James Gunn reveals Superman secrets, teases Supergirl and DCU future
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Gunn emphasized that Superman is rooted in kindness, compassion, and identity — rather than traditional notions of destiny and hope.
'I wanted a Superman who could be beaten,' Gunn explained, highlighting Kal-El's vulnerability as a strength. The now-viral 'punk rock' line was present in the early drafts and ties to Iggy Pop's 'Punkrocker,' which Gunn discovered via Spotify and used in the ending montage.
Gunn confirmed that the Justice Gang's imp villain is not Mr. Mxyzptlk and discussed the fictional band 'Mighty Crabjoys,' which inspired the end-credits song he co-wrote. A cameo poster in Clark Kent's room reflects Lois' understanding of Clark's warmth, a moment Gunn called pivotal.
Supergirl, portrayed as a 'rougher' character, will be the focus of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2026), written by Ana Nogueira. Gunn confirmed that Krypto the Superdog — now Supergirl's companion — will return, but reassured fans that tonal shifts will occur.
Peacemaker Season 2 will explore dimensional conflict, not a direct reset of the DCEU. Meanwhile, Easter eggs in the Hall of Justice hint at long-term plans, though not all characters will appear soon. Gunn dismissed fan hopes of a retcon regarding Jor-El and Lara, saying their portrayal reflects the film's emotional arc.
Gunn also hinted at fast-tracking Wonder Woman and acknowledged strong domestic performance, citing global anti-American sentiment as a hurdle abroad. Still, he remains optimistic: 'This is just the seed of the tree we've been watering.'
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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
James Gunn's Superman breaks Man of Steel box office record
James Gunn's Superman has officially surpassed Zack Snyder's Man of Steel at the domestic box office, setting a new record for solo Superman films in the United States. According to Box Office Mojo, the 2025 reboot has grossed $292.4 million domestically as of July 29, overtaking the $291 million total from Snyder's 2013 installment. Starring David Corenswet as the latest iteration of the iconic superhero, Superman serves as the launchpad for the rebooted DC Universe (DCU) under Gunn and producer Peter Safran. The film arrives after the closure of the DCEU in 2023 and represents a significant creative shift for DC Studios. Despite strong competition from summer blockbusters like Jurassic World Rebirth and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the movie continues drawing sizable audiences. Internationally, however, Superman has seen more modest returns, collecting $214.1 million so far, for a global total of $506.5 million. By comparison, Man of Steel earned $379 million overseas and $670.1 million worldwide. Gunn has suggested that the lower international turnout may be influenced by current political sentiment abroad, including rising anti-American attitudes. Nevertheless, the film now holds the title of the highest-grossing standalone Superman movie in U.S. history. It has also outperformed Superman Returns (2006) and all of Christopher Reeve's Superman films in both domestic and global box office tallies. Even so, no Superman title has yet surpassed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which still leads with $874.3 million globally. Critically, the film has been well received. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds an 83% critics score and a 91% audience rating — both higher than Man of Steel and several earlier entries. With strong word of mouth and sustained interest, Superman marks a hopeful new beginning for the DCU and its evolving cinematic future.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Superheroes, Labubus steal spotlight
Comic fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning over eight decades. Whether it's the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout "It's clobbering time!" before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to movie theaters to support their favorite films. "Well, clearly I'm a Marvel fan," Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character named Mystique from Marvel's X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. "But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some Superman as well. And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it's going to be close. But I got to go Marvel," she added. The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman. "I've already seen Superman three times, and I'm very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it. It makes me feel hopeful," he said, referring to the director. The filmmakers, meanwhile, encourage fans to support both offerings. "I'm a huge Superman fan. I'm a huge James Gunn fan. I'm thrilled that both of us are coming out this month," director Matt Shakman of Fantastic Four: First Steps told Reuters at the London premiere. "I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we're building. And there's room for Superman, there's room for Fantastic Four. I'm thrilled. Go see both," he added. Superman director Gunn, who directed the Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy, said in an interview in Los Angeles that he grew up reading both Marvel and DC comic books, appreciating their distinct tones. In theatres on July 11, Superman introduced David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. The