Steven Spielberg reveals his pick for the 'greatest American film ever made'
Steven Spielberg reveals his pick for the 'greatest American film ever made' George Lucas, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg were among those honoring Francis Ford Coppola recently at the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award in Hollywood.
Show Caption
Hide Caption
'Superman,' Mission: Impossible,' 'F1' and summer's must-see films
USA TODAY film critic Brian Truitt releases his list of summer's must-see films. The highlights include "Superman" and "Mission: Impossible."
You and your friends can debate what is the best U.S. film ever made. But Steven Spielberg, a filmmaker who's made some classics himself – "Jaws," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Schindler's List" to name three – has weighed in.
Spielberg made his pronouncement at a tribute to director Francis Ford Coppola held by the American Film Institute on April 26.
His pick: "The Godfather," the famous 1972 film directed by Coppola.
Before Spielberg and George Lucas presented Coppola with the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award, Spielberg talked about meeting Coppola in 1967 and being asked to watch and critique an early cut of "Apocalypse Now," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Then, Spielberg said he considered "The Godfather," as "the greatest American film ever made," a remark which led Coppola to cover his face with his hands.
"Many artists can and do take a bow from their work on a page, on a canvas, on a screen, but our applause for you Francis, is from a different kind of audience. When we're young, it's our parents we want to make proud, and then it's our friends, and then it's our colleagues, and finally, it's our peers, but you, sir, are peerless.' Spielberg said, Variety reported. 'You have taken what came before and redefined the canon of American film, and in so doing, you've inspired a generation of storytellers who want to make you proud of their work, proud of our work, and I always want to make you proud of my work.'
'Conclave': How to watch 'Conclave,' movie inspired by process of choosing pope's successor
What other films are considered GOATs?
The American Film Institute lists "The Godfather" as No. 2 on its list of The 100 Greatest American Films of All Time. Atop the list: "Citizen Kane."
On Sight & Sound's list of the greatest films of all time, "The Godfather" rests at No. 12. At the top: 1975's "Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles."
Stars honor Francis Ford Coppola
Lucas, who encouraged Coppola to make "The Godfather" to spur on the production company American Zoetrope they had co-founded in 1969, told Coppola, "You're our hero, Francis." In recalling their early days in the film industry, Lucas said, "We had no rules – we wrote them with you holding the pen. Thank you for creating an era of filmmakers who loved the movies.'
Lucas and Spielberg sat next to Coppola as he listened to tributes from actors including Al Pacino, who played Michael Corleone in The Godfather films, Robert De Niro, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his part of the young Vito Corleone in "The Godfather II," and Harrison Ford, who appeared in several Coppola-directed films including "American Graffiti," "The Conversation" and "Apocalypse Now."
"Francis, you changed my career, you changed my life. We're all here tonight because of you. We love you,' said De Niro, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
After Lucas and Spielberg presented the award to Coppola, the honoree said, 'I feel as if after many years I've returned to the old neighborhood where I grew up, and everything around me is so familiar and yet it's all changed.'
He concluded, "Now I understand here, this place that created me, my home, isn't really a place at all but you friends, colleagues, teachers, playmates, family, neighbors – all of the beautiful faces are welcoming me back because I am and will always be nothing more than one of you.'
How to watch 'A Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola'
The event, "The AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola," will be shown on TNT on June 18.
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Did you know these 30 famous people have ties to Rockford, Illinois?
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — While Rockford, Illinois will likely be forever known for its time as one of the largest manufacturing hubs in the United, States, the city has produced an exceptional array of individuals who have left significant marks on history, culture, sports, entertainment, literature, journalism, and more. From pioneering scholars to celebrated athletes, artists, authors, and journalists, the city's legacy spans diverse fields. Here is a list 30 notable people who were either born and raised in Rockford or have significant ties to the city. Profession: Archaeologist, Egyptologist, historianNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1865, Breasted was the first American to earn a Ph.D. in Egyptology from Yale in 1894. He founded the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute in 1919 with John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s support and coined the term 'Fertile Crescent.' His work on Egyptian tombs, including aiding Howard Carter's 1922–23 Tutankhamun excavation, popularized archaeology. Breasted's work is also believed to have partly inspired the movie character, Indiana Jones. He died in 1935 in New York and is buried in Rockford's Greenwood Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Fashion designer, DJ, entrepreneurNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1980, Abloh became a global fashion icon as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear and the founder of Off-White. The first Black designer to lead a major fashion house, he collaborated with Nike and exhibited at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art. Abloh died in 2021 from cancer. He was Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Boylan Catholic High School. Profession: Filmmaker, cinematographerNotable Achievements: Liu moved to Rockford at age 5 after immigrating from China. He went on to direct 2018's 'Minding the Gap,' a documentary he filmed in Rockford. The Oscar-nominated film, exploring skateboarding, abuse, and resilience, earned a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Liu has also worked on projects like 'All These Sons' (2021).Rockford Connection: Raised in Rockford from age 5, attended Rockford schools and Rock