We have a new Superman in town. The reimagining of the world’s most famous hero, arriving in theaters on July 10, is led by director and screenwriter James Gunn, who also directed all of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films.
The idea of the movie is to reintroduce the hero to an audience of all ages, captivating both longtime fans and those who aren’t particularly into superheroes.
I went to see the first Superman movie in 1979 with my dad, and I think this is a film that people can bring their kids to as well,” said Gunn. “Well, t
Perhaps not the very young children.
Gunn drew inspiration from the comic book series
Great Stars: Superman
, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. The idea isn’t to adapt the comic book story, but rather to capture the same tone of the work, which portrays a hero full of kindness, who cares about everyone. To play the alien, he cast David Corenswet, in his first leading role as a protagonist. Watch the trailer:
Completing the main cast are Rachel Brosnahan, from the comedy series
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
, as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult, from
Nosferatu
e
Mad Max: Fury Road
, as Lex Luthor.
A
Super
participated in a conversation circle with the four of them a few months ago to learn more about the movie before its release. Now, we share everything we found out with you.
What do we know about the movie
In 2018, after old offensive comments on Twitter resurfaced, Gunn was fired from Marvel. Shortly afterward, DC Comics offered him a Superman movie, but he still didn’t know what to do with the hero.
Time passed. At DC, Gunn created a new movie for
Suicide Squad
and the series
The Peacemaker
. And he was rehired by Marvel to finish the trilogy’s
Guardians.
The Super’s offer, then, went back to the director’s table. He accepted, complete with flying hot dog and all. Not only that: now he is one of the co-heads of DC Studios. Alongside producer Peter Safran, he has final say over all screen adaptations.
For Gunn, the whole idea of Super is to talk about kindness.
The most captivating trait is the fact that he is always present in the current moment and always wants to do the right thing. It’s simple, but it’s this simplicity that makes him interesting. And I think he becomes doubly interesting in today’s world.
There has been a degradation of human kindness and compassion over the past 10 years,” he continues. The director’s hope is that the film begins to represent a reaction against this.
I want you to believe that Superman exists. Not as a man who flies around, but as the many people who are as good as he is, people who risk their lives for others.
From the beginning, the new Superman was already involved in the task. “James told me that on set, it was important to set the tone for everyone else working on the movie,” explains Corenswet. The portrayal of Superman (or at least his kindness) needed to happen both in front of and behind the cameras, to maintain the film’s spirit in everything.
The Superman just wants to be Clark Kent,” explains the actor, referring to the hero’s secret identity. “He wants to be the helper of his friends, not the one in the spotlight.
Among the friends is someone who is a bit more than that: Lois Lane, Clark’s romantic interest – and Superman’s. “[In the movie], you certainly experience the love story parts between Lois and… uh…”
they
“, without giving spoilers,” says Brosnahan, who plays the journalist.
It remains to be seen how this love triangle between two people and three personas will develop in the movie. What we have learned about the new Lois Lane is that the film will be funny (but not too much), and that Lois’s profession as a journalist will play a significant role in the unfolding of the story.
The eternal nemesis
But it’s not only love and kindness that make a superhero movie. Every hero needs a villain, and Superman’s antagonist is already a classic: Lex Luthor, a billionaire, technological genius, and politically involved.
We asked actor Nicholas Hoult, who plays the character, whether he happened to take inspiration from any of the technology billionaires who have been influencing politics in recent years.
I didn’t base it on a specific [real-world] person,” Hoult explains. “I read comics, watched past interpretations
And he was several different things. One of the things, among many, that I read, was Elon Musk’s biography. That doesn’t mean I based the character on him in any way, but I think there’s something in the progress Elon is driving that might be similar to what Lex is trying to achieve in the story.”
Hoult’s first plan, however, was not to be the bald villain, but the Man of Steel himself. “I auditioned to be Superman,” the actor said.
When I picked up the script and started reading, I immediately had an instinct, reading Lex’s parts and thinking ‘ah, I would have fun playing this character’, but my focus at the time was on Superman. It didn’t happen, but he said he was happy with how things turned out, because “David is a great Superman.”
New phase
This movie will launch DC Studios, the new home for films based on the famous comic book publisher. But that doesn’t mean
Superman
It’s representative of what’s to come.
”
Supergirl
it will also be for all audiences, but
Peacemaker
it’s a very adult series, just like the police series of the
Lanterns
Verdes, that
é
but down-to-earth
“, explains Gunn, wearing the company’s CEO coat. “The idea is to allow different voices to do unique things, but in a connected way.” V
Let’s see if it works out in the new Superman movie.