David Corenswet may be the newest Man of Steel, but he’s already proving he has a clear sense of who his Superman is and which moments define him. During the Variety Actors on Actors, Corenswet provided insight into a rare instance of creative conflict with director James Gunn over one of the most emotional moments in the movie.
Surprisingly, it was not about a punch, a stunt, or a piece of lore. It was something much more dainty: a chuckle.
David Corenswet Had To Fight James Gunn To Keep Superman’s Most Human Moment
Jonathan Bailey mentioned in the interview the now-famous flying kiss between Superman and Lois Lane, and he complimented the chemistry. Specifically, the tiny laugh Superman lets out when Lois says, “I love you too.” The audience felt that chuckle. It made the moment real and the character warm and hopeful. Yet, seemingly, that beat barely made it through the editing room, or even the filming.
Related: How James Gunn’s New DCU Is Finally Escaping The Dark Knight Reboot Cycle
And he gave a thank-you note with it, which was personal and at the same time subtle. “Today marks a little milestone,” Snyder wrote. “I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s joined along the way.” He continued, emphasizing how profoundly he respects the mythic nature of DC’s characters. “For me, these characters are a kind of modern mythology… Seeing that resonates with so many of you means the world. Here’s to many more stories together!”
To longtime adherents of Snyder’s vision for the DCU, those who campaigned to restore ‘Justice League’, those who made the hashtag RestoreTheSnyderVerse trend, and those who believed in the possibility of selling his DC universe to Netflix, these words were an emotional reunion. This was not Snyder promising. It was not even a semblance of negotiations. But it was sincerity. And in the midst of such huge corporate change, even a spark can set a wildfire of speculation ablaze.
And it has. Social media went off in hours. Memes, fan art, and theories flooded in. The post was targeted by fans for its perfect timing. To them, Netflix, the home of ‘Rebel Moon’ and Snyder’s original projects, felt like the perfect sanctuary for completing his unfinished DC saga. But what of studio realities? This is where things get complicated.
James Gunn Reinforces His Vision As DC’s Future Stands Firm Amid Netflix–WB Acquisition
Although Corenswet was able to bring out Superman’s core through his remarks, the second big revelation of the week was made by James Gunn himself. As the actual acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Netflix was announced, social media was filled with speculation about the impact it would have on DC Studios. Would the DCU be integrated into the Netflix streaming plans? Would there be a change in creative direction?
In case you missed it: James Gunn Sets The Record Straight On What Truly Matters For DCU’s New Batman
James Gunn did not take long to intervene and made it clear: the DCU is not going anywhere. Gunn stated in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek that theatrical releases were essential and that they were exceptionally well adapted to large-scale DC stories. Gunn was lauded by Safran as having irreplaceable creative leadership. David Zaslav further reiterated that Gunn and Safran’s work is paying off and is a priority.
Zaslav put it bluntly: “There’s nobody around right now who can tell these stories with the same imagination and excitement.” This is not a small statement, particularly in the case of a huge corporate transition. The message was clear. DC Studios is not being substituted. Gunn is not sidelining the DCU. The narrative structure is still there. And the future schedule, which is already rolling, will proceed as scheduled.