Valley College. Profession: BoxerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1904, Mandell, known as the 'Rockford Flash,' won the World Lightweight Boxing Championship in 1926 at age 22, defeating Rocky Kansas at Chicago's Comiskey Park. With 28 knockouts in 168 rights, Mandell was inducted into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame in 1962. He also ran a gym in Rockford. He died in 1967 at the age of Connection: Born and raised in Rockford and trained locally. Profession: ActorNotable Achievements: Born in Los Angeles in 1946 but raised in Rockford, Saint James earned Emmy nominations for 'McMillan & Wife' (1971–76) and 'Kate & Allie' (1984–89). She won an Emmy for 'The Name of the Game' (1969) and starred in films like 'Love at First Bite' (1979). A three-time Golden Globe nominee, she later became a Connection: Raised in Rockford and attended Rockford schools. Profession: ActorNotable Achievements: Born in Chicago in 1959, Quinn lived in Rockford while his father taught English literature at Rock Valley College. Quinn is known for his roles in 'Desperately Seeking Susan' (1985), 'Benny & Joon' (1993), and 'Legends of the Fall' (1994), he also starred in 'Elementary' and 'Law & Order: SVU.'Rockford Connection: Lived in Rockford and attended Rockford Public Schools. Profession: Actor, voice actor, singerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1961, Benson is best known as the voice of Ariel in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' (1989) and its sequels. She voiced Barbie in 'Toy Story 2″ and Toy Story 3' and earned Tony and Helen Hayes nominations for Broadway's 'Crazy for You.' Her other work includes 'Thumbelina' (1994) and 'Enchanted' (2007).Rockford Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Boylan Central Catholic High School. Profession: Professional basketball playerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1994, VanVleet won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and became an All-Star in 2022. An undrafted player out of Wichita State, VanVleet graduated from Auburn High School, where he was a four-year star for the Knights. He now plays for the Houston Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Auburn High School. Profession: Singer, actorNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1979, Williams joined Destiny's Child in 2000, contributing to hits like 'Survivor.' A graduate of Auburn High School's Creative and Performing Arts program, she released the gospel album 'Heart to Yours' (2002) and the pop album 'Unexpected' (2008). She also starred in Broadway's 'Aida.'Rockford Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, attended Auburn High School. Profession: Actor, singerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1960, Mazzie was a Tony-nominated Broadway star for 'Passion'(1994), 'Ragtime' (1998), and 'Kiss Me, Kate' (1999). Known for her powerful soprano voice, she appeared in 'Next to Normal' and 'Bullets Over Broadway.' She died in Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Actor, director, producerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1962, Mantello won Tony Awards for directing 'Take Me Out' (2003) and 'Assassins' (2004). He earned a Tony nomination for acting in Angels in America (1993) and directed Broadway hits like 'Wicked.'Rockford Connection: Born in Rockford. Profession: PoliticianNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1922, Anderson served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois (1961–81) and ran as an independent in the 1980 presidential election, earning 6.6% of the vote. Known for his progressive Republican views, he's a significant figure in Rockford's political history. Anderson died in Connection: Lifelong resident of Rockford. Profession: Astronaut, engineerNotable Achievements: Born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1956, Voss grew up in Rockford and flew on five NASA Space Shuttle missions, logging over 18 million miles in space. She contributed to International Space Station experiments and earned degrees from Purdue and MIT. She died in Connection: Raised in Rockford during childhood. Profession: Rock bandNotable Achievements: Formed in Rockford in 1974, Cheap Trick achieved global fame with hits like 'Surrender,' 'I Want You to Want Me,' and 'Dream Police.' The band's original members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. They've sold over 20 million records and remain a Rockford cultural Connection: Formed in Rockford. All members of the band except Robin Zander were born in the Forest City. Zander was born in Beloit and raised in Loves Park. Profession: Politician, educatorNotable Achievements: Born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1939, Martin taught in Rockford Public Schools and served on the Winnebago County Board. As a U.S. Representative (1981–91) and U.S. Secretary of Labor under George H.W. Bush, she was the first woman in a congressional leadership role as vice chairwoman of the House Republican Connection: Taught school and served in local government in Rockford. Profession: ActorNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1974, Busker starred as a child actor in the 1987 film 'Big Shots' alongside Darius McCrary. At 13, he traveled to cities like New York and New Orleans to promote the movie, earning attention for his natural, unpolished charm. He had no prior acting experience beyond a school play before landing the role after an audition in Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Actress, modelNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1962, Ginger Lynn became a prominent actress in the 1980s adult film industry, later transitioning to mainstream roles in 'Young Guns II' (1990) and 'Metallica: The Videos' (1989).Rockford Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Graduated from Rockford West High School. Profession: Actor, musicianNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1968, Wallem is best known for playing Thor Lundgren in 'Nurse Jackie' (2009–15). A stage actor and cabaret performer, he's also part of the punk rock parody band Ambulance LTD. He graduated from Guilford High Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Sports executiveNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1951, Sund served as general manager for NBA teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks. He contributed to the Mavericks' early success and was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2004. He died in Connection: Born in Rockford. Profession: