In the rubble of brooding antiheroes and apocalyptic scale, writer-director James Gunn’s Superman isn’t just a reboot; it’s a major reset for the DC Universe, reshaping the legacy into something more vulnerable, more human. “Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice, and the human way, he finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.”
In conversation with writer/director/producer James Gunn
Stronger Than Fiction: The Evolution of Superman on Screen
From Christopher Reeve’s earnest grace to Zack Snyder’s operatic grandeur, Superman has always reflected the age that bore him. Now, under James Gunn’s vision, the Man of Steel is reborn. This 2025 reboot doesn’t discard the cape’s storied past; it reframes it.
Gunn approaches the mythos less as a monument to restore and more as a story to be retold with fresh breath. Where Reeve’s Clark stood for golden-age idealism and Cavill’s embodied mythic alienation, this Superman strives for emotional fluency—a hero not above us, but among us. Drawing on his own flair for misfit empathy, Gunn leans into vulnerability, irony, and optimism not as tonal contradictions but as coexistences. The result is a film that reveres tradition without being bound by it—rooted in the past, yes, but unmistakably speaking to now.
James Gunn’s Superman is as much a personal reckoning as it is a cinematic reboot.
The emotional core of his screenplay was shaped by something more personal: being fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. That painful moment, and the overwhelming support he received afterward, shifted his creative compass. Gunn said, “Without that experience, I don’t think that I would’ve written the Superman that I wrote… That opened the door for me to stop creating so that people would like me.”
He approached the script with vulnerability, seeking feedback from trusted collaborators like DC writer Tom King. Gunn described his process as “first draft door closed, second draft door open,” emphasising the importance of constructive notes, even as the head of DC Studios.
The story follows a young Superman navigating his dual identity—balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing in Smallville. It’s not an origin story, but rather a fresh take on a more established Superman who’s still finding his place in a world that views his ideals as outdated.
Inspiration & Writing Process – Rewriting The Myth
James Gunn wrote Superman (formerly Superman: Legacy) by a deep love for the character’s enduring optimism and moral clarity—qualities he felt were missing from many modern superhero portrayals. He’s said that Superman represents “kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned,” and that idea became a central theme of the film.
Gunn also drew heavily from classic comics like All-Star Superman, Superman for All Seasons, and Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. While the plot of the film is original, he was influenced by the tone, emotional depth, and visual style of these stories. For instance, he admired how All-Star Superman blended science fiction with mythic storytelling, and how Superman for All Seasons captured Clark Kent’s humanity through the changing seasons of his life.
James Gunn drew inspiration from several iconic Superman comics to shape Superman: Legacy—each offering a different lens on the Man of Steel’s identity, values, and emotional depth:
- All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely: A philosophical and heartfelt exploration of Superman’s legacy, mortality, and compassion. Gunn has cited this as a major influence for its tone and optimism.
- Superman for All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale: A beautifully illustrated, seasonally structured coming-of-age story that emphasizes Clark Kent’s humanity and small-town roots.
- Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu: A modern retelling of Superman’s origin that focuses on his internal conflict and journalistic mission.
- Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank: A high-stakes confrontation with one of Superman’s most cerebral foes, highlighting his vulnerability and emotional ties to Earth.
- Superman: Ending Battle and others like American Alien, Space Age, and Superman: Unchained also helped shape the film’s tone and themes.
He’s described the film as a story about heritage and identity—how Superman’s Kryptonian lineage and Kansas upbringing shape his values and choices. It’s not just about superpowers, but about navigating a world that doesn’t always share his ideals.
James Gunn’s take on Superman redefines the character’s voice by leaning into earnestness without naivety, and idealism without irony—a bold move in an era of snarky, self-aware superheroes.
Instead of the stoic, sometimes distant figure we’ve seen in past iterations, Gunn’s Superman is emotionally accessible. He’s still the beacon of hope, but now with a touch of vulnerability and introspection. Gunn has said he wants Superman to be “kind in a world that thinks kindness is old-fashioned,” which reframes the Man of Steel not as a relic, but as a quiet revolutionary—someone who holds onto his values even when the world rolls its eyes.
This version of Clark Kent is also more grounded. He’s not discovering his powers or grappling with godhood—he’s already Superman, but still figuring out how to be human in a cynical world. That shift in voice means more warmth, more humor (Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane, confirmed this), and a deeper emotional resonance.
Gunn’s writing style—known for its balance of irreverence and sincerity—lets Superman speak with conviction, but also with heart. Expect fewer grand speeches and more quiet truths. Less “I must save the world” and more “I believe in it.”
