‘Superman’ is set to return to the big screen in a highly anticipated reboot under James Gunn’s DCH. The film aims to breathe new life into the Man of Steel’s legacy while respecting his roots.
David Corenswet will make his debut as Superman, joined by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. With its stellar cast and Gunn’s creative vision, the project has generated immense excitement. Moreover, in an interview, Gunn shared the main inspiration behind his vision for Superman.
James Gunn Prioritized Comic Book Legacy In Crafting ‘Superman’ Reboot
For James Gunn, Superman’s essence lies in the pages of the comics rather than the numerous film adaptations. Gunn emphasized his deep connection to the comic books while taking to Screen Brief. “I really go back to the comic books, because I’m first and foremost a comic book fan. I really took more inspiration from the comics than I did from the film adaptations,” he explained.
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This approach represents a deliberate effort to honor Superman’s legacy while also tailoring it for a modern audience. Gunn noted that he pored over various eras of Superman’s history. “The comic books are where Superman was truly born,” Gunn added. “That’s where his heart is. It’s where his values, his ideals, and his humanity were defined.”
Moreover, while Gunn didn’t completely ignore the influence of previous films, he made it clear that his goal was to capture the spirit of Superman as depicted in the comics. Additionally, it also confirms that the new film will be unlike any of the previous iterations.
Zack Snyder’s Advice To James Gun For ‘Superman’
In his journey to create the new ‘Superman’, James Gunn also sought advice from Zack Snyder who directed the ‘Man of Steel’. Snyder’s iteration of Superman, played by Henry Cavill, opted for a modernized costume. Moreover, it omitted the character’s iconic red trunks.
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Naturally, Gunn grappled with the same debate during the costume design process. “There was a time when I was developing the Superman costume, with David Corenswet and Juliana, our costume designer. And it was coming together, but it had the red trunks, it had the whole thing. And we really went back and forth a lot about the red trunks. I even talked to Zack Snyder about it,” he explained.
In their conversation, Snyder also shared his struggles with incorporating the red trunks into his design. “Zack said, ‘I tried like a billion versions with the trunks and just never got there,’” Gunn recounted. Ultimately, Gunn decided to include the red trunks in his version of Superman’s costume making it much more accurate to the comics than others.
While Gunn respects Snyder’s contributions to the Superman mythos, he made it clear that his primary focus was on the comics. “Zack Snyder did a lot of amazing things with action, and I took a lot of stuff from that, and already have before then. But the comics are my north star,” he concluded.