Comedian, actressNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1974, Leggero is a stand-up comedian and actress known for roles in 'Another Period' (2015–18) and 'Chelsea Lately.' Her other work includes her comedy special 'Live at Bimbo's' (2015), and voice work in 'Ugly Americans.'Rockford Connection: Born in Rockford. Leggero graduated from Rockford East High School. Profession: Professional kickboxerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1962, Hefton, known as 'Bad Brad,' was a Professional Karate Association (PKA) World Super Heavyweight kickboxing champion and named ESPN's Face of Kickboxing in the 1980s. He won titles in multiple organizations (PKA, PKC, ISKA, BKC) and was inducted into the Illinois Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside trainer and fellow Rockford native John Monczak. A memorable fight saw Hefton battle Vitali Klitschko in 1993 with a broken arm for eight rounds. He also appeared the film 'Blackbelt' (1992).Rockford Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: AuthorNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1965, Roby is a New York Times bestselling author of 28 books, including the 'Reverend Curtis Black' series, starting with 'Casting the First Stone' (2000). Blending faith and drama, Her novels have sold over 3 million copies, earning her multiple awards, including the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. She was honored at Rockford's 2017 African-American History Month Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Auburn High School. Profession: Pastor, authorNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1957, Ortberg is a prominent evangelical pastor and author of bestselling books like 'The Life You've Always Wanted' (1997) and 'Soul Keeping' (2014). He served as senior pastor of Menlo Church in California and wa on staff at Willow Creek Community Church near Connection: Born in Rockford, attended Rockford schools. Profession: SportscasterNotable Achievements: Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, in 1980, Briscoe (née Manske) grew up in Roscoe. An ESPN anchor since 2008, she co-hosts 'SportsCenter' and covers NASCAR, earning recognition for her engaging style. She competed in the 1998 Miss Illinois Teen USA pageant representing Roscoe. Briscoe started working as a reporter at WREX in the late 1990s while she attended Northern Illinois Connection: Raised in Roscoe, attended Hononegah High School in Rockton. Profession: ActressNotable Achievements: Born in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1922, Hale grew up in Rockford and graduated from Rockford High School. Best known for playing Della Street in 'Perry Mason,' (1957–66), she won an Emmy in 1959 and earned two Golden Globe nominations. She also appeared in films like 'The Window' (1949) and 'Airport' (1970). Hale died in Connection: Raised in Rockford, graduated from Rockford High School. Profession: Professional football playerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1994, Lowry played defensive end for the Green Bay Packers from (2016-22), appearing in 96 games and recording 147 tackles. A standout at Boylan Catholic High School and Northwestern University, he won back-to-back state championships with Boylan. He currently plays for the Pittsburgh Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Boylan Catholic High School. Profession: Professional football playerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1998, Robinson, a running back, set the NFL record in 2020 for most scrimmage yards by an undrafted rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A star at Rockford Lutheran High School and Illinois State University, he set Illinois high school records for rushing yards and touchdowns. He has also played for the New York Jets and Green Bay Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Rockford Lutheran High School. Profession: Composer, pianistNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 2001, Bear is a child prodigy pianist and composer who performed at Carnegie Hall at age 6. She received the 2008 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award and composed for Disney's 'Winnie the Pooh' (2011). Her albums, like 'Diversity' (2013), blend jazz and classical music. Bearand Abigail Barlow co-wrote and released an album inspired by the Netflix series 'Bridgerton', titled 'The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,' which won the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: NASCAR Crew Chief Notable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1971, Knaus guided Jimmie Johnson to seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, including five consecutive titles (2006–10). With 81 career wins as a crew chief, he's considered one of NASCAR's greatest minds. He serves as vice president of competition for Hendrick Motorsports and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Journalist, Fox News correspondentNotable Achievements: Born in Palatine, Illinois, in 1991, McAdams worked as a lead reporter and weekend anchor at WTVO/WQRF-TV in Rockford from January 2014 to 2015, covering sports and local news. A Fox News correspondent based in New York City since October 2021, she has reported several major news events like the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the 2022 Ottawa trucker protests, and the 2024 UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination manhunt. She previously worked at WLS-TV in Chicago and WXIN in Indianapolis, earning the 2012 Illinois Student Silver Dome Award for Best Connection: Worked as a reporter and anchor at WTVO/WQRF-TV in Rockford from 2014 to 2015. Profession: Journalist, foreign policy expertNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1970, Nauert served as U.S. State Department Spokesperson (2017–19) and Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2018–19). A former Fox News anchor, she was nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 2018 but withdrew. She joined the Hudson Institute as a senior fellow in 2019, focusing on U.S. foreign policy. Nauert holds an M.A. in Journalism from Columbia Connection: Born in Rockford, graduated from Keith Country Day School. Profession: Basketball coach, former playerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1955, Kent was a Parade Magazine All-American and IHSA All-State basketball player at Rockford West High School. He played college basketball at Oregon and coached at Oregon (1997–2010) and Washington State (2014–19), earning Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors five times. