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James Gunn States "Superman" is a Movie "About Kindness" and "Being Good"
Posted on December 21, 2024 by Neil Cole
With the arrival of the first teaser trailer for director James Gunn's "Superman", fans have been offered a stirring preview of what promises to be a blockbuster film that is not just about incredible feats of strength or dazzling visuals, but a heartfelt exploration of what it means to be a force for good in a complex, sometimes troubling world.
In a recent interview with DC, Gunn shared his vision for the iconic superhero, emphasizing that he wanted this Superman to stay true to the character's origins. "I knew that I wanted to have a Superman that stayed true to his origins of being the ultimate good guy," he explained. "It’s a movie about kindness. It’s a movie about being good."
This commitment to kindness and decency is not just a theme of the film; it's a guiding principle for Gunn and his team. Reflecting on the production process, Gunn revealed that the cast and crew came together with the understanding that they would embody these values both on and off the set. "When we had our cast dinner the night before we started shooting, I was like, 'At the end of the day, the world doesn't always seem to have so much good in it, and this movie has to truly be that.' And that means that we had to be good to each other, we had to be good to the crew, and it had to be that authentically."
This emphasis on goodness is a radical shift in a genre often defined by grit, darkness, and morally ambiguous characters. For Gunn, however, it's a return to the core ideals that have always defined Superman. The Man of Steel isn't just a symbol of power - he's a beacon of hope, compassion, and the belief that humanity is capable of doing better.
One of the most striking moments in the teaser is a simple yet powerful line of dialogue: "Take me home." It's a phrase that echoes with emotional weight, resonating deeply with Gunn's personal beliefs about human nature. For him, it speaks to the core of what the film is about - a call to return to a sense of compassion, unity, and understanding.
"I think that's what 'Take me home' is all about," Gunn explained. "We do have a sort of battered version of Superman in the beginning [of the teaser], and I think that is our country. I believe in the goodness of human beings. I believe that most people in this country, despite their ideological beliefs or their politics, are doing their best to get by and trying to be good people, despite what it may seem like to the other side, no matter what that other side might be."
In this context, Superman becomes not just a figure of strength, but a symbol of reconciliation and hope in an increasingly divided world. Gunn's belief that most people, despite their differences, are trying to do good underscores the central message of Superman: Legacy - that the goodness of humanity, though sometimes obscured, remains intact.
"Superman" stars David Corenswet ("Twisters," "Hollywood") in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel") as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (the "X-Men" movies, "Juror #2") as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi ("For All Mankind"), Anthony Carrigan ("Barry," "Gotham"), Nathan Fillion (the "Guardians of the Galaxy" films, "The Suicide Squad"), Isabela Merced ("Alien Romulus"), Skyler Gisondo ("Licorice Pizza," "Booksmart"), Sara Sampaio ("At Midnight"), María Gabriela de Faría ("The Moodys"), Wendell Pierce ("Selma," "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan"), Alan Tudyk ("Andor"), Pruitt Taylor Vince ("Bird Box") and Neva Howell ("Greedy People").
The film is executive produced by Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars Winther. Behind the camera, Gunn is joined by frequent collaborators, including director of photography Henry Braham, production designer Beth Mickle, costume designer Judianna Makovsky and composer John Murphy, along with editors Craig Alpert ("Deadpool 2," "Blue Beetle"), Jason Ballantine (the "IT" films, "The Flash") and William Hoy ("The Batman").
"Superman" will be in theaters and IMAX nationwide on July 11, 2025, and internationally beginning 9 July 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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