Latest news with #Slither
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Superman' Review: James Gunn Gives DC Studios' Crown Jewel a Gleaming Polish With Help From David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan
From his breakout as writer-director, Slither, to Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn has made it his mission to lighten the oppressive darkness of so much contemporary sci-fi with irreverent humor and the exhilaration of an unabashed genre geek. For his first entry as new co-chair — alongside producer Peter Safran — of DC Studios, Gunn brings his signature approach to Superman. The result is very much a comic-book action-adventure but one with a warm human heart. It reveals an obvious love for Richard Donner's 1978 event movie headlined by Christopher Reeve, and for 1981's arguably even better Superman II, without sliding into reverential self-seriousness. That was one of the weaknesses of Bryan Singer's joyless and swiftly forgotten 2006 effort, Superman Returns, while by contrast, distancing itself so strenuously from the Donner model was the fatal flaw of Zack Snyder's turgid Man of Steel in 2013, though that doom-and-gloom saga has its champions. Factoring in the superhero smackdowns and team-ups that have cluttered DC's output in the 2000s, the new millennium has not been kind to Kal-El, the refugee alien from Krypton created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joel Shuster in 1938. More from The Hollywood Reporter Box Office: 'Superman' Targets $100M-Plus Domestic Opening, Tracking Suggests $130M 'Superman' Star Skyler Gisondo Thought He Was Auditioning for Clark Kent: "Would Have Been a Bad Casting Choice" 'Superman' First Reactions: "A Terrific Start for the New DC Studios" Gunn's screenplay can certainly be faulted for piling on too many elements, making it at times seem lumpy and overstuffed. But what matters most is that the movie is fun, pacy and enjoyable, a breath of fresh air sweetened by a deep affection for the material and boosted by a winning trio of leads. David Corenswet makes an outstanding Superman/Clark Kent, his performance loaded with self-irony, charm and poignant vulnerability as he wrestles with doubts as to whether his mission to do good and protect humankind was based on a lie. Corenswet's funny, scrappy rapport with Rachel Brosnahan's whip-smart Lois Lane — possibly the sharpest and most captivating interpretation of the ace Daily Planet reporter since Margot Kidder — makes their every scene together a delight. Nicholas Hoult dials down the cartoonish villainy of many previous Lex Luthors, leaning into the evil genius aspect of the character in ways that heighten the stakes. But although he's the smartest guy in just about any room, Hoult's Lex is also petulant and insecure, driven by jealousy over the world's adoration for Superman as much as by the need to eliminate anything in the way of his nefarious schemes. The movie opens with a quick primer on the centuries-old history of metahumans on Earth, leading to Superman's first defeat at the hands of one of them. He's introduced collapsed and bleeding in the snow, summoning just enough strength to whistle for his trusty dog Krypto, who thunders across the white tundra churning up powder before jumping all over Superman as if it's playtime, not a call for help. Krypto, who also sports a red cape but behaves like an undisciplined puppy-school reject, borders on cutesy. But Gunn is the guy who made a genetically engineered talking raccoon and a sentient humanoid tree beloved members of the gang in Guardians of the Galaxy, so Superdog is well within his reach in a movie that, mercifully, goes much lighter on that franchise's bro-ish humor. When Krypto finally gets the message and drags the wounded Superman back to his crystalline refuge, the Fortress of Solitude, a team of robot helpers gets to work on repairs. They heal him physically with a blast of sunlight and soothe him emotionally by replaying the partially lost farewell hologram message from his parents, his last remaining link to his since-destroyed home planet. Identified only by numbers, the custodial droids are a nice touch. The chattiest of them, No. 4 (Alan Tudyk), gets laughs by continually speculating on the human emotions they would be feeling if they could feel. Back in Metropolis, Superman again gets hammered by the Hammer of Boravia, a hulking, heavily armored mystery figure who appears to have similar powers to Superman and then some. (The character's identity shouldn't be too hard to guess for longtime comics aficionados.) The Hammer rips up much of downtown, causing millions in damages, but shifts the blame by saying the mayhem was a response to Superman's attack on his country's armed forces. But Superman claims his actions were to prevent a war in which people were going to die, following Boravia's attempt to invade the poor neighboring country of Jarhanpur. The shady Boravian president (Zlatko Burić) insists that the Hammer is a vigilante with no ties to his government. Unsurprisingly, this chaos is being orchestrated by Lex, high up in his glass tower at LuthorCorp, with a Bluetooth headset and a team of black-uniformed techies at keyboards carrying out his commands. He has every conceivable fight move preprogrammed, enabling him to shout numbers at his crew like a football coach calling game plays from the sidelines. Lex is a tech billionaire very much in the Musk/Zuckerberg mode, but Hoult gives him sufficient ambiguity to blur the lines of his villainy between someone genuinely concerned