David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman is about to grace our cinema screens, and amidst the ongoing discussion about whether James Gunn’s DC Universe film might depict the hero as less powerful, I believe this is an ideal opportunity to distance ourselves from Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. The initial chapters of the DC Universe need to effectively establish the future of the franchise with expansive world-building, but they must also signal that the movies from the previous DCEU are no longer part of the picture.
In the role of James Gunn’s Superman, as the inaugural film of the revitalized DC Universe, lies one of the most demanding tasks within the franchise. According to the director, the success of Superman serves as a crucial foundation for his 10-year vision for DC to thrive effectively. Given that the DCEU failed to appropriately portray the Man of Steel, I’m intrigued by how the DCU movie will distinguish Corenswet’s Superman from previous iterations. Portraying Superman as vulnerable seems like a brilliant approach.
The DCU Superman Movie Trailers Have Raised Concerns That The Hero Looks Weak
Superman Gets Beaten Up Quite A Few Times In The Trailers
In the build-up to the release of the Superman movie, DC has shared glimpses through sneak peeks, teasers, and most recently, the first full trailer. Notably, all the footage we’ve seen from their upcoming film features David Corenswet’s Superman in a unique light – often depicted as battered, unconscious, or bleeding. This is quite different from the usual image of the superhero, who is typically portrayed as an ideal reflection of what other heroes strive to be.
The initial trailer for Superman opened with a scene showing him bleeding in the snow. In a movie theater sneak peek shown before “A Minecraft Movie”, Corenswet’s Man of Steel was struggling as Krypto kept jumping on him, making audible sounds of breaking bones. We also observed that Superman has been subjected to brutal beatings by the Hammer of Boravia, Ultraman, the Engineer, and even robots believed to be controlled by Lex Luthor. It’s evident that the film portrays a challenging time for Superman.
Henry Cavill’s Superman Was Shown To Be Extremely Powerful
The Man Of Steel Could Not Be Taken Down By The Justice League
In the DCEU, David Corenswet’s Superman frequently faced injuries compared to Henry Cavill’s portrayal of the character as a virtually invincible “Man of Steel.” While it’s true that Cavill’s Superman died in the DCEU during his battle with Doomsday, who is known for being the one character capable of defeating the Man of Steel in the comics.
In simpler terms, Superman, portrayed by Henry Cavill, handled most challenges effortlessly in the DCU movies, even outmaneuvering The Flash on one occasion. During a difficult fight against Steppenwolf, he single-handedly turned the tide in favor of the Justice League. Compared to David Corenswet’s Superman (as depicted in movie trailers), it seems Cavill’s Superman may have been more capable in handling such challenges.
David Corenswet’s Superman Being Weaker Than Henry Cavill’s Is Perfect For James Gunn’s Story
The Man Of Steel’s Humanity Is His Best Trait
I think it’s fitting that David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman seems weaker compared to Henry Cavill’s, given the direction the DC Universe is taking with this character. It allows us to break away from what was established in the DCEU and return to the original essence of Superman, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and other characters. The upcoming “Superman” movie by James Gunn emphasizes that both the Superman and Clark Kent aspects of the hero are essential components of the character.
| Superman Movie Cast | |
|---|---|
| Actor | Character |
| David Corenswet | Clark Kent/Superman |
| Rachel Brosnahan | Lois Lane |
| Nicholas Hoult | Lex Luthor |
| Skyler Gisondo | Jimmy Olsen |
| Terence Rosemore | Otis |
| Sara Sampaio | Eve Teschmacher |
| Nathan Fillion | Guy Gardner/Green Lantern |
| Edi Gathegi | Michael Holt/Mister Terrific |
| Isabela Merced | Hawkgirl |
| Anthony Carrigan | Rex Mason/Metamorpho |
| Maria Gabriela De Faria | Angela Spica/The Engineer |
In my opinion, by portraying Superman as less powerful, the DC Universe is creating challenges for him that were not present in Cavill’s portrayal. This will give more emphasis to his human side and make it more evident. Superman’s primary objective remains the same, which is preventing any deaths. However, with this new approach, it seems he may find it tougher to achieve this goal, making it clear that he is still in the early stages of his career and could benefit from assistance from other DC Universe heroes. This revised version of Superman serves as an engaging introduction for the new shared universe.
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2025-05-21 18:48