At a time when blockbuster superheroes are often framed through cynicism, trauma, and moral compromise, James Gunn streered his Superman movie in a very different direction. His take on the Man of Steel isn’t about deconstruction or darkness. It’s about something far simpler and, arguably, far riskier in today’s movie climate…. Goodness.
When Gunn recently talked about why he wanted to make Superman, he doesn’t bring up scale, lore, or spectacle first. What drew him in was the character’s emotional core and the challenge of presenting that earnestly to a modern audience.
“When I first talked to the cast and crew, I wanted to make something about goodness. This guy isn’t perfect, even though he’s Superman. He’s really just trying to do his best. He’s good-natured. He’s loving. He sees the best in everyone.”
Gunn isn’t treating Clark Kent like a god or an unreachable symbol. He’s approaching him as a sincere, sometimes awkward person who believes in people even when they give him reasons not to. In an era where heroes are often defined by their flaws or their anger, Gunn is leaning into empathy and moral clarity.
Gunn has pointed directly to All-Star Superman as a key influence on how he sees the character. The comic’s version of Superman isn’t aloof or intimidating. He’s gentle, patient, and human despite the fact he’s an alien with crazy super powers. Gunn explained:
“That was the thing that hooked me. That big lug of a superhero being genuinely kind. That’s what I took from the book.”
Gunn stripped away the untouchable sheen and replacing it with warmth. This isn’t a character who looks down on humanity. He stands with it. That distinction matters, especially now, when audiences are surrounded by stories that often default to bleakness as a shortcut to depth.
Of course, taking this route with Superman comes with its own weight. Gunn is well aware that nearly everyone has their own idea of who Superman is supposed to be. The character carries more than eighty years of cultural expectations, and every creative choice is going to be scrutinized.
“Everyone in the world thinks something different about Superman. Everybody knows who he is.”
That pressure only intensified knowing the film would be viewed as a statement about the future of DC Studios. Gunn wasn’t just making a movie. He was setting a tone. Choosing optimism over grit wasn’t the safer option. It was the honest one.
What makes this version of Superman feel timely is how unapologetic it is about sincerity. Gunn isn’t trying to argue that kindness is naive or outdated. He’s presenting it as something active and difficult. Superman’s goodness isn’t passive. It’s a choice he makes again and again, even when it costs him.
In a blockbuster landscape that often equates seriousness with darkness, Gunn’s betting that audiences are ready for a hero who believes in people without irony. Not because the world is perfect, but because it’s worth believing in anyway.
Source: Variety
