next, Gunn has returned the on-screen depiction of Superman to its roots, once again depicting a kind and hopeful hero who values those core tenets above anything else. This new world will feature all kinds of heroes with many different creeds, but it seems to be intended that Superman remains the new franchise's beating heart. Superman (2025) is another story for the outsiders who maybe don't have it all together but are always trying their best, proving that you're not defined by the past expectations of your ancestors but by the choices and community you make in the present. Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Is Daily Planet journalist Clark Kent the true hero of new Superman movie?
Superman might do more than just save Metropolis. Filmmaker James Gunn hopes the beloved superhero will bring hope to a cynical world. "Everybody's gotten so cynical and ironic," said Gunn. "Everybody's ironic about everything all the time. And he (Superman) is a good-natured guy who wants to be kind. And when you see the world through Superman's eyes, everyone is beautiful." Superman, which has flown into cinemas worldwide, is a change in tone for the writer and director who brought a mischievous playfulness and snark to the chaotic worlds of Suicide Squad and the Guardians of the Galaxy. But this wasn't some fringe misfit: It's Superman. And a certain amount of optimism was necessary. The Man of Steel has been a symbol since he first appeared in 1938 among the technicolor pages of Action Comics #1 as a baby from the planet Krypton sent to Earth as a last resort to save him from his planet's demise. In the 87 years since, various iterations of Superman have graced countless comic books, animated series and live-action television shows and films, many focusing on the hero's origin story. Through Gunn's lens, audiences meet a Superman three years into his self-appointed journey to save anyone in need of help. Superman has reached a point where he must confront what it means to do good and seek justice in a complicated world where many, especially the infamous Lex Luthor, question his intentions. "We get to really discover what are his flaws, what are his opinions, what are his ideals. I think we get a very intimate look at his relationship with Lois. I also think that it's a bigger movie than it's ever been told with Superman before," Gunn said. Gunn's vulnerable Superman is someone simply wanting to make the world a better place in an attempt to be accepted by his adopted homeland. He quickly learns that despite his super strength and metahuman abilities, he cannot do it all on his own. The Man of Steel is accompanied by his superdog Krypto or Lois Lane and the team of journalists at the Daily Planet. Clark Kent's job at the paper isn't just a title either: Journalism gets its own spotlight in the fabric of the film. Gunn doesn't just focus on Superman's humanity but highlights the importance of truth and the power of journalism to fight against injustice. Brosnahan, who plays reporter Lois Lane, said the director's focus on the importance of journalism was intentional. "Journalistic integrity in this film is potentially more important now than it has been," she said. "One of the joys of stepping into this has been understanding in a deeper way what you all do and the ways in which you put yourselves on the line in pursuit of the truth, and it's been an honour to step into that." Beck Bennett, who plays reporter Steve Lombard, says it was nice to see the Daily Planet journalists help the superhero go up against the villain. "They are exposing some truth so that people can get the truth and turn on the person who is actually doing them harm," Bennett said. "It's really cool to see that. I think that could be exciting for younger people who might want to be journalists to be like, 'Wow, they do have this power. They are superheroes.'" Skyler Gisondo, who plays Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen and best friend to Clark Kent, says the scenes in the newsroom felt as high stakes as the action sequences. "Reading the script, you have a sense that the work that we're doing is just as important as the action itself," said Gisondo. One real journalist makes a cameo in the film: news correspondent Will Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in the 1978 film. Reeve said that the message of hope from the early film is one that still reigns true today from his father's legacy. "The fact that my dad and his character and then his subsequent personal story resonated and perhaps inspired maybe billions of people around the world," Reeve said. "That means a lot to me, and I think that has a lot with what Superman is and represents as a character." For actor Wendell Pierce, who plays Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White, superhero films like Superman are more than just a fun pastime for comic book fans. They bring a sense of optimism in troubled times and a feeling that even the everyday