James Gunn addresses why the new The DC Universe's Chapter 1: "Gods and Monsters" has kicked off, with Creature Commandos currently serving as an appetizer for Gunn's reboot, with Superman set to kick the franchise more into over gear. Gunn's continuity appears to feature a mixture of modern and classic DC beats, with one of the most discussed elements about his reboot being the direction of Corenswet's Superman costume.
Back in June of this year, ScreenRant's Rob Keyes ed several outlets in Cleveland, Ohio, for a special set visit during the principal photography for Superman, as multiple journalists got to discuss Gunn's first DC Universe movie for DC Studios with the filmmaker. During an extensive interview with the director, the Superman trunks were brought up, as Gunn explained in detail the process of landing on the decision to feature them after all, sharing the following:
James Gunn: At the end of the day, it wasn't that heated; it was heated for a while. I was on the ‘no trunks’ team for a long time. For a longgggg time. And Zack [Snyder] said that when he was doing it, he tried a billion different trunk versions as we did. And I kept going back to no trunks, no trunks, no trunks. And I'm like, well,’ let's just grind it out. Let's just keep trying trunks and see what happens.’ And David [Corenswet] said something to me that really affected me, because we're trying on all these different versions, and we screen tested with trunks and no trunks. And one of the things David said is that Superman wants kids to not be afraid of him.
He's an alien. He's got these incredible powers. He shoots beams out of his eyes, can blow a truck over. He's this incredibly powerful, could be considered a scary individual, and he wants people to like him. He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity. So he dresses like a professional wrestler, he dresses in a way that makes people unafraid of him, that shows that positivity. That really clicked in for me. And I think trying to pretend that Superman's costume doesn't have some frivolity to it at its base, trying to make it look serious is silly because he is a superhero. He's the first one, brightly colored and that's who he is. And so that's where we landed and eventually we all came to a place where almost all of us agreed on the trunks.
What James Gunn's Superman Movie Costume Comments Mean
While superhero costumes have evolved in the comic book movie genre, Superman's trunks remain one of the hottest topics when it comes to discussing the Man of Steel's live-action depiction. Even though there have been live-action Superman costumes across TV and film that have both included and excluded the trunks, it's clear, based on Gunn's comments, that the decision to include them is all driven by story. Corenswet's creative input sounds to have been integral to helping the puzzle pieces come together properly, adding extra significance to the decision to keep the trunks for the character.
Even though he visually looks like a human, Superman is godlike to the human race because of all his Kryptonian abilities that allow him to serve as the world's greatest superhero. In many ways, the trunks do humanize Superman's overall look, especially for kids who are witnessing an actual alien in a cape protecting them. In the end, the trunks can work as long as the rest of Clark's superhero costume is properly executed, which will hopefully be a highlight in the new Superman trailer on Thursday.
Our Take On James Gunn's Superman Movie Costume Comments
Hearing that Gunn and Corenswet were the players who got the Superman costume in this direction is promising for both the DCU movie and the suit, as both are integral figures for the project. It's also key to that this is likely one of many costumes that Superman will don throughout the DC Universe timeline. As the world has mostly seen Corenswet's Superman costume through set photos, the footage that is arriving later this week will hopefully give a better feel for what the suit will be like in action.
Superman flies into theaters on July 11, 2025.
Superman
- Release Date
- July 11, 2025
- Director
- James Gunn
- Writers
- James Gunn, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
- Producers
- Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran
- Franchise(s)
- DCU
Cast
Clark Kent / Superman / Kal-El
Rachel BrosnahanLois Lane
Nicholas HoultLex Luthor
Edi GathegiMichael Holt / Mister Terrific
Superman: This film follows Clark Kent, a cub reporter in Metropolis, as he navigates the complexities of his dual identity, struggling to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing while embracing his role as Superman.
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