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Rockford West High School. Profession: Professional football player, coach Notable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1977, Polk was a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers (2001–06) and Dallas Cowboys (2007–08). He was drafted in the fourth round out of Nebraska. He won a national championship with Nebraska in 1997 and later coached at Grossmont College and with NFL teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears. Polk is currently the assistant special teams coach for the Cowboys, his second stint as a coach with the Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, attended Guilford High School. Profession: Professional Football PlayerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1953, Latin played as a running back for the St. Louis Cardinals (1975–78) and briefly for the Los Angeles Rams (1978). A standout at Northern Illinois University, he rushed for 1,609 yards in his NFL career and was named to NIU's All-Century Team in 1999. Latin died on Feb. 19, Connection: Born in Arkansas and raised in Rockford. Latin graduated from Rockford East High School. Profession: JournalistNotable Achievements: Bair worked as a news anchor and TV reporter in Rockford, contributing to local news coverage. Rockford Connection: Worked at WREX-TV in Rockford from 1993 to 1994. Who did we miss? Let us know and we will add them to the list! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Special item returns to Wetherspoon pubs for Father's Day
Wetherspoon pubs in Wiltshire are bringing back a special menu item for Father's Day weekend. The Savoy in Regent Street, The Sir Daniel Arms in Fleet Street, and The Dockle Farmhouse in Bridge End Road will be serving the Brunch Burger from Friday, June 13, until Sunday, June 15. The burger is made with a 6oz British beef patty, American-style cheese, maple-cured bacon, a free-range fried egg, and a British potato hash brown. Read more: Swindon restaurant to reopen after blaze forced diners to flee It will be served with chips, six beer-battered onion rings, and a choice of more than 150 drinks, including regional craft beers. For those choosing a soft or non-alcoholic drink, the meal costs £9.99, while opting for an alcoholic drink will see the price rise to £11.52. Kelly Wood, manager of The Savoy, said: "I am confident that the pub's customers will welcome the return of the Brunch Burger for three days to mark Father's Day weekend." The burger will be available for three days only.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Superman' lights the way: How Hollywood's new Man of Steel shepherds the DC universe of tomorrow (exclusive)
David Corenswet looks like just about any of Hollywood's past Supermen in the right light. In particular, he often gets the Henry Cavill comparison. And it's easy to see how merely a thin layer of finely shaped scruff alone highlights his dimples and pronounced jawline to resemble the last cinematic incarnation of DC's Clark Kent/Kal-El, defined by Zack Snyder's Man of Entertainment Weekly's cover shoot at East End Studios in Glendale, Calif., the 6-foot-4 Corenswet certainly looks the part in an electric blue suit. He towers over Kristen Shaw, the groomer tasked with "curl duty" — making sure his classic Clark Kent hair curl remains properly perky for the cameras. The formerly svelte star of Hollywood and The Politician also now has a comparable frame to Cavill, the product of hitting the gym for months before shooting his leading role in James Gunn's Superman (out July 11), which marks a fresh start for DC's Kryptonian strongman. "I've also got a lot of physical comparisons to Tom Welling, who played Superman and Clark Kent on Smallville," Corenswet admits. "When I was growing up, he was the Superman who was on TV every week. I think, to one extent or another, all of the Superman actors…There's some Venn diagram of our physical characteristics, which makes sense for a superhero who is classically the one who doesn't wear a mask." Christopher Reeve, however, is the likeness that most comes to mind on this particular beaming afternoon on the last Saturday in March. Standing next to his Lois Lane counterpart, Rachel Brosnahan, joking how they'll need to "build a trench" so he can fit into camera frame with the 5-foot-3 Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Emmy winner, Corenswet searches for the right music to set the tone for the shoot. He likes jazz, but not just any jazz, at least not for this occasion. Mostly "upbeat instrumental jazz," he offers, the stuff you'd find in the Great American Songbook. Gunn, the film's writer/director and the co-head of DC Studios, prefers the sound of rock band Foxy Shazam. He playfully jabs at his Super star, calling him "the biggest square that ever lived." Gunn shouts from across the room to whoever's DJing the Spotify playlist, "He likes Dean Martin s---!" The more they cycle through Oliver Nelson's "March On, March On," Jelly Roll Nelson's "King Porter Stomp," and Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train" to find the perfect tune that gets him snapping to the beat, the more Corenswet exudes that classical "La La Land" Tinseltown image that Reeve rocked so well, beginning with 1978's Superman. The actor finds his parallels to filmmaker Richard Donner's muse "more odd and interesting" than the ones to Cavill or Welling. (Both Corenswet and Reeve have Juilliard and the Man of Steel on their résumés.) "I've listened to Christopher Reeve talk about how he felt going from theater and a classical training to wearing tights on screen," he says. "It's harder in some ways to play Superman and then to do a great play or a dramatic film, because as an actor, you feel like the seriousness of the work somehow supports you. It allows the whole thing to feel more grounded. There is a unique challenge to playing a guy who wears his underwear on the outside and can fly. I think I had the great fortune of getting a little bit of both. I was definitely on team trunks-on-the-outside for this iteration of Superman, but I certainly felt James took the work very seriously." Despite this amalgamation of Supermen from yesteryears, global audiences have already started to see Corenswet as the Superman of tomorrow, as he leads the first theatrical film for a new dawn in the superhero franchise. When Gunn was hired to take the helm of DC Studios with his longtime collaborator Peter Safran (Safran handles more of the business side, while Gunn shepherds the creative), this dynamic duo gave the brand a reset — building