person has the power to create change. "People want to feel empowered," Pierce said. "They want to feel as though they can make a contribution in some way and change the dynamic to change this dysfunctional paradigm. And so we turn off the lights and go into a small theatre because we want to see collectively, decide what our values are and who we are, where we've been, where we've failed, where we can triumph. But ultimately decide what our values are and walk out of the theatre and act on those." Superman might do more than just save Metropolis. Filmmaker James Gunn hopes the beloved superhero will bring hope to a cynical world. "Everybody's gotten so cynical and ironic," said Gunn. "Everybody's ironic about everything all the time. And he (Superman) is a good-natured guy who wants to be kind. And when you see the world through Superman's eyes, everyone is beautiful." Superman, which has flown into cinemas worldwide, is a change in tone for the writer and director who brought a mischievous playfulness and snark to the chaotic worlds of Suicide Squad and the Guardians of the Galaxy. But this wasn't some fringe misfit: It's Superman. And a certain amount of optimism was necessary. The Man of Steel has been a symbol since he first appeared in 1938 among the technicolor pages of Action Comics #1 as a baby from the planet Krypton sent to Earth as a last resort to save him from his planet's demise. In the 87 years since, various iterations of Superman have graced countless comic books, animated series and live-action television shows and films, many focusing on the hero's origin story. Through Gunn's lens, audiences meet a Superman three years into his self-appointed journey to save anyone in need of help. Superman has reached a point where he must confront what it means to do good and seek justice in a complicated world where many, especially the infamous Lex Luthor, question his intentions. "We get to really discover what are his flaws, what are his opinions, what are his ideals. I think we get a very intimate look at his relationship with Lois. I also think that it's a bigger movie than it's ever been told with Superman before," Gunn said. Gunn's vulnerable Superman is someone simply wanting to make the world a better place in an attempt to be accepted by his adopted homeland. He quickly learns that despite his super strength and metahuman abilities, he cannot do it all on his own. The Man of Steel is accompanied by his superdog Krypto or Lois Lane and the team of journalists at the Daily Planet. Clark Kent's job at the paper isn't just a title either: Journalism gets its own spotlight in the fabric of the film. Gunn doesn't just focus on Superman's humanity but highlights the importance of truth and the power of journalism to fight against injustice. Brosnahan, who plays reporter Lois Lane, said the director's focus on the importance of journalism was intentional. "Journalistic integrity in this film is potentially more important now than it has been," she said. "One of the joys of stepping into this has been understanding in a deeper way what you all do and the ways in which you put yourselves on the line in pursuit of the truth, and it's been an honour to step into that." Beck Bennett, who plays reporter Steve Lombard, says it was nice to see the Daily Planet journalists help the superhero go up against the villain. "They are exposing some truth so that people can get the truth and turn on the person who is actually doing them harm," Bennett said. "It's really cool to see that. I think that could be exciting for younger people who might want to be journalists to be like, 'Wow, they do have this power. They are superheroes.'" Skyler Gisondo, who plays Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen and best friend to Clark Kent, says the scenes in the newsroom felt as high stakes as the action sequences. "Reading the script, you have a sense that the work that we're doing is just as important as the action itself," said Gisondo. One real journalist makes a cameo in the film: news correspondent Will Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in the 1978 film. Reeve said that the message of hope from the early film is one that still reigns true today from his father's legacy. "The fact that my dad and his character and then his subsequent personal story resonated and perhaps inspired maybe billions of people around the world," Reeve said. "That means a lot to me, and I think that has a lot with what Superman is and represents as a character." For actor Wendell Pierce, who plays Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White, superhero films like Superman are more than just a fun pastime for comic book fans. They bring a sense of optimism in troubled times and a feeling that even the everyday person has the power to create change. "People want to feel empowered," Pierce said. "They want to feel as though they can make a contribution in some way and change the dynamic to change this dysfunctional