about humankind in thrall to an alien and someone who just wants absolute power at any price. Gunn takes the vast canon of Superman lore — from various iterations of the comics to TV shows like Smallville to the Donner films — and treats it like a grab bag, plucking elements from many sources. That includes Lex's most valued ally, Angela Spica (María Gabriela de Faría), aka The Engineer, a dark-eyed beauty whose nanite-enriched blood allows her to morph body parts with inky black fluidity into whatever form is required — be it buzzsaw hands or tentacle-like cables that can hack into any computer circuit. That skill proves useful with the Fortress of Solitude's digital hub, allowing Lex to release an unscrambled copy of the message from Superman's parents, seeding doubts as to his intended mission on Earth. It's plot points like this that show how superhero sci-fi might intersect with real-world AI concerns — the idea that manipulated information can be circulated to turn a revered public figure into a pariah no longer seems like fantasy. Only slightly less relatable is Lex's fleet of trained monkeys at computer monitors, flooding social media with falsehoods and conspiracy theories and coming up with damning anti-Superman hashtags that stick. There's a lot going on in Gunn's script, including a Luthor-constructed 'pocket-verse' that houses his own cavernous hi-tech prison; Rex Mason, or Metamorpho (played by the wonderful Anthony Carrigan from Barry), a humanoid exploited by Lex for his shifting chemical makeup, which allows him to transform body parts even into Kryptonite; and the metahuman Justice League. That trio of corporate-backed law enforcers includes tech wizard and man of many cool gadgets Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi); airborne warrior Hawkgirl (Isabel Merced); and their self-appointed, self-inflated captain Guy Gardner, better known as Green Lantern (a droll Nathan Fillion), who has hands-down the worst bowl cut and dye job in Metropolis. Paradoxically, the human heart that grounds the story is the alien from Krypton. Corenswet brings such warmth to the role that he anchors the film every time it threatens to veer off into overly busy fantasy. Lex's sabotage proves so effective that it sparks an existential crisis in Superman, who at his lowest point retreats to the farm of his adoptive parents (Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince). It's one of the movie's loveliest and most affecting interludes. Corenswet is equally strong as Clark, tempering the usual nerdy awkwardness and giving him more confidence in his role at the Daily Planet, without making him too slick. The chief contributing factor behind his more self-possessed Clark is that Gunn removes the mystery of his dual identity for Lois, departing from the usual story by dropping them three months into a relationship. It does, however, remain a secret in the newsroom, from cigar-chomping editor Perry White (Wendell Pierce, underused, but always good to see him), Steve Lombard (Beck Bennett) and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo). Lois plays along at work, upping the undercurrent of romantic frisson in her flirtatious, teasing banter with Clark, but their one-on-one time in Lois' apartment is the movie's stealth weapon. In one amusing moment, Lois shrugs off his concerns about exposure, suggesting that people are bound to figure it out sooner or later, prompting Clark to respond, 'But the glasses?' Brosnahan and Corenswet are especially disarming in a scene in which Clark agrees to sit down and be interviewed by Lois, after she complains about him always getting the 'Superman exclusives.' The subtle idea that the Man of Steel is somewhat controlling about his media profile is quite funny. Gunn also makes an appealing choice by having the Daily Planet team pile into Mister Terrific's T-craft flight vessel to help rescue Superman and stop an impending disaster. Jimmy, boyish and cocky as ever, proves a real asset thanks to his clandestine connection with Lex's fashionista, selfie-snapping girlfriend Eve (Sara Sampaio). She's never identified as the Miss Teschmacher played so divinely by Valerie Perrine in the Donner films, though she's one and the same, and maybe not as shallow and ditzy as she seems. A brief but tantalizing appearance of another canonical Superman universe character near the end whets the appetite for an installment coming next year. Pumped up by DP Henry Braham's dynamic camerawork, Beth Mickle's imaginative production design, the effects team's top-notch CG work and a galvanizing orchestral and synth score by John Murphy and David Fleming that weaves in the immortal John Williams theme, Gunn's Superman is overloaded, even muddled at times, but relentlessly entertaining. Perhaps its biggest strength is that it sidesteps all the revisionist murk of superheroes onscreen in the last decade or two and reverts almost to an enchanting state of child-like wonder. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
CNN
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Superman' star Nathan Fillion staunchly defends his character's extreme hairstyle: ‘I was team bowl cut the whole way'