a new DC universe from the ground up that could rival, say, Gunn's previous collaborators at Marvel, with a series of interconnected films and TV shows for years to come. Last year's Creature Commandos on Max (soon to be renamed HBO Max) was technically the first project within this initial phase of the new DCU, which has been dubbed "Gods and Monsters." But Gunn says the animated series is not necessarily crucial to this larger storytelling plan. The events of Superman, as well as this fall's Peacemaker season 2, however, are "both pretty important in terms of getting to the bigger story," he says. Warner Bros. initially offered Gunn Superman prior to directing 2021's The Suicide Squad, back in the previous era of DC storytelling. Even then, before plans were firmly in place, the studio wanted a new actor to play Superman after Cavill, "so it was even more messy than it is now," Gunn says. But more importantly, he adds, "I didn't have that special idea of what that [film] would be." He does now. "Over the years, the stories that I've told have gotten more…how to say it…less in your face," explains the director, who made a name for himself with indie horror-comedy Slither (2006) and a dark vision of masked heroes with Super (2010) before joining Marvel to make the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. "I wanted to tell the story about someone who was truly good in a world that doesn't value goodness, in a world that makes fun of basic kindness and basic human values. The fact that he can fly and lift buildings and shoot laser beams out of his eyes was really secondary to who he was as a person and what he stood for." The first bit of Superman that Brosnahan shot as ace Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane was a sequence she and Corenswet knew intimately, a scene they performed for the chemistry tests that landed them the parts. In the summer of 2023, it was down to three actors for each role: Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor and Sex Education's Emma Mackey were in the running with Brosnahan, while British stars Tom Brittney (Greyhound) and Nicholas Hoult (who would instead land the role of Superman's archvillain Lex Luthor) were up for the titular lead. It's a meaty scene, about 10-12 pages worth of script, in which Lois arrives at her apartment to find her boyfriend, Clark Kent, attempting (rather poorly) to cook an anniversary meal. Their playful banter highlights their romantic chemistry, but also how they challenge each other. "We're meeting them at a point where they've been together for about three months," Brosnahan notes, "which is the point in a relationship where you're like, Was this a really great fling or is this more serious, possibly forever?" Lois gives Clark grief for the ethical breaches of his recent Daily Planet pieces — exclusive interviews he "conducted" with Superman, though they both know full well that Clark is Superman. So he offers her an alternative: She can interview him as the Man of Steel instead. What he thinks might be a fun bonding moment backfires spectacularly as Lois, who comes alive when presented with a juicy story, jumps at the chance to ask Superman hard-hitting questions on the record. Brosnahan felt this exchange was "foundational" to these characters. "It's a combination of them both clicking into, in some ways, their super alter egos," she explains, "but that's also juxtaposed with their great love for each other... I don't know if she would call it that quite yet, but they care about each other. When you start doing an interview, this is Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lois Lane, and he's Superman, who's also the subject of this interview. They both feel very strongly about the stance that they're taking in that scene. It's one of the things that I love about their love story. While they have totally opposite worldviews, they complete each other, and they kind of need each other." "This isn't like the interview in the Donner movie where Lois doesn't know that he's Clark," Corenswet says, referring to a scene from the Reeve-led classic with Margot Kidder. "Lois knows everything about him, so he's in a very vulnerable position. He's madly in love with this woman and desperately wants her to understand him and appreciate him and love him back." In this world, humanity has been clued into the existence of metahumans (i.e., super-powered individuals) for 300 years, Gunn reveals. ("If you saw a shark-man walking down the street, you'd probably vomit and s--- yourself to death," he says. "If they saw one, it would be more like if you saw Paul McCartney on the sidewalk in New York.") It's a world that includes the Justice Gang, a super-trio comprised of Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders (The Last of Us' Isabela Merced), Green Lantern/Guy Gardner (The Rookie's Nathan Fillion), and Mister Terrific/Michael Holt (The Harder They Fall's Edi Gathegi). But they went corporate. Maxwell Lord (played by Gunn's brother, Sean, of the Guardians of the Galaxy films), the head of LordTech and one of multiple tech billionaires in this world, is their backer. ("They're good. They just are not saintly," Gunn says of the team.) It's also a world that often has a problem with someone like Superman. He's virtually all-powerful, so it's a challenge to physically stop him. The combination of his upbringing in rural town Smallville and the dying wish of his Kryptonian parents to safeguard humanity forms Clark's firm ideals about bettering civilization. No corporation or government can taint them, which leads us to why Lois is eager to grill Superman. In the film, he decides to save civilians caught in a conflict between Boravia and Jarhanpur (fictional nations from DC comics), which causes an international incident and earns him the ire of a White House that sees Superman as an American asset gone rogue. "She's ambitious and hungry," Brosnahan comments. "And I think, in that moment, she sees an opportunity for a front-page story." In many ways, this apartment scene, where Clark/Kal-El defends those ideals to Lois, defines this generation's incarnations of these characters. While the titan from Krypton can often seem stoic and deified, Corenswet's Kal-El can be quite passionate about his views and express them loudly. "I had the same ideas about Superman, that he's quite reserved and has ultimate control over his emotions and his reactions to things," Corenswet says. "I was very excited when James said all of that is true about Superman, but we get to meet him in this moment where those things are least