movie grossed around $173 million globally and $264 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo. Warner Bros has heavily invested in Superman, aiming to launch a new era at DC Studios under Gunn, named co-CEO, alongside producer Peter Safran. Upcoming projects include a Supergirl film slated for June 2026, a film based on the character Swamp Thing as well as TV shows for HBO Max. Labubus abound It is not only superheroes who have been nestling in the spotlight of late. San Diego Comic-Con proved to be the latest location where the ugly-cute dolls named Labubu have been trending, with fans carrying the plushies globally popularised by celebrities Rihanna, Lizzo, Dua Lipa, and Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink. The wide-eyed and grinning doll was created in 2015 by Hong Kong artist and illustrator Kasing Lung. In 2019, Lung allowed them to be sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company that sells collectible figurines, often in "blind boxes". "Blind boxes" are sealed boxes containing a surprise item that is usually part of a themed collection. Naomi Galban, from San Diego, waited in line on Sunday at the Pop Mart booth in the San Diego Convention Center for a chance to get her first Labubu. "Every time I go to a Pop Mart store, they're sold out," the 24-year-old told Reuters. She hoped to buy one for her little sister. Emily Brough, Pop Mart's Head of IP Licensing, spoke to Reuters on Thursday about Labubu fans at Comic-Con. "We love to see how fans are personalising it for themselves," Brough said next to the Pop Mart booth. While Brough noted that there were many people with a Labubu strapped to their bags and backpacks at Comic-Con, the doll's popularity did not happen overnight. Labubus had a huge boost in 2019 after Pop Mart began selling them, and in 2024, when Blackpink's Lisa, who is Thai, created a buying frenzy in Thailand after she promoted Labubu on social media. Pop Mart saw sales skyrocket in North America that same year, with revenue in the US in the first quarter of 2025 already surpassing the full-year US revenue from 2024, Pop Mart said. When he created Labubu, Lung gave the character, who is female, a backstory inspired by Nordic mythology. He called her and his other fictional creatures "The Monsters." Diana Goycortua, 25, first discovered Labubu through social media, and before she knew it, it felt like a "game" to try and collect the dolls. "It's a little bit of gambling with what you're getting," the Labubu fan from San Diego said on Sunday while waiting at the Pop Mart booth, concluding that her love for the character made it worth trying blind boxes. Goycortua already has three Labubus, and was hoping to score her a fourth one at Comic-Con. Reuters
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Velvet Sundown finally confesses to being AI
An indie rock band with more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify has owned up to being an AI-generated music project following days of speculation about whether the group was real, reported AFP. Named Velvet Sundown — seemingly a nod to Lou Reed's band The Velvet Underground — the digital group has become a viral hit, generating ferocious online discussion after racking up hundreds of thousands of listens. An updated Spotify profile, consulted on Tuesday by AFP, admitted that the group was an "ongoing artistic provocation". "All characters, stories, music, voices and lyrics are original creations generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools employed as creative instruments," Velvet Sundown's profile added. Recently created social media profiles, featuring photos of the group that look suspiciously fake, have teased readers about the group's origins, offering often contradictory information. As per the Guardian, the episode has triggered a debate about authenticity, with music industry insiders saying streaming sites should be legally obliged to tag music created by AI-generated acts so consumers can make informed decisions about what they are listening to. A major study in December by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), which represents more than five million creators worldwide, also warned about the danger of AI-generated music. It forecast that artists could see their incomes shrink by more than 20 per cent in the next four years as the market for AI-composed music grows. Stockholm-based streamer Spotify declined to comment directly about Velvet Sundown when contacted by AFP. Spokeswoman Geraldine Igou wrote that the platform does not "prioritise or benefit financially from music created using AI tools". "All tracks are created, owned, and uploaded by licensed third parties," Igou insisted. Rival music streaming service Deezer displayed a warning for "AI-generated content" for Velvet Sundown. "Some tracks on this album may have been created using artificial intelligence," it said. The Spotify rival has an AI-music detection tool that is able to identify songs generated using popular software models such as Suno and Udio. Deezer said in April that it was receiving more than 20,000 fully AI-generated tracks on a daily basis, comprising 18 per cent of all uploaded content, an increase from the previously reported 10 per cent in January. Reports on Tuesday said an imposter posing as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been using AI-generated voice and text messages to high-level officials and foreign ministers.
