Why the World Needs Superman (And Why Superman Doesn’t Need James Gunn)

by

It’s peculiar to leave a cinema with a desire to adore a Superman film and yet, experiencing no emotions at all. This is what I felt after watching both Superman Returns and Man of Steel, and I worry that the same sentiment may arise with James Gunn’s Superman. The world undeniably needs Superman in these trying times, but we don’t need another self-absorbed director attempting to mold him into a character that mirrors their own persona.

Superman is more significant than directors like Zack Snyder and James Gunn, or even the company Warner Bros. Discovery. The reason he’s an icon isn’t just because of his superpowers, but because of his strong moral compass. Unlike some modern characters who embody nihilism, emotional turmoil, or the movie industry’s focus on traumatic narratives, Superman stands for hope – a genuine and meaningful hope rooted in truth, justice, and American values. This isn’t just the hope found on a Kryptonian family crest; it’s a tangible hope that embodies his principles.

Speaking directly, I’d like to address a crucial aspect that seems missing in Gunn’s script: “The American Way.” This isn’t just any omission; it’s a rejection of Superman’s fundamental essence. Unlike portrayals where he hails from an alien world or troubled city, Superman was raised in the heartland, on a farm. His upbringing shaped him, instilling values of hard work, decency, and selflessness. He’s not an alien deity observing humanity; he’s one of us, striving to do what’s right because that’s how he was brought up.

In my opinion, top-notch portrayals of Superman have consistently captured the essence that his superhero identity is about his abilities, while Clark Kent represents his true self. Dean Cain brilliantly conveyed this in ‘Lois & Clark’ with the line, “Superman is what I can do; Clark is who I am.

What’s being said here is that Clark Kent isn’t pretending to be someone else any longer – he has truly become his character. This transformation is what makes him relatable and inspiring, which is why people want to support him. Clark Kent used to wear a mask, hiding his true identity. But now, he’s shed that mask and revealed himself as the genuine person he always was inside. This authenticity is what connects us to him and makes him someone we want to cheer for.

Although I have fond memories of the Christopher Reeves Superman movies, they hail from a bygone era. Back then, Superman was depicted as being detached from humanity, using the identity of Clark Kent as a means to fit in. On the other hand, I’ve always been drawn to the contemporary portrayals where Clark is the individual his parents nurtured, and Superman represents a mask he dons to aid others.

In Tyler Hoechlin’s performance on “Superman & Lois,” one of the most astonishingly accurate portrayals of the character in recent memory is presented. He plays a role as a father, a spouse, and a guardian. In one particular scene from this series, Superman flies an adversary into the sky just as she’s about to detonate—yet even at that moment, he is comforting her. That’s what Superman represents. Not a sneering figure in a cape like a mannequin from Hot Topic. Not agonizing over whether humanity deserves salvation. Not being scolded by Jonathan Kent to “perhaps let the school bus full of children perish.

And that brings us to the director problem.

Over the past twenty years or so, Superman hasn’t really had the chance to be his authentic self. Instead, he has been used by Hollywood writers and directors for their personal self-promotion. The movie Superman Returns wasn’t truly about Superman; it was more of a tribute to Bryan Singer’s fondness for Richard Donner’s original version. And similar to Singer, the character appeared strange, intrusive, and emotionally distant.

Later on, we encountered Zack Snyder’s interpretation of Superman, who seemed more like a messianic divine being struggling with whether or not Earth was worth his time and effort. Snyder’s Superman wasn’t about hope; instead, he embodied an intense power fantasy mixed with complex feelings regarding the struggle between God and man. This Superman rarely smiled, seldom spoke, and hovered above Earth like a semi-divine figure expecting adoration, using imagery that was often overtly symbolic.

No wonder audiences checked out.

Currently, it’s James Gunn’s project in the spotlight, and there are early indications that it might not follow the traditional path of Superman. To clarify, this is James Gunn’s interpretation of Superman, with the focus on his name at the forefront.

In my critique, I must acknowledge James Gunn’s all-encompassing involvement in this project. He’s been the face behind interviews and, more surprisingly, the voice amidst his Twitter outbursts, or as some might say, his intense exchanges on the now antiquated Threads platform. Frankly, one can’t help but wonder why he persists with such an outdated tool as Threads when there are far more modern platforms available.

Krypto, Superman’s canine companion, has been given a new look that resembles its creator’s pet. The Kent family now resides in a double-wide trailer, reflecting the living situation of the writer Gunn during his upbringing, rather than what Clark Kent experienced. Furthermore, it seems the relationship between Clark and Jonathan Kent has been adapted to mimic the author’s real-life father-son bond with his own dad.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the timing of Superman’s de-Americanization, a character deeply rooted in our values, happening at a time when those values seem more crucial than ever. It’s intriguing to consider if James Gunn’s strong progressive views might not be coincidentally aligning with this shift in Superman’s image. While I can’t definitively say one way or the other, it certainly raises some thought-provoking questions.

Isn’t it ironic that Superman, who stands for universality, is being reduced to a single person’s counseling session rather than being allowed to soar freely in his full potential?

Instead of saying “Compare that to Marvel’s early hits, we didn’t watch Iron Man and think ‘wow, what a Jon Favreau film.’ We saw Tony Stark. Similarly, Captain America: The First Avenger made us see Steve Rogers instead of Joe Johnston. The most successful superhero directors understood the importance of stepping back to let the character take center stage. Marvel initially kept this approach but has since allowed more Hollywood directors to put their own mark on superhero properties. And guess what? Marvel is struggling now.

Modern superhero creators appear to be heavily influenced by their personal psychology, inking it onto every aspect of their characters. Frankly, I’m not convinced that these characters possess the universal appeal needed to keep audiences hooked.

Although David Corenswet comes across as a wonderful, sociable individual, he appears to be quite underused in the marketing materials. There are charming clips of him playing with the children on set and even recreating the Star Wars trench run in his car, leaving me questioning why we’re not highlighting him more prominently.

The explanation is straightforward. Since Gunn is the focus, every news headline, quote, and response is about him. His perspective overshadows even Superman in this launch.

This movie is said to revitalize DC’s film universe and usher in a fresh chapter. However, if they want to instill hope, they must first demonstrate its worthiness. And this journey begins by allowing Superman to truly embody the guiding light he was destined to be, not just a supporting character in someone else’s legacy endeavor.

I hope to be deeply fond of this movie. It makes my heart expand when I witness the fast-moving red and blue streaks against the sky. I desire that children once more embrace that emblem, as it represents something they strongly believe in.

What I’m aiming for isn’t the version of Superman created by James Gunn, but rather the original one crafted by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. I prefer the authentic Superman, the one that was born in the hearts of Americans.

If Warner Bros. Discovery truly intends to construct a hope-themed universe, they should refrain from emblazoning the symbol of hope on every self-indulgent director’s work, instead recalling its true essence.

Superman isn’t solely owned by directors like Snyder or Singer, nor is he the property of James Gunn. Instead, Superman is a character that belongs collectively to all of us. In these challenging times, the world needs Superman more than ever.

We don’t want him interpreted through the perspective of those who believe they understand more than the character being portrayed.

We just need Superman.

Read More

2025-06-15 16:56