Chances are you've seen the promos for the new 'Superman' movie and wondered, 'What the heck is going on with Nathan Fillion's hair?!' The 'Rookie' actor is featured in the new DC Studios extravaganza as Guy Gardner, one of the comic book characters who is elected to a position of intergalactic law enforcer known as a Green Lantern (yes – like the Green Lantern that Ryan Reynolds portrayed in the 2011 film). In the new 'Superman' movie, just as in the pages of the comics, Guy rocks a severe bowl cut, complete with a mop of blondish bangs. Fillion was on hand at the 'Superman' premiere in Hollywood earlier this week, where he was quick to defend the very unique (for a grown man, and definitely a superhero, at least) haircut, which some might feel doesn't translate seamlessly from page to screen. Reminding us that the hairstyle is 'canon' to the original comics, Fillion told CNN, 'I don't think you can do a Guy Gardner without doing the hair. I think it would be a disservice.' Adding that the look is 'integral to the character,' Fillion pointed out that it even may clue viewers in to Gardner's specific brand of bravado: 'If you see a guy walking down the street with a bowl cut, that guy clearly doesn't give a damn what you think about him. And that's Guy Gardner.' Indeed, Fillion's Gardner is one of the many characters who provides brashness and comic levity to 'Superman' – somehow he gets by throughout the entire film with only Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) making one (much-needed) crack about his coif. 'I embrace the bowl cut,' he also said this week. 'There was some talk about trying different hairstyles, and I was team bowl cut the whole way.' And while the haircut didn't pose too much of a problem for Fillion on the set of the new tentpole, something else about portraying the Green Lantern did prove challenging. 'Flying is so fun to watch, it's fun to do, but the harnesses that you have to wear, they're not built for comfort,' he shared. 'They're claustrophobic, they're very constricting, they're uncomfortable. I had a fist-sized purple bruise on my kidney from one.' He added that the physical discomfort notwithstanding, he considers himself to be 'very very picky about flight in film, so it was extremely important to me to get it right. That was a challenge.' Fillion has worked repeatedly with 'Superman' director James Gunn, ever since starring in Gunn's gross-out horror comedy 'Slither' in 2006. Next year, Fillion will be reprise the role of Guy Gardner in a DC-based TV series titled 'Lanterns,' costarring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre and co-executive produced by Gunn. 'Superman' debuts in theaters on July 11. The film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, which is owned by CNN's parent company.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
New Superman movie director dismisses 'nonsense' claims
James Gunn's new Superman movie is "not the riskiest endeavour in the world". The 58-year-old filmmaker - who also serves as the CEO of DC Studios - wrote and directed the new Superman film, but he insists that it's not a make-or-break project for DC. Speaking to GQ magazine, Gunn said: "This is not the riskiest endeavour in the world. Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be." Gunn has rubbished suggestions that the new movie - which stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan - has to make as much as $US700 million ($A1.1 billion) in order to be considered a success. The director suggested that DC Studios will be fine, regardless of how Superman performs at the box office. Gunn - who previously helmed movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither - said: "They hear these numbers that the movie's only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it's just complete and utter nonsense. It doesn't need to be as big of a situation as people are saying." Earlier in 2025, James claimed that "people are looking for heroes right now". The filmmaker also revealed that he was feeling optimistic about the new Superman film. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at a DC press event, he explained: "... he's the right Superman because he is a character that stands for something that is solid, stands for basic human morals, basic human integrity, basic belief in protecting others and protecting the weak being good to people and being honest. "People are looking for heroes right now. They are looking for values of goodness, looking for people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that." Gunn also revealed that Warner Bros planned to throw their full weight behind the promotional campaign for the film. The director said: "DZ (David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery) loves what we're doing, loves the movie, and has really rallied the entire company behind Superman for this summer. "You've seen what can happen when Warner Bros. Discover gets together behind a Barbie or a Beetlejuice or a Wonka or Kong. And that's how its being treated right now for Superman. Everything that DZ has promised us two years ago when we got the job, it's all been a reality." Gunn and Peter Safran became the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios in 2022. And the duo remain committed to bringing popular comic book characters to life in the coming months and years. Gunn shared: "We don't want these characters to die out. "We want to bring new stories and new life, we want to introduce these characters to new generations. And I think we are doing that, slowly but surely." James Gunn's new Superman movie is "not the riskiest endeavour in the world". The 58-year-old filmmaker - who also serves as the CEO of DC Studios - wrote and directed the new Superman film, but he insists that it's not a make-or-break project for DC. Speaking to GQ magazine, Gunn said: "This is not the riskiest endeavour in the world. Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be." Gunn has rubbished suggestions that the new movie - which stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan - has to make as much as $US700 million ($A1.1 billion) in order to be considered a success. The director suggested that DC Studios will be fine, regardless of how Superman performs at the box office. Gunn - who previously helmed movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither - said: "They hear these numbers that the movie's only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it's just complete and utter nonsense. It doesn't need to be as big of a situation as people are saying." Earlier in 2025, James claimed that "people are looking for heroes right now". The filmmaker also revealed that he was feeling optimistic about the new Superman film. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at a DC press event, he explained: "... he's the right Superman because he is a character that stands for something that is solid, stands for basic human morals, basic human integrity, basic belief in protecting others and protecting the weak being good to people and being honest. "People are looking for heroes right now. They are looking for values of goodness, looking for people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that." Gunn also revealed that Warner Bros planned to throw their full weight behind the promotional campaign for the film. The director said: "DZ (David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery) loves what we're doing, loves the movie, and has really rallied the entire company behind Superman for this summer. "You've seen what can happen when Warner Bros. Discover gets together behind a Barbie or a Beetlejuice or a Wonka or Kong. And that's how its being treated right now for Superman. Everything that DZ has promised us two years ago when we got the job, it's all been a reality." Gunn and Peter Safran became the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios in 2022. And the duo remain committed to bringing popular comic book characters to life in the coming months and years. Gunn shared: "We don't want these characters to die out. "We want to bring new stories and new life, we want to introduce these characters to new generations. And I think we are doing that, slowly but surely." James Gunn's new Superman movie is "not the riskiest endeavour in the world". The 58-year-old filmmaker - who also serves as the CEO of DC Studios - wrote and directed the new Superman film, but he insists that it's not a make-or-break project for DC. Speaking to GQ magazine, Gunn said: "This is not the riskiest endeavour in the world. Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be." Gunn has rubbished suggestions that the new movie - which stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan - has to make as much as $US700 million ($A1.1 billion) in order to be considered a success. The director suggested that DC Studios will be fine, regardless of how Superman performs at the box office. Gunn - who previously helmed movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither - said: "They hear these numbers that the movie's only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it's just complete and utter nonsense. It doesn't need to be as big of a situation as people are saying." Earlier in 2025, James claimed that "people are looking for heroes right now". The filmmaker also revealed that he was feeling optimistic about the new Superman film. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at a DC press event, he explained: "... he's the right Superman because he is a character that stands for something that is solid, stands for basic human morals, basic human integrity, basic belief in protecting others and protecting the weak being good to people and being honest. "People are looking for heroes right now. They are looking for values of goodness, looking for people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that." Gunn also revealed that Warner Bros planned to throw their full weight behind the promotional campaign for the film. The director said: "DZ (David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery) loves what we're doing, loves the movie, and has really rallied the entire company behind Superman for this summer. "You've seen what can happen when Warner Bros. Discover gets together behind a Barbie or a Beetlejuice or a Wonka or Kong. And that's how its being treated right now for Superman. Everything that DZ has promised us two years ago when we got the job, it's all been a reality." Gunn and Peter Safran became the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios in 2022. And the duo remain committed to bringing popular comic book characters to life in the coming months and years. Gunn shared: "We don't want these characters to die out. "We want to bring new stories and new life, we want to introduce these characters to new generations. And I think we are doing that, slowly but surely." James Gunn's new Superman movie is "not the riskiest endeavour in the world". The 58-year-old filmmaker - who also serves as the CEO of DC Studios - wrote and directed the new Superman film, but he insists that it's not a make-or-break project for DC. Speaking to GQ magazine, Gunn said: "This is not the riskiest endeavour in the world. Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be." Gunn has rubbished suggestions that the new movie - which stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan - has to make as much as $US700 million ($A1.1 billion) in order to be considered a success. The director suggested that DC Studios will be fine, regardless of how Superman performs at the box office. Gunn - who previously helmed movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither - said: "They hear these numbers that the movie's only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it's just complete and utter nonsense. It doesn't need to be as big of a situation as people are saying." Earlier in 2025, James claimed that "people are looking for heroes right now". The filmmaker also revealed that he was feeling optimistic about the new Superman film. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at a DC press event, he explained: "... he's the right Superman because he is a character that stands for something that is solid, stands for basic human morals, basic human integrity, basic belief in protecting others and protecting the weak being good to people and being honest. "People are looking for heroes right now. They are looking for values of goodness, looking for people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that." Gunn also revealed that Warner Bros planned to throw their full weight behind the promotional campaign for the film. The director said: "DZ (David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery) loves what we're doing, loves the movie, and has really rallied the entire company behind Superman for this summer. "You've seen what can happen when Warner Bros. Discover gets together behind a Barbie or a Beetlejuice or a Wonka or Kong. And that's how its being treated right now for Superman. Everything that DZ has promised us two years ago when we got the job, it's all been a reality." Gunn and Peter Safran became the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios in 2022. And the duo remain committed to bringing popular comic book characters to life in the coming months and years. Gunn shared: "We don't want these characters to die out. "We want to bring new stories and new life, we want to introduce these characters to new generations. And I think we are doing that, slowly but surely."
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
James Gunn dismisses 'nonsense' Superman claims
James Gunn's new Superman movie is "not the riskiest endeavour in the world". The 58-year-old filmmaker - who also serves as the CEO of DC Studios - wrote and directed the new Superman film, but he insists that it's not a make-or-break project for DC. Speaking to GQ magazine, James said: "This is not the riskiest endeavour in the world. Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be." James has rubbished suggestions that the new movie - which stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan - has to make as much as $700 million in order to be considered a success. The director suggested that DC Studios will be fine, regardless of how Superman performs at the box office. James - who previously helmed movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither - said: "They hear these numbers that the movie's only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it's just complete and utter nonsense. It doesn't need to be as big of a situation as people are saying." Earlier this year, James claimed that "people are looking for heroes right now". The filmmaker also revealed that he was feeling optimistic about the new Superman film. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at a DC press event, he explained: "I think he's the right Superman because he is a character that stands for something that is solid, stands for basic human morals, basic human integrity, basic belief in protecting others and protecting the weak being good to people and being honest. "People are looking for heroes right now. They are looking for values of goodness, looking for people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that." James also revealed that Warner Bros planned to throw their full weight behind the promotional campaign for the film. The director said: "DZ [David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery] loves what we're doing, loves the movie, and has really rallied the entire company behind Superman for this summer. "You've seen what can happen when Warner Bros. Discover gets together behind a Barbie or a Beetlejuice or a Wonka or Kong. And that's how its being treated right now for Superman. Everything that DZ has promised us two years ago when we got the job, it's all been a reality." James and Peter Safran became the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios back in 2022. And the duo remain committed to bringing popular comic book characters to life in the coming months and years. James shared: "We don't want these characters to die out. "We want to bring new stories and new life, we want to introduce these characters to new generations. And I think we are doing that, slowly but surely."
Boston Globe
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
James Gunn and the ‘Superman' cast on why the world needs the Man of Steel now more than ever
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 ( Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up From left: Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and David Corenswet as Superman. Jessica Miglio Advertisement 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 Advertisement '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. Advertisement '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.' Advertisement 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. ' Advertisement 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