paradigm. And so we turn off the lights and go into a small theatre because we want to see collectively, decide what our values are and who we are, where we've been, where we've failed, where we can triumph. But ultimately decide what our values are and walk out of the theatre and act on those." Superman might do more than just save Metropolis. Filmmaker James Gunn hopes the beloved superhero will bring hope to a cynical world. "Everybody's gotten so cynical and ironic," said Gunn. "Everybody's ironic about everything all the time. And he (Superman) is a good-natured guy who wants to be kind. And when you see the world through Superman's eyes, everyone is beautiful." Superman, which has flown into cinemas worldwide, is a change in tone for the writer and director who brought a mischievous playfulness and snark to the chaotic worlds of Suicide Squad and the Guardians of the Galaxy. But this wasn't some fringe misfit: It's Superman. And a certain amount of optimism was necessary. The Man of Steel has been a symbol since he first appeared in 1938 among the technicolor pages of Action Comics #1 as a baby from the planet Krypton sent to Earth as a last resort to save him from his planet's demise. In the 87 years since, various iterations of Superman have graced countless comic books, animated series and live-action television shows and films, many focusing on the hero's origin story. Through Gunn's lens, audiences meet a Superman three years into his self-appointed journey to save anyone in need of help. Superman has reached a point where he must confront what it means to do good and seek justice in a complicated world where many, especially the infamous Lex Luthor, question his intentions. "We get to really discover what are his flaws, what are his opinions, what are his ideals. I think we get a very intimate look at his relationship with Lois. I also think that it's a bigger movie than it's ever been told with Superman before," Gunn said. Gunn's vulnerable Superman is someone simply wanting to make the world a better place in an attempt to be accepted by his adopted homeland. He quickly learns that despite his super strength and metahuman abilities, he cannot do it all on his own. The Man of Steel is accompanied by his superdog Krypto or Lois Lane and the team of journalists at the Daily Planet. Clark Kent's job at the paper isn't just a title either: Journalism gets its own spotlight in the fabric of the film. Gunn doesn't just focus on Superman's humanity but highlights the importance of truth and the power of journalism to fight against injustice. Brosnahan, who plays reporter Lois Lane, said the director's focus on the importance of journalism was intentional. "Journalistic integrity in this film is potentially more important now than it has been," she said. "One of the joys of stepping into this has been understanding in a deeper way what you all do and the ways in which you put yourselves on the line in pursuit of the truth, and it's been an honour to step into that." Beck Bennett, who plays reporter Steve Lombard, says it was nice to see the Daily Planet journalists help the superhero go up against the villain. "They are exposing some truth so that people can get the truth and turn on the person who is actually doing them harm," Bennett said. "It's really cool to see that. I think that could be exciting for younger people who might want to be journalists to be like, 'Wow, they do have this power. They are superheroes.'" Skyler Gisondo, who plays Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen and best friend to Clark Kent, says the scenes in the newsroom felt as high stakes as the action sequences. "Reading the script, you have a sense that the work that we're doing is just as important as the action itself," said Gisondo. One real journalist makes a cameo in the film: news correspondent Will Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in the 1978 film. Reeve said that the message of hope from the early film is one that still reigns true today from his father's legacy. "The fact that my dad and his character and then his subsequent personal story resonated and perhaps inspired maybe billions of people around the world," Reeve said. "That means a lot to me, and I think that has a lot with what Superman is and represents as a character." For actor Wendell Pierce, who plays Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White, superhero films like Superman are more than just a fun pastime for comic book fans. They bring a sense of optimism in troubled times and a feeling that even the everyday person has the power to create change. "People want to feel empowered," Pierce said. "They want to feel as though they can make a contribution in some way and change the dynamic to change this dysfunctional paradigm. And so we turn off the lights and go into a small theatre because we want to see collectively, decide what our values are and who we are, where we've been, where we've failed, where we can