James Gunn reveals how he first spotted David Corenswet for Superman during casting process
'I was watching Pearl, and I saw a character who I thought looked like he could possibly be Superman,' Gunn said. 'I looked up his name on IMDb and asked for him to be brought in.' Gunn recalled watching Corenswet's audition tape and being immediately impressed: 'He was amazing... that guy's funny.'
Corenswet's performance ultimately secured him the coveted role in Gunn's Superman, a film that has already proven to be a box office hit. Within days of its release, it nearly recouped its $225 million production budget and has received largely positive reviews from both audiences and critics.
Pearl, starring Mia Goth as a young woman with violent ambitions of stardom, was produced on a modest $5 million budget and earned over $10 million at the box office. The film was a critical success as well, scoring 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and spawning a sequel, MaXXXine, in 2024.
Corenswet's path from indie horror to superhero stardom highlights Gunn's instinct for recognizing untapped talent. Superman is currently playing in theaters, while Pearl is available to stream on HBO Max.
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