Embrace the Goodness of Superman in a Grounded DC Universe
First Look at Superman's Alter Ego: Clark Kent
The teaser offers a first look at David Corenswet as Superman's bespectacled Clark Kent, a reporter for the Metropolis newspaper The Daily Planet. There are quick shots of Kent's colleague and Superman's beloved, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), both at the Daily Planet and with Superman. We also see Superman's arch nemesis, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), glowering as he hatches a nefarious plot. Additionally, there are glimpses of Skyler Gisondo as Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen and Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent, Clark's adopted father. These characters have been staples in Superman adaptations, but this is the first time we meet Superman's rambunctious canine, Krypto the Superdog, who rescues a bloodied and exhausted Superman after he crashes into the arctic ice. There are also quick glimpses of other DC superheroes making their cinematic debut, such as Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, hovering inside an impervious sphere; Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, marching towards Superman with a purpose that doesn't seem friendly; Isabela Merced as the winged Hawkgirl; and Anthony Corrigan as the pale, bald Metamorpho.All these characters come together to form a world where Superman lives among superheroes. As Gunn explained in a Q&A following the press preview, this Superman “lives in a world with superheroes.” Superhero movies have often focused on one character, but Gunn's DC Universe embraces all of the Superman mythology. Superman has friends who are other superheroes and people he doesn't get along with as well. This movie brings to life many of the things we love from the Superman comics that we haven't seen as much in filmed media before.
The Movie's Unique Soundtrack
Gunn wrestled with whether to include John Williams' classic “Superman” theme. He ultimately realized that it is so indelibly connected to the character that his film should incorporate it in some way, like the electric guitar riff used in the teaser. He turned to John Murphy, who composed the scores for “The Suicide Squad” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Gunn sent Murphy preliminary drafts of the screenplay nearly two years ago and played some of Murphy's initial passes at a score on the set while shooting. This finds a balance between the novel and the traditional.The director wanted to use a version of the Williams theme but do their own version. It leads into a lot of other pieces that harken back to the Williams theme but are also purely John Murphy. This unique soundtrack adds another layer to the movie.
The Innate Goodness of Superman
Gunn kept returning to the point that he wanted the movie to be about goodness. In the teaser, we see a battered Superman crashing into the ice, which he compared to the current state of the country. He believes in the goodness of human beings and that most people are doing their best to be good. This movie is about the basic kindness of human beings and how it can be seen as uncool and under siege by darker voices.After the Q&A, Gunn elaborated on this theme, saying that they felt good about doing something good from a moral place. It's not a fascistic power fantasy like some other hero movies. It's about a person's kindness.
The Actors' Approaches to Their Characters
Corenswet felt a personal connection with Superman, specifically his naivety about humanity's innate goodness. He was always cut out of the drama in school and saw people as the best versions of themselves. He believes Superman misses the little imperfections and silly things that we get caught up in.For his physical inspiration, Corenswet drew from his brother-in-law, who is six feet eight inches and 270 pounds. But it was working with his fellow actors that helped him clarify who Clark and Superman were. Brosnahan saw Lois Lane as a character who evolves with each generation and is dedicated to print journalism. She questions everything and faces the world with a sense of curiosity. Hoult's Lex Luthor is smart and ruthless, outmaneuvering Superman on certain levels but with a backstory that makes us understand his ideology.
The Design of Superman's Suit
Gunn took a long process to finalize Superman's suit. He didn't want it to look like a wet t-shirt or have fake muscles and airbrushed abs. Corenswet didn't feel like Superman when he wore the suit but was amazed by how others reacted. Hoult also shared his experience, saying he was in awe when he saw Corenswet in the suit and had a private grin on his face. Seeing kids' reactions was the best thing, as it touched them all.This unique suit design sets Superman apart from past superhero costumes and brings a sense of wonder to the movie.
“Superman” will open in theaters on July 11, promising an exciting journey into the DC Universe.