On Thursday, December 19, director James Gunn released the Superman trailer, which promptly took the internet by storm. Following its success, Gunn expressed his gratitude on social media. Notably, the trailer received over 250 million views and a million social posts, garnering unprecedented attention.
James Gunn Accepts Superman Revival
As a result, Gunn’s response propelled Superman to the top spot as the most viewed and talked-about trailer in both DC and Warner Bros.’ history. Given the trailers’ remarkable impact, Gunn’s celebration is well deserved. Moreover, Gunn extended heartfelt thanks to the fans for the trailer’s success, expressing his team’s gratitude and eagerness for the film’s upcoming release in theaters.
Slated to release on July 11, 2025, the highly-anticipated Superman film boasts an impressive ensemble cast. Taking the iconic titular role, David Corenswet was cast as the Man of Steel. Alongside Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan stars as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult will be the villainous Lex Luther, and María Gabriela de Faría joins the cast as The Engineer. Furthermore, the ensemble cast includes Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Sean Gunn, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Isabel Merced, and Nathan Fillion.
Gunn’s Vision for the Man of Steel
Before the trailer’s release, Deadline gave an exclusive screening on Monday. While there, Gunn shared his vision and insights into the preview and highlighted the film’s themes. Noting Superman’s battered depiction, Gunn says it symbolizes the state of the country. The director also emphasized the film’s core message revolves around kindness and goodness. Despite humanity’s differing ideologies and politics, he expressed his faith in humanity’s inherent goodness, that people ultimately strive to be good and do their best to get through their lives. Rising above divisive perspectives, Gunn believes Superman conveys a message of hope and unity.
Superman Influences
James Gunn revealed that his version of Superman was influenced by all previous DC media. Although the original Donner movie was a notable inspiration, Gunn was keen to make his film different from others before it. The director also acknowledged other DC works’ impact, including those by director Zach Snyder, which he praised for their excellence. Drawing from a wide range of influences, Gunn aimed to create a unique interpretation of the Superman legend.
Further elaborating on his Superman influences, he cited DC’s animated universe and comic books as significant sources of inspiration. Specifically, the All-Star Superman was a major influence, which is evident in the Silver Age feel and science-fiction approach to the film. Additionally, Gun shared his interpretation of another iconic Superman character, Lex Luther, describing him as a scientist with sorcerer-like exceptional abilities. Adding an extra level of complexity to the villainous character, this portrayal highlights Luther’s mastery of science and technology.
Post-Production Filming
Although filming for Superman wrapped up in late July. The director announced on Threads that he’s bringing back production for a brief period. Clarifying that the post-production process wouldn’t be a complete overhaul, Gunn said that he wanted to capture some additional footage for the film to ensure it meets expectations. Specifically, Guns mentioned that they’d spend a day and a half getting pickup shots, which involves capturing a handful of individual shots to further enhance the film. To reassure fans, he stated fans that he doesn’t plan on new scenes or reshoots, but is simply doing extra work to fine-tune the final product.
In Hopes to Restore DCU
Following the end of the disappointing DC Extended Universe (DCEU), James Gunn’s Superman is crucial for DC studios. DC’s approach to superhero films was reevaluated after the DCEU failed to replicate the success of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe with their own. After departing from the DCEU, the upcoming film provides an opportunity for DC to redefine its own cinematic universe.