triumph. But ultimately decide what our values are and walk out of the theatre and act on those." Superman might do more than just save Metropolis. Filmmaker James Gunn hopes the beloved superhero will bring hope to a cynical world. "Everybody's gotten so cynical and ironic," said Gunn. "Everybody's ironic about everything all the time. And he (Superman) is a good-natured guy who wants to be kind. And when you see the world through Superman's eyes, everyone is beautiful." Superman, which has flown into cinemas worldwide, is a change in tone for the writer and director who brought a mischievous playfulness and snark to the chaotic worlds of Suicide Squad and the Guardians of the Galaxy. But this wasn't some fringe misfit: It's Superman. And a certain amount of optimism was necessary. The Man of Steel has been a symbol since he first appeared in 1938 among the technicolor pages of Action Comics #1 as a baby from the planet Krypton sent to Earth as a last resort to save him from his planet's demise. In the 87 years since, various iterations of Superman have graced countless comic books, animated series and live-action television shows and films, many focusing on the hero's origin story. Through Gunn's lens, audiences meet a Superman three years into his self-appointed journey to save anyone in need of help. Superman has reached a point where he must confront what it means to do good and seek justice in a complicated world where many, especially the infamous Lex Luthor, question his intentions. "We get to really discover what are his flaws, what are his opinions, what are his ideals. I think we get a very intimate look at his relationship with Lois. I also think that it's a bigger movie than it's ever been told with Superman before," Gunn said. Gunn's vulnerable Superman is someone simply wanting to make the world a better place in an attempt to be accepted by his adopted homeland. He quickly learns that despite his super strength and metahuman abilities, he cannot do it all on his own. The Man of Steel is accompanied by his superdog Krypto or Lois Lane and the team of journalists at the Daily Planet. Clark Kent's job at the paper isn't just a title either: Journalism gets its own spotlight in the fabric of the film. Gunn doesn't just focus on Superman's humanity but highlights the importance of truth and the power of journalism to fight against injustice. Brosnahan, who plays reporter Lois Lane, said the director's focus on the importance of journalism was intentional. "Journalistic integrity in this film is potentially more important now than it has been," she said. "One of the joys of stepping into this has been understanding in a deeper way what you all do and the ways in which you put yourselves on the line in pursuit of the truth, and it's been an honour to step into that." Beck Bennett, who plays reporter Steve Lombard, says it was nice to see the Daily Planet journalists help the superhero go up against the villain. "They are exposing some truth so that people can get the truth and turn on the person who is actually doing them harm," Bennett said. "It's really cool to see that. I think that could be exciting for younger people who might want to be journalists to be like, 'Wow, they do have this power. They are superheroes.'" Skyler Gisondo, who plays Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen and best friend to Clark Kent, says the scenes in the newsroom felt as high stakes as the action sequences. "Reading the script, you have a sense that the work that we're doing is just as important as the action itself," said Gisondo. One real journalist makes a cameo in the film: news correspondent Will Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in the 1978 film. Reeve said that the message of hope from the early film is one that still reigns true today from his father's legacy. "The fact that my dad and his character and then his subsequent personal story resonated and perhaps inspired maybe billions of people around the world," Reeve said. "That means a lot to me, and I think that has a lot with what Superman is and represents as a character." For actor Wendell Pierce, who plays Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White, superhero films like Superman are more than just a fun pastime for comic book fans. They bring a sense of optimism in troubled times and a feeling that even the everyday person has the power to create change. "People want to feel empowered," Pierce said. "They want to feel as though they can make a contribution in some way and change the dynamic to change this dysfunctional paradigm. And so we turn off the lights and go into a small theatre because we want to see collectively, decide what our values are and who we are, where we've been, where we've failed, where we can triumph. But ultimately decide what our values are and walk out of the theatre and act on those."
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Every movie Superman, ranked: Who wore the cape best?
