Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/jamesgunn/
DC and Warner Bros have released the official poster for James Gunn’s Superman movie, and things are looking hopeful. It’s no surprise that most of the DC Universe films were not well received by audiences or critics. So, when James Gunn was hired to run DC Studios in 2022, fans have been cautiously optimistic.
Written and directed by Gunn, this new Superman film will kick off a new cinematic canon for the DCU. Starring David Corenswet in the title role, the movie will also include classic DC characters such as Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, Green Lantern, Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen and of course, Lois Lane, (played by Rachel Brosnahan). The new movie will explore Superman’s Kryptonian heritage as he tries to balance it with his human life in Smallville.
With the release of the first official poster, it sets an encouraging tone that has been lacking from Superman. Zack Snyder’s darker brooding version of the character was divisive to fans. It seems James Gunn has made it a point to separate his take from the Snyder-verse and bring back the hopeful good hearted nature of Superman.
The poster features a simple image of Superman taking flight, his cape blurred by super speed as he rises upward into the sky. With the tagline, “Look Up”, the poster is a call back to the original Christopher Reeves / Richard Donner Superman films. James Gunn even posted an animated motion version of the poster on his social media which also features the film’s musical score that even has a nod to John Williams iconic Superman Theme.
James Gunn has a proven history with superhero movies, having directed the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy for Marvel. His version of The Suicide Squad was also enjoyable along with the Peacemaker TV series. He is currently running the Creature Commandos series on MAX which has also gotten positive reviews.
James Gunn has always found the perfect balance between wacky zany cartoon violence and the sentimental dramatic heart of the outsider characters that his films explore. Whether or not he can bring that dynamic to the Superman movie remains to be seen. Superman is an icon, the original comic book super hero, a good hearted naïve boy scout with a forthright outlook who is the ultimate symbol of hope. This is not a band of space criminals, a squad of supervillains, or a bigoted government assassin, the wild wacky goofy campy tone of Gunn’s earlier work may not gel with the optimism of Superman. Audiences will just have to wait and see.
Still, this new poster is promising. It captures an encouraging tone of Superman as well as highlights James Gunn love for comic books. Gunn understands the character and what Superman means to the fans, so hopefully he can make it work. Besides, if he can make us cry over a talking racoon, he should not have any trouble making audiences care about a man who can fly.
A trailer for the new Superman will also be released on Thursday December 19, 2024. The film is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2025.