true. That's where he's a little bit of Superman, he's a little bit of Clark — because the only other person in the room knows who he is and holds all the cards." Brosnahan describes Lois as "someone who questions everything and everyone by nature," while Clark/Superman "sees the beauty in people first and trusts implicitly…. That sometimes puts them at odds with each other about the way they should approach the world." It's only in his scenes with his costars, particularly Brosnahan, that Corenswet truly finds the specifics of his character. There are the main Superman and Clark Kent personas that he shows the public. But, Corenswet explains, "We also had this third character, of who Clark is when he's in a room with somebody who knows both sides of him. He's not really playing the character of Superman, but he's also not really playing the role of Clark, either. It's a personality that only comes out with his parents [Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell play Jonathan and Martha Kent] and with Lois, once she really gets to know everything about him."Gunn cast Corenswet and Brosnahan together. "We mixed and matched these different actors and actresses to find out not only who was the best Clark and who was the best Lois, but who was the best 'Clois,' who was the best together," he says. "I do think that David was the best Clark, Rachel was the best Lois, but they also had the most chemistry together." Brosnahan saw the script as "a road map," but then she went off to interview journalists covering different fields to get more specifics. She spoke to them a lot about vices. In the source material, Lois is historically a smoker, which the team chose not to depict in this film. This apartment scene offers more clues to what the actress discovered instead. Keen eyes will note an abundance of instant ramen noodles, nutrition bars, and candy strewn about the space. "I wanted her apartment to be filled with grab-and-go snacks," Brosnahan says. "I think she's somebody who's always so preoccupied with work that I'm not sure she ever sits down and eats a full meal." Another tip she picked up from real-world press: pens. Lois always has multiple pens on her in case one should fail in her moment of diligent note-taking. "It wasn't a conscious choice, but this Lois became a pen chewer," she says. "There's probably an unfortunate amount of pen-chewing in this movie." So much of any generation's Superman movie is defined by the pairing of the savior from Krypton and his Earth-bound nemesis, Lex Luthor. Gene Hackman and Christopher Reeve, Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling, Kevin Spacey and Brandon Routh, Jesse Eisenberg and Henry Cavill, and now Nicholas Hoult and David Corenswet. "He's a very sweet and gentle man, but he's a very strong and imposing presence as an actor," Corenswet says of Hoult. "He has a poise and a confidence that shows up immediately when work begins. That was really helpful, as Superman, having a very believable and imposing villain who you really feel like from day one has your number and knows what you're up to and already has a strategy to thwart you." The entire cast has been vocal about the inspiration they took from All-Star Superman, the 12-issue comic penned by Grant Morrison and drawn by Frank Quitely. Hoult points to a specific panel from that arc that helped define the particular shades of his Luthor. Superman, as Clark, visits the mastermind in jail, where he's spent all his time bulking up in the gym. "Feel that, Kent?" Luthor asks on the page. "Real muscles. Not like his…. It's easy to be strong when you just happen to have come from the planet Krypton! This takes hard work." "That kind of captures, in my mind, the element of Lex," Hoult says. "He's worked hard and diligently for so many years for all these things, to be admired and to be adored. Then suddenly Superman's turned up and he's all the things that he aims to be himself in some ways, but he doesn't have to work hard for it. So I'm like, What if this Lex is someone who is physically strong and is an alpha, or seemingly in that sense? Instantly, even in the prep phase, it was like, I'm going to get in the gym and I'm going to be as strong as I possibly ever can be by the time we start shooting." "Lex is connected to everything," Gunn says of the role. "There's nothing bad happening in Metropolis during this movie that doesn't have some connection to Lex Luthor." In this particular vision of the DC world, Luthor is the head of tech company LuthorCorp (not LexCorp, as is more traditional). Gunn has repeatedly described the character as a sorcerer of science, capable of engineering the most fantastical gadgets and technology to achieve his leads us to the figures in his orbit, specifically the Engineer. Luthor is particular about who he surrounds himself with, including Angela Spica. In the comics, she's depicted as a woman made of liquid machinery who can morph her body into different weapons. This incarnation of the character (played by María Gabriela de Faría) isn't quite like that, instead using nanotechnology to alter herself. One sequence in the film — a sprawling battle that plays out in a baseball field and is orchestrated from afar by Luthor — sees Angela summon swarms of nanobots running throughout her body to create razor-sharp throwing discs. De Faría describes the Engineer of Superman as having "an edge" to her. "I imagined that Lex and Angie had this work relationship where they respect each other so much," she says. "Angela highly believes in Lex's idea of making the world a better place. She's practically given her life to Lex for this greater good. But at the same time, I feel like there's an element of an underlying relationship going on between the two of them. It's not in the movie," she clarifies, but de Faría remembers telling Gunn, "I feel like these guys f---!" Luthor's girlfriend is actually played by Sara Sampaio. Eve Teschmacher was a character originally created purely for Richard Donner's Superman films, but here she's big into social media. If a kaiju invades Metropolis, she's likely in the background broadcasting the moment on Instagram Live. "She's just very for herself and her content," Sampaio explains of Eve. "She's sometimes out of notion with what's happening or what's appropriate, but she does have a heart. At the end of the day, everything is just so exciting for her. She's just in a whole different world." There's also a mysterious figure on Team Lex, called Ultra Man, whose entire body is covered by a black suit. Gunn continues this air of mystery, but the character