Ever since Superman first arrived on the scene, his adventures splayed across the pages of "Action Comics #1" in 1938, the Kryptonian superhero captured the imagination of audiences everywhere. So it's only natural that, in addition to his appearances in the world of comic books, he's made the leap (in a single bound) to the big screen several times over. But not all iterations of Superman are created equal. While all of the actors who portrayed the Man of Steel put in strong performances, some were let down by subpar productions. Which Superman actors did the best job of embodying one of America's most famous heroes? Read on to find out. No disrespect to Henry Cavill, who is a perfectly capable performer and has been delightful in many roles, but his version of Superman is a bit of a slog to get through. Although he's believable as a superhero, he's all Superman and no Clark Kent, which robs the character of a lot of its charm. Furthermore, he's playing an unusually broody version of Superman in several of the character's darkest outings, some of which see him in conflict with an equally angsty Batman. We think that Cavill has the potential to make a very good Superman (although Clark Kent is a bit more of a stretch), but he had the misfortune of being featured in some of the dingiest and most depressing superhero films in recent memory. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. George Reeves' only big-screen outing as Superman came in the schlocky 1951 movie "Superman and the Mole People," so it's fair to say that the budget his version of the character was operating with was a far cry from our modern-day Supermen. But the film was successful enough to lead to the "Adventures of Superman" television series, which was incredibly popular. Although Reeves is now overshadowed by the many other actors who have worn the trunks and cape, he's responsible for defining much of the character's on-screen presence that we now take for granted. When Brandon Routh was cast as Superman, it just sort of made sense. Look at the guy — he's a perfect physical match for the role. But while his performance as Superman leans into the whole 'truth, justice, and the American way' thing, he's let down by the less-than-compelling film that surrounds him. Much like Andrew Garfield's run as Spider-Man, pop culture history will remember him as an excellent Superman who was cursed with a production that didn't quite serve his talents. Still, we see a lot of potential in his version of the character, and wish that we could have seen more of him. As part of the new DC universe helmed by James Gunn, David Corenswet's Superman is a breath of fresh air. After years of Superman films that embrace a dark, gritty aesthetic, it's refreshing to have a version of the character who's a bright little ball of sunshine. This is not a Superman agonizing over his place in the universe; he's just a nice boy from Smallville who was raised in a loving, supportive environment and is secure in himself as a person. Sorenswet brings an old Hollywood charm to the character, thoroughly embodying both the heroism of Superman and the aw-shucks demeanor of Clark Kent. Often, actors playing this role tend to lean into either Clark Kent or his alter ego, but Corenswet is equally adept at both. For many fans, Christopher Reeve is the definitive Superman. The films that he starred in as Superman (well, the first few, anyway) are beloved by viewers, even with their somewhat dated special effects. Reeve perfectly embodied the confident, all-American heroics of Superman and the bumbling antics of Clark Kent, but the most impressive part of his performance was how easily he was able to shift between the two with just his body language. It's a long-running joke that people must be blind not to realize that Superman and Clark Kent are the same guy, but with Reeve in the role, you can kind of buy it.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
White House Sparks Uproar With "Superman Trump" Post After Film Release
Hours after the global release of James Gunn's highly anticipated Superman film, the White House stirred a storm online by posting an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump as the iconic superhero. The image, shared on the official White House X account, shows a heavily muscled Trump in Superman's costume, mid-flight, with the caption, "The symbol of hope. Truth. Justice. The American Way. Superman Trump." The overlay text read, "A Trump Presidency. Truth. Justice. The American Way." THE SYMBOL OF HOPE. TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY. SUPERMAN TRUMP. ???????? — The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 11, 2025 The post has quickly become internet fodder. A user wrote, " 'Superman Trump' is insane. Superman's from Krypton, fights fascists, and stands for truth. Trump's from tax fraud, incites coups, and can't spell honest. You've mistaken Lex Luthor for Clark Kent." Another wrote, "Superman was an illegal immigrant growing up on a farm." "Truth? Where is the Epstein list? Justice? Where is the justice for Epstein's victims?" a comment read. The post landed after director James Gunn spoke of his interpretation of Superman. He described the film, released on July 11, as "the story of America," calling Superman "an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country." He added, "For me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost," in an interview with The Times of London. Superman, first created in 1933 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two teenage sons of Jewish immigrants from Cleveland, was originally conceived as a villain in a short story titled ' The Reign of the Superman.' A year later, they reimagined him as a hero fighting for justice. This new version of Superman made his official debut in Action Comics #1 in April 1938. The new film revisits Superman's moral dilemmas through a more adult lens. One of the most talked-about scenes features a 10-minute conversation between Clark Kent and his girlfriend Lois Lane, discussing geopolitics and whether Superman should have stopped a war. "It is definitely the most unusual thing that we put in the movie," Gunn says. "Yes, it's about politics," Gunn explained. "But on another level, it's about morality. Do you never kill no matter what, which is what Superman believes, or do you find some balance, as Lois believes?" The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees once released a book in Italy titled ' Superman Was a Refugee Too ', showing the character's roots as an alien forced to flee his dying planet. Less than a decade ago, DC Comics supported World Refugee Day with the message, "The Man of Steel's story is the ultimate example of a refugee who makes his new home better." Trump has toughened immigration rules with a $75 billion increase in ICE funding, raising detention capacity from 41,500 to 116,000 beds. Over 70 per cent of those detained in June had no criminal record.
