(L to R) Nathan Fillion as Man Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific in DC Studios’ and Warner Bros. Footage’ ‘Superman’, a Warner Bros. Footage launch. Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Footage. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.
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- Followers are frightened that James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ has too many characters in it.
- James Gunn is thought for giant ensemble casts and is aware of methods to write for them.
- Nobody has ever complained concerning the quite a few characters in ‘The Godfather’.
Each time a brand new trailer or TV spot for ‘Superman’ is launched, the web is abuzz with individuals saying that there are too many characters. The issues are that if there are too many characters, the story could be tough to comply with, there could be too many facet plots to provide the core story the time it wants, and the movie would find yourself too oversaturated.

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Superman, a journalist in Metropolis, embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage along with his human upbringing as Clark Kent. Learn the Plot
The factor is, James Gunn is well-known for his giant ensemble casts. That is his wheelhouse, so there isn’t a motive to be frightened. He thrilled Marvel followers with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ trilogy, and his ‘The Suicide Squad’ success absolutely had one thing to do with DC Studios handing him the reins as co-CEO.
On high of that, this seems like simply another excuse for individuals to complain about one thing they don’t seem to be even that captivated with, as nobody has ever stated the identical about ‘The Godfather’, which has simply as many characters.
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The Distinguished Characters In ‘Superman’ All Make Sense For The Story We Assume Is Being Informed

(Heart) James Gunn and the forged of ‘Superman.’ Picture: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
One of many greatest factor that followers want to recollect about ‘Superman’ is that that is technically the introduction into James Gunn’s DCU, as it’s the first characteristic movie. Sure, ‘Peacemaker’ is (principally) cannon and ‘Creature Commandos’ is included but animated, however that is the true begin of Gunn’s plans. Due to this, it’s essential to ascertain the world that these heroes reside in. Superman just isn’t the one hero, and opting to not embody any others would solely harm the believability of the story.
What number of occasions have individuals requested the place the Eternals or Namor have been through the occasions of ‘Avengers: Infinity Conflict’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and why they by no means got here to assist? Even when Marvel tries to supply a motive, most viewers don’t settle for it. James Gunn is avoiding this response to ‘Superman’ by exhibiting the place the principle characters of the DCU are throughout these occasions and establishing that they do exist on this world.
David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luther, are you able to think about a narrative that solely entails the three of them? Not solely wouldn’t it probably get very boring, in a short time, it dangers being repetative and too closed off.
Including in nurmerous characters (which can be prone to not be a significant a part of the plot, thoughts you) resembling Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nathan Fillion as Man Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr will herald subplots and spherical out the universe, making it extra life like whereas concurrently organising for what’s to come back in future movies and tv tasks.
If Anybody Can Deal with An Ensemble Solid, It Is James Gunn

(L to R) Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, David Corenswet as Superman and Director James Gunn in Warner Bros. Footage’ ‘Superman’, a Warner Bros. Footage launch. Picture Credit score: Jessica Miglio. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Leisure Inc. All Rights Reserved.
It’s onerous to not snicker at the concept ‘Superman’ has too many characters while you take a look at who’s behind all of it. James Gunn is writing and directing, and if anybody is aware of his manner round an ensemble forged, it’s that man. He’s a genuis relating to plucking characters out of obscurity and telling an emotional, thrilling, and action-packed story round them.
Whereas Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luther are undoubtedly family names, a number of different characters in ‘Superman’ will not be. Those that don’t learn DC Comics and do not immerse themselves in these worlds, most likely have by no means heard of Mister Terrific or Steve Lombard. James Gunn excels at bringing a lot of these characters to life.
For those who take a look at character record for ‘The Suicide Squad’, it has simply as many, if no more, than ‘Superman’ does. There have been two full rosters in that film and followers nonetheless soaked all of it in and beloved almost each second of it. James Gunn is good relating to giving each character, massive or small, their time to shine and justifying their motive to exist in that universe. There is no such thing as a motive to imagine he is not going to do the identical with ‘Superman’.
No One Has Ever Stated ‘The Godfather’ Has Too Many Characters

(L to R) James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale in ‘The Godfather’. Picture: Paramount Footage.
The ultimate level to make on this arguement is that nobody has ever stated ‘The Godfather’ had too many characters – and there are no less than fifteen outstanding characters in that film. They don’t all want a backstory for it to make sense that they exist on the planet. Viewers do not complain that the plot will get misplaced as a result of there are such a lot of of them, and ‘The Godfather’ definitely just isn’t thought of a nasty film (not even remotely).
This is only one instance of a beloved movie having a number of characters, every with a job to do to drive the plot ahead even when you do not know about their upbringing or their deep darkish secrets and techniques. A film can have 100 major characters and nonetheless be good if the writing and the story being informed is sweet.
James Gunn himself identified that ‘Oppenheimer’ has thrice as many talking roles as ‘Superman’ does and guarantees that the movie is not going to confuse anybody in an interview with IGN. Plus, ‘Superman’ is not even out but, so can we please normalize saving the criticism of a film till after you watch it?

(L to R) David Corenswet and Krypto in ‘Superman.’ Picture: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
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