has comparable abilities to Superman, including laser vision, strength, and flight (based on the trailers). When asked if Ultra Man is Luthor's attempt to create his own Man of Steel, the filmmaker replies, "I think that's close. Ultra Man is sort of Lex's thug, and is pretty powerful." Not just with Luthor, but all the supporting characters in the film, Gunn wanted to create a world that wasn't so strictly black and white. "There are some characters that are really almost saintly, like Superman," he elaborates. "There are some characters who are almost pretty terrible, like Lex Luthor. But I don't think Lex is all bad, and I don't think Superman is all good. All those people in between, the Guy Gardners and the Jimmy Olsens of the world, are even more complex in their moralities and what they think is okay." "Okay, superstars. Come on in!" Back on the set of EW's cover shoot, one of the many publicists in attendance signals the arrival of the rest of the Superman crowd. The three members of the Justice Gang (Merced, Fillion, and Gathegi) come pouring in the studio with Sampaio, de Faría, Anthony Carrigan (Metamorpho), Beck Bennett (douchey Daily Planet sports reporter Steve Lombard), Mikaela Hoover (gossip columnist Cat Grant), and Skyler Gisondo (photographer Jimmy Olsen). Shouting "last looks" brings a stampede of hairstylists and makeup artists to the set for final touch-ups on each of their clients before the shoot can progress. The mere size of the cast can feel overwhelming, something Gunn is keenly aware fans are criticizing online. (Though he's admittedly less active on social media these days, Gunn is the only major studio head — and one of the few directors — who routinely interacts with the fandom online.) But rather than starting with one character, like Iron Man, and slowly expanding the universe to, say, everyone who appeared in that finale fight in Avengers: Endgame, Gunn aimed to capture from his own experience with the comics, immersing audiences in an already established world teeming with metahumans. "I grew up reading DC and Marvel comics and having worlds and universes of superheroes who were interacting. I grew up watching Super Friends on Saturday mornings," he says. "It's a long time coming, to be able to be a part of a world in which superheroes are real. We don't have to explain everyone away. There's a little bit of magic in this world. There's science beyond our understanding in this world. This is the kind of place where there's an island full of dinosaurs that probably exists." Fillion, who's worked with Gunn as far back as Slither, pinpoints exactly what he enjoys about his pal's take on Superman. "There's enough room in my heart for different ideas about the story of Superman," he says, "but they all have one thing in common: What if there was a Kryptonian who came to Earth and was here with us? James' take is: What if we lived in that world? It's giant monsters, alien beings, interdimensional imps. There's things happening that are reality for this world that we're about to enter." From a writing standpoint, Gunn approached this DC pantheon practically — i.e., characters aren't there just to be there. Take Metamorpho. In Lex's pursuit to defeat Superman, he needs to pinpoint his vulnerabilities. One of them, as anyone can tell you, is kryptonite, the green mineral that can substantially weaken and even harm the bulletproof man. But where does Lex get it? Well, there's this guy, Rex Mason, who can change his body mass into any natural element — including, you guessed it, kryptonite. He just needs a compelling enough reason to persuade Rex/Metamorpho to do this for him. There are certain clues within the world of Superman that hint at Metamorpho's origin story, like the presence of Stagg Industries, a company that's intertwined with the character in the comics. However, audiences will meet Metamorpho in the film "in full swing of who he is," Carrigan notes. "You're in a situation where it's having to hurt someone, having to be an agent of the bad guy. And at the same time, there's this struggle to want to be good," the Barry alum continues of his character. "What the film does brilliantly is it puts you in this situation of, 'Oh! He has no choice.' He has to be doing this, and you see how painful it is." Gunn took a similar approach to the other figures of DC comics. "I approached it like Clark Kent has his work friends and his play friends," Gunn says. "I tend to think his work friends are the Justice Gang and his play friends are the Daily Planet gang. It was about telling the story of this person's life and all the ways different people would be connected to him." The Justice Gang is a group of particularly colorful personalities. Fillion's Guy Gardner, with a severe bowl cut, is the boldest by far. A member of the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic organization that polices various sectors of the cosmos, Guy wields a power ring, one of the mightiest objects in existence. Fueled by pure will, he can create just about anything he can imagine. When he touches down amid the Boravian conflict, a flick of his wrist conjures a giant green hand out of the ground to slap away a troupe of soldiers. "I love the idea that if you have an emergency and you need a Green Lantern — there's thousands of them out there in the galaxy — this is the last one you want," Fillion, who's voiced multiple animated Lanterns throughout his career, says of this iteration. "What is very true about Guy Gardner, and what James understands very well, is you don't have to be good and pure of heart to be a Green Lantern. You just have to be fearless. You just have to have the will. And Guy Gardner thinks he can take on Superman. That's how fearless he is. No, you can't take on Superman, dude." By comparison, Mister Terrific is "one of the most philosophically compelling heroes in DC," in Gathegi's opinion. As one of the most intelligent individuals on Earth, Michael Holt uses T-spheres, computerized floating orbs that respond to his voice, for a variety of purposes, including force field creation and hologram projection. "He's an atheist who believes in justice," Gathegi describes his character. "He loses his wife, and he found meaning in knowledge. He saw that, while the universe might be cruel, intelligence, science, and innovation could make it better. He chose to become hope rather than succumbing to the despair of losing his wife." Merced's Hawkgirl, who has wings sprouting from her back and a mace at the ready, is the warrior of the gang. "You don't really get to know her that well, and I think