Newsroom
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsroom
The history of the world's greatest superhero
Nearly a century ago, a man in red and blue lifted a car on the cover of Action Comics #1. It didn't take long for that man of steel to fly off the comic page and into radio … then onto the small and big screens, books, merchandise and anything else you might care to name. If anything is going to bring movie-watchers back to the cinema it's Superman – and the latest iteration is out this weekend, simply called Superman. The latest interpretation comes from Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. After a long streak of darker, more brutal and gritty interpretations, Gunn has returned to a more traditional, hopeful take. The bearer of that red shield is arguably the most iconic character ever made, but over so much time, and having passed through the hands of so many varied creators, no character is going to remain unchanged. Today on The Detail we look at how Superman changed over his many years, and his surprising origin story, and we speak to Stu Colson, the co-owner of Auckland comic shop Heroes For Sale. He says every time a superhero gets a new lease of life on the big screen, it's like a two-hour advertisement for his shop. Superman might not be his best seller – that honour rests with the Dark Knight, Batman – but Colson says Superman's legacy and the history of his impact on pop culture is unrivalled. Superman wasn't the first comic hero. In 1936 Lee Falk published the daily newspaper strip 'The Phantom' about a purple-suited fighter of justice. But in 1938 Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster made a story about an alien from another planet being raised in the USA and choosing to use his superhuman powers to do good. Colson agrees he's probably the most iconic character ever written. 'His legacy and the history of his impact on pop culture I don't think has been rivalled by anyone else.' In the 1950s he was easily the biggest pop culture phenomenon America had ever seen, with summer camps dedicated to him. 'The radio plays were so popular that the guy who voiced Superman … after a few years said 'I need a break, I need some time off with my family', and that's where kryptonite actually came from. So he went off on his holiday and in the story Superman was taken down by kryptonite so they just had another actor lie on the floor in the studio and groan for three weeks. 'It's a fantastic plot device.' Superman was born just before World War II broke out, but he wasn't a reaction to global uncertainty. The legend goes that Jerry Siegel's father, a tailor in Ohio, was fatally attacked in his haberdashery in 1932, so the character was a son's bullet-proof invention. This protector had working-class origins, and was something of a socialist. Once upon a time Superman represented 'truth, justice and the American way', but in 2021 DC Comics' chief creative officer said Superman now stood for 'truth, justice and a better tomorrow'. 'I think he's the exact opposite of what's going on in America right now,' says Colson. 'He's the symbol of what they were, not what they are now. I mean, he's an immigrant. He's the ultimate immigrant, he's an alien. He's there to help all of those people, he'd be on the front line of those protests against Ice imprisonments. 'He would be trying to stop insider trading somehow … you know he'd be using the Justice League to get on top of that. 'I think he would incredibly disappointed at his adopted homeland were he a real character. 'This is not the America he was there protecting. Lex Luthor is probably more of a symbol of America right now.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