James Gunn’s work has a pretty clear evolution when you zoom out across his projects. Early on, with films like Tromeo and Juliet and Slither, you see a playful love of genre with a side of outrageous chaos—he wasn’t afraid to go weird and wild. Then his Scooby-Doo scripts showed his knack for balancing nostalgia with meta-humor, already hinting at that heart-underneath-the-sarcasm vibe.
But everything shifted with Guardians of the Galaxy. That was a breakout moment, where he blended emotional backstory, mismatched characters, killer soundtracks, and cosmic spectacle into something unexpectedly soulful. From there, his signature style crystallized: damaged but lovable characters, irreverence tempered by sincerity, and themes of chosen family and redemption.
The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker cranked up the cynicism and gore but still stayed true to that emotional core. Now, with Superman, Gunn’s channeling those storytelling instincts into a figure who’s the opposite of cynical—a beacon of hope. It’s like his whole journey as a writer has led to this moment: embracing earnestness in a world that often dismisses it.
Building a Brighter World
Filming began in March 2024, under snow-dusted skies and high expectations. But rather than chase the operatic spectacle of predecessors, Gunn built a Metropolis that breathes—a city shaped not by grandeur but by heart. The production team leaned into vibrant colour palettes, earnest character beats, and a sense of wonder reminiscent of Joe Shuster’s early illustrations. The process was collaborative, intimate, and purpose-driven, with Gunn reportedly treating each scene like a love letter to hope itself. As co-CEO of DC Studios, he wasn’t just directing a film—he was charting the first step of a creative renaissance.
The Hero We Still Need
With Superman, Gunn doesn’t just relaunch a hero—he reorients a cinematic universe. As the keystone of the new DCU, this film holds the burden of belief: that sincerity sells, that optimism still resonates, and that character can be compelling without cynicism. If it lands, it won’t just elevate Clark Kent—it’ll light the runway for Supergirl, The Brave and the Bold, and a host of characters waiting in the wings.
James Gunn didn’t just write a Superman story—he lived one. Exiled, doubted, and ultimately restored, his journey mirrors that of the hero he now helms: not a god returning from the sky, but a man stepping forward when the world needs him most. In giving Superman his heart back, Gunn has done something rare in modern cinema—he’s made hope feel rebellious again. And maybe, just maybe, that’s all the legacy ever needed to fly.
James Gunn has quite the eclectic writing résumé, blending horror, comedy, and superhero genres with his signature irreverent flair.
Here are some of the notable films he’s written:
- Tromeo and Juliet (1996) – A cult-classic punk adaptation of Shakespeare, written during his early days at Troma Entertainment.
- Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) – Yes, those live-action Scooby-Doo films. Gunn brought a cheeky, self-aware tone to the beloved franchise.
- Dawn of the Dead (2004) – He penned the screenplay for Zack Snyder’s remake of the George A. Romero zombie classic.
- Slither (2006) – His directorial debut, a gooey horror-comedy that’s become a cult favorite.
- Super (2010) – A dark, gritty take on the vigilante genre starring Rainn Wilson and Elliot Page.
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Vol. 2 (2017), and Vol. 3 (2023) – Gunn wrote and directed all three, redefining the Marvel cosmic landscape with humor and heart.
- The Suicide Squad (2021) – A chaotic, blood-soaked reboot that gave the DC antiheroes a fresh, irreverent spin.
- The Belko Experiment (2016) – A brutal office survival thriller he wrote and produced.
- Brightburn (2019) – A superhero-horror mashup he produced and co-wrote the story for.
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) – A festive Marvel one-off written and directed by Gunn.
- Superman (2025) – His latest, and perhaps most personal, project as both writer and director, launching the new DC Universe.
He’s also dabbled in TV and web series, like Peacemaker and James Gunn’s PG Porn.
James Gunn: From Cult Cinema to Cultural Architect
James Francis Gunn Jr., born August 5, 1966, in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and studio executive known for blending irreverent humor with emotional sincerity. He began his career at the cult film company Troma Entertainment, co-writing Tromeo and Juliet (1996), before making his directorial debut with the horror-comedy Slither (2006).
Gunn gained mainstream acclaim with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), redefining the superhero genre with a misfit ensemble and a mixtape heart. He followed it with Guardians Vol. 2 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), and the HBO Max series Peacemaker (2022–present), showcasing his signature blend of spectacle and soul.
In 2022, Gunn was appointed co-chair and co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran. His first major project in this role is Superman (2025), a reboot that reimagines the iconic hero through a lens of vulnerability, hope, and emotional truth.
Gunn holds degrees from Saint Louis University and Columbia University (MFA in creative writing). He was previously married to actress Jenna Fischer and is now married to actress Jennifer Holland. His brothers Sean, Brian, and Matt Gunn are also active in the entertainment industry
