On July 9th, in about three months, Superman from the director of Guardians of the Galaxy will finally hit theaters. This reboot will launch the "big screen" portion of the new DCU, following the animated series Creature Commandos - which also led to this misunderstanding among fans. While comparisons with Henry Cavill / Zack Snyder's Man of Steel are inevitable, here are 3 key ways James Gunn will outperform his predecessor. In terms of physique, he perfectly fits the image of Superman, a golden boy with blue eyes and a square jaw, endowed with incomparable strength and a size to match. It is in his attitude and character that the version of the superhero played by the star lacks gentleness, naivety, tenderness, and kindness. You will tell us that this is not really the fault of the actor, who, after all, was applying acting directives required by Zack Snyder. The director, a fan of very cold and metallic fictional universes, and mythical characters, far superior to ordinary humanity, is as gifted at portraying legendary figures as he is hard pressed to make them accessible. His Superman was certainly extraordinary, but dark and unapproachable. James Gunn, for his part, knows how to bridge the gaps between the public and his heroes with skill and ease.
#2 Making a Real Difference Clark Kent / Superman
One of the keys to the character is that unlike the vast majority of his fellow superheroes, his true identity is Superman, while his secret identity is Clark Kent. In Metropolis, where he lives, he works daily at the Daily Planet as a reporter, alongside Lois Lane, with whom he is in love. There, he does his best to avoid being recognized and adapt to society, into which he tries to blend in with touching awkwardness. James Gunn's universe didn't make any particular distinction between the two identities, and the one that largely predominated was that of Superman. James Gunn has the opportunity to correct this, and the trailer already shows that David Corenswet will spend a good part of the film in the role of Clark Kent, bespectacled and gangly, with a hunched back and drowned in an oversized costume.
#3 Return to the origins of the superhero
Where it all began On this day in 1938, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster introduced the world to #Superman in Action Comics #1.
—Warner Bros. Discovery (@wbd) April 18, 2025
Join us as we celebrate #SupermanDay and the hero who continues to inspire generations of fans around the globe. pic.twitter.com/o7LaQGmumy
In 1938, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first introduced their readers to the character of Superman. At the time, these two sons of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe drew inspiration from their experiences to create an archetype of the immigrant, hiding his origins to integrate and using his difference to help others. The polar opposite of the Christ-like figure evoked by Zack Snyder, who drew heavily on comics like Kingdom Come, the original superhero is optimistic and a bearer of hope. A defender of the widow and the orphan, benevolent, patriotic, and honest, he is a role model for all readers, and then all viewers. His message speaks to young and old, rich and poor, and spans generations without losing its substance. The sunny side of Superman, left aside by Zack Snyder, will be back with James Gunn—and that's promising.
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