that's good," Merced says. "James isn't showing all of his cards. He's saving a lot of that." For what? Other DC projects. Early trailers for Peacemaker season 2 reveal that Fillion and Merced will reprise their Superman roles alongside Sean Gunn's Maxwell Lord for DC's HBO series, for which James Gunn also serves as writer and showrunner. "It was a bit more blatantly comical," Merced says of inserting Hawkgirl into the Peacemaker environment. "It's so f---ed up, but in a fun way." Fillion will then pop over to HBO's Lanterns, which stars Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler as two other Earth-based Green Lanterns — John Stewart and Hal Jordan, respectively. Gathegi also confirms that "[Superman] isn't the only project that I'll be in," further illustrating Gunn and Safran's mission to bring these actors back across various projects. Just about every cast member who speaks with EW is eager to answer the call, should another piece of the larger DC puzzle require their character. De Faría, for one, is well aware that the Engineer is a chief figure in the super team known as the Authority, which was already announced for a future movie adaptation. "We did have a bit of that conversation about the future of the Engineer," she says. "And the motherf---er" — she whispers the expletive — "was very secretive. He was like, 'I have a great idea,' and then [texted] a little emoji. Okay, so what is it?! And then he didn't reply. He's keeping me in the dark, but apparently he has a great idea of what to do with this character." DC and Gunn fans are craving those specifics, but the future appears bright for Superman and his pals in the DCU. David Zaslav, the head of Warner Bros. Discovery, got up in front of investors earlier this year and declared the Man of Steel as crucial to the longevity of this franchise, as are Supergirl, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Sitting in a large conference room — where he's just about to watch the dailies from HBO's Lanterns, which is halfway through filming — Gunn agrees with Zaslav's statement, but provides one caveat: "I wouldn't say only those four characters, but I would say that those four characters are incredibly important to us. Right now, I feel great about where two of those characters are, and then we're dealing with the other two." Let's start with Superman. The film hits theaters this July 11, and when asked if he's already thinking of a sequel, Gunn replies, "What I'm working on is in some way…I mean, yes, yes, yes, yes. But is it a straight-up Superman sequel? I would not say necessarily." The next movie in the DCU after Superman will be Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, starring Milly Alcock as Kal-El's cousin Kara Zor-El, on June 26, 2026. But what about Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince? Already announced for development are a film inspired by Grant Morrison's Batman and Son comic, as well as a Paradise Island HBO series about the Amazons of Themyscira. The latter is "slow moving, but it's moving," Gunn says, while confirming a Wonder Woman movie is "being written right now." Gunn hasn't yet cast the DCU's Batman or Wonder Woman, but notes that Robert Pattinson "is still there" in director Matt Reeves' corner of the DC franchise. Although there have been many delays, Pattinson will return for The Batman Part II. Meanwhile, Reeves continues to build out his "Batman Epic Crime Saga," a series of movies and shows, including The Penguin, that remain separate from the main DCU franchise's story continuity. "What Matt's doing is still really important, despite all stories to the contrary," Gunn comments. "We're supposed to see that script shortly, and I can't wait." With all of these projects, Gunn is conscious not to give audiences homework, which is not dissimilar to Marvel's current post-Endgame approach. You won't have to watch Superman to enjoy Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, he says: "I am really trying to be careful that anybody can dip in and see the story that is up next and not feel like they're missing information." That said, he does have a master plan in terms of the titles comprising Gods and Monsters. "The most important thing is the specific stories, but there is also a much bigger story that we're telling that will take a little bit longer to tell," he remarks. "That's sort of where my next couple of things are going to be." Could it involve something that does justice to this league of superheroes he's assembling? Is Justice League on James Gunn's mind? "Of course, of course," he responds. "But there is no Justice League in this world… not yet." Is it fair to say the Justice League relates to Gunn's larger plans for the Gods and Monsters phase of the DCU? Again, he offers a sly reply: "Sure." Corenswet takes a moment to consider the idea of leading a Justice League film, but first…the sound of baby talk cuts through the conversation. Over a follow-up call in May, Corenswet has traded the phone booth from EW's cover for a botanical garden somewhere outside Los Angeles. He just flew in from Australia, where he filmed the movie Mr. Irrelevant with his DC costar David Krumholtz (he plays Zor-El in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow). Corenswet brought his wife and 1-year-old out with a group of friends, hoping the sunlight would help him beat the jet lag. The sun, as comic fans know, certainly helps Superman when he's feeling weak. But now their daughter starts babbling. "Which is our signal to wrap up in the next few minutes," he says. So…Justice League? "I mean, that sounds awesome," he responds. "I don't take it upon myself to think ahead in that kind of way, just because one would hate to get one's hopes up about anything in particular and then have it go in another direction. What I like to do is stay blissfully ignorant, and then when James tells me what's going to happen, I get to have a wonderful surprise. So if Justice League is in the back of his mind, that sounds great to me. I'll put it at the back of my mind and we'll see what happens." Corenswet, a true jazz man, feels like the right guy to lead the way. After a streak of dark and gritty DC superhero movies made popular by the Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder age, "to make a Superman movie is a lot," Gunn says. "I think, in some ways, he can be seen as a little old-fashioned, but I think that old-fashioned is something that's really beautiful and, in its own way, the most rebellious thing about that character." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
