11-07-2025
White saviour or DC cash cow: James Gunn's ‘Superman'
Every decade has its own set of redefined superhero movies, remakes that retell the tale you probably know.
While Gal Gadot has become something of a beacon for Zack Snyder's take on the DC Comics set meant to compete with the ebbs and flows of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), their latest offering sees Superman take on new heights with James Gunn. Having found success for the MCU through projects such as Guardians of the Galaxy and the Suicide Squad redux, Gunn has shown to be a critical darling and box office whisperer when it comes to bringing to life the caped comic book crusaders.
While 2002's Spider-Man trilogy has always been a benchmark, it is preceded by the success of the 1978 Superman, a legacy the movie makers behind the recent Flash movie nearly squandered with AI renditions of its past stars. However, Gunn's soft reboot heralds a new day for the DC cinematic universe's northern star, with David Corenswet taking over as its new face.
The new outing swings hard with relatable storytelling and all too familiar spins on well-known characters. Corenswet brings nothing new to the titular hero, aka Clark Kent. This works in the movie's favour as it isn't looking to explore coming of age or an origin. It also isn't looking to spend too much time pretending people do not know who the characters are. Louis (played by Beautiful Creatures and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel leading lady Rachel Broshnan) is coupled up with Superman as they explore the nitty gritty of life in the media.
