Though we’ve seen Superman stories on the big and small screens many times before, including some very recent variations, there’s still a lot of interest surrounding James Gunn’s impending film. Not only is the writer-director DC Studios’ new co-leader, but his resume includes several films that amuse and entertain, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. If anyone can make a Superman film feel fresh, it’s Gunn—but he knows his 2025 release will be on familiar ground.
However, he may know more about how his Superman differs from previous Man of Steel tales. Gunn revealed to Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast what makes his superhero story unique.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen the big, science fiction, Silver Age Superman aspects that we have in our movie,” he said. “And we’ve never seen… you’ll see when the movie comes out, but we’ve never seen this specific part of Superman’s life.”
That includes the villain. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen the Lex [Luthor] that [Nicholas Hoult] is. Nick is imposing. You go, ‘Oh f–k, poor Superman!’ That’s the thing we never see, not in film. Sometimes in the comics, you go, ‘Oh, Superman’s f–ked,’ because Lex is so smart and so good at what he’s doing. But in the movies, you’re going, ‘Lex is about to get f–ked.’ … We’ve got a big ol’ Superman and a pretty tall Lex, too, [and] you see now where Lex is not the person you want to have against you.”
Superman, which also stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/ Green Lantern, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and more, hits theaters July 11, 2025.
Superman, starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and more, will be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Do you think the new Superman movie will be different?