James Gunn stands by his choice to tweak the well-known origin story involving Superman and his dad and mom in his Superman film. The primary entry in Gunn’s new DC Universe launched a brand new iteration of the Man of Metal, performed by David Corenswet. The film was a success with each critics, with a “Licensed Contemporary” Rotten Tomatoes rating, and audiences, incomes $615 million worldwide.
The film takes place three years after Corenswet’s Superman reveals himself to the world, which means he already has established relationships with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), and different characters, together with the Justice Gang (Nathan Fillion’s Man Gardner, Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific, and Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl). Whereas not an origin story within the conventional story, Gunn did make a big tweak to Superman’s lore.
As we be taught over the course of the film, Superman’s dad and mom, Jor-El and Lara (Bradley Cooper and Angela Sarafyan), didn’t ship him to Earth to be its protector, however to rule over humanity. Superman wasn’t conscious of this as a result of the message was broken throughout his travels to Earth, however Lex Luthor discovers it and shares it with the world to get them to activate Superman; Mr. Terrific assures Superman that the recording just isn’t a faux regardless of Lex’s involvement.
This grew to become a key inflection level for Superman’s arc, however it was additionally some extent of dispute amongst some followers. Historically, Superman’s dad and mom urge their son to deliver out the very best in humanity. Gunn, in director’s commentary accessible for Superman on iTunes, defined why he made this transformation:
“So the query is what are you able to add to the mythos that’s just a little bit completely different that doesn’t actually primarily, in any means change who the character is, and though Clark’s dad and mom often within the comics are benevolent, that isn’t at all times the case. It hasn’t at all times been the case. There have been tales by which, even in canon, that that hasn’t been the case, and Jor-El just isn’t at all times handled as a benevolent character.”
“They’re benevolent to their son. They love their son clearly, however they aren’t essentially benevolent in the best way they consider human beings. They consider human beings as lower than on this model. In order that was the factor that was the twist. I believe it really works. It’s not one thing that’s going to be retrofitted sooner or later. It’s the truth of Superman’s life. He was despatched by his dad and mom to Earth to save lots of him primarily, but in addition they hoped he would proceed the Kryptonian heritage and type of take over Earth as its ruler, and that isn’t who Superman thinks of himself as being in any respect.”
What This Means For Superman Transferring Ahead
As Gunn stated, this characterization of Superman’s dad and mom is not going to be retrofitted. In his DC Universe, that is Superman’s origin.
Nonetheless, as we see within the film, Superman makes the selection to disregard his dad and mom’ want for him to rule and proclaims that he’s as human as anybody as he makes an attempt to do what he can to make the very best selections.
What will likely be fascinating is to see if, and the way, this new backstory impacts Superman within the upcoming sequel, Man of Tomorrow, and even his cousin, Kara (Milly Alcock), in her personal film, Supergirl.
Our Take On James Gunn’s Superman Retcon
I agree with Gunn utterly on this. Everyone knows Superman’s origin story so effectively, it was refreshing to have a special approach to it, and it gave the character an added layer that hasn’t been explored in previous iterations.
Stream Superman completely on HBO Max
Gunn nonetheless gave Superman a hopeful ethos on this model, which is now, arguably, much more highly effective. He wasn’t informed by his dad and mom to guard humanity, he’s doing it as a result of he believes in them.
- Launch Date
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July 11, 2025
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Producers
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Peter Safran