Superman has been engraved in pop culture for generations, but Clark Kent’s disguise has always been the butt of the joke for fans. A mild-mannered reporter hides the world’s strongest being simply by a pair of glasses. It’s logic fans have questioned for over 80 years.
Now, with ‘Superman’ hitting theaters on July 11 under James Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe, this seemingly flimsy disguise gets a much-needed sci-fi twist. Additionally, it might be the most refreshingly clever update yet.
James Gunn Is Embracing Superman’s Comic Book Roots By Using Hypnotic Glasses
Director James Gunn recently revealed that Clark Kent’s iconic spectacles won’t just be regular lenses in the upcoming Superman movie. Instead, they’ll serve as high-tech “hypno glasses,” a forgotten piece of Silver Age lore that cleverly solves the age-old disguise problem. Gunn, speaking to ComicBook, credited comic book writer Tom King for reminding him of this obscure but canon explanation.
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“I just don’t have that much suspension of disbelief to believe that,” Gunn admitted, reflecting on how the glasses always puzzled him. However, the solution offered by King (that the glasses were made from the material of Superman’s rocket and had the ability to hypnotize) was a lightbulb moment. In the comics, this Kryptonian glass could distort a person’s perception both visually and psychologically. It didn’t just change what people saw, it influenced how they interpreted what they saw.
It’s a stroke of genius that meshes beautifully with Gunn’s overall direction for the DCU. This new universe is not trying to mimic the gritty realism of past superhero franchises. It’s unapologetically comic book-rooted and even absurd when it needs to be. Moreover, this explanation doesn’t just work, it elevates the character.
Nicholas Hoult Auditioned For Superman But Believes David Corenswet Fits The Role Better
While fans are buzzing about David Corenswet stepping into the cape and bringing a classic Superman vibe, another star involved in the project offered a behind-the-scenes story. Nicholas Hoult who will portray Lex Luthor revealed he once auditioned for Superman himself. In a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Hoult shared a light-hearted account of his audition day.
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“I walked out of doing one of my audition scenes and was feeling okay,” Hoult began. But then he saw Corenswet “sitting in a ray of sunshine like Superman does, charging up from the sun”. Hoult recalled that as soon as he approached Corenswet, he noticed the physical superiority.
“He was taller, had a better jawline, a deeper voice, even bigger hands.” Hoult concluded, “In that moment, I was like, ‘You’re perfect for it.’ Corenswet, for his part, echoed the sentiment. He admitted that when he found out Hoult was cast as Lex Luthor, he was thrilled: “The day I found out he had agreed to play Lex, I thought, ‘This may be the best thing that happens to this film.’”
And he may be right. While Superman represents hope and idealism, his story is only as compelling as his villain. Moreover, with the dynamic between David Corenswet’s Superman and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor shaping up to be as compelling off-screen as it is on, the stage is set for a new, emotionally resonant, and unapologetically bold Superman saga.
