James Gunn’s Superman is ‘Fixing’ Man of Steel’s Biggest Problem, And I Think It’s a Huge Mistake

As James Gunn continues to reshape the DC movie universe with his new take on Superman, the director is making sure to promise a fun, family-friendly adventure while giving credit to the comic source material. Reminding audiences of why they love Superman is all well and good, but staying too faithful to the comics could be a serious problem, especially following on the heels of Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel.

There is no question that the new Superman is trying to set its own tone. But in the film’s mission to cast off any troubled, tricky, or cynical impressions, in favor of a brighter, more optimistic Superman like the comics, James Gunn’s version looks to be making a dangerous mistake. In a superhero movie genre that is now filled with do-gooders, it’s seeming more and more like David Corenswet’s hero has been stripped of the one thing that makes Superman different from all other heroes.

Man of Steel Was Controversial, But Solved Superman’s Biggest Problem

If you follow superhero comics or movies long enough, you’re bound to hear creators or stars express the idea that “what makes Superman” isn’t any feature, any action, or any single story… he “just is.” Whether he is capable of always doing the right thing “because he’s Superman” and therefore an exception, or can be trusted to save the day because “that’s just what Superman does,” it’s clear that Superman is simply not like the rest of us. An aspiration, perhaps, but more of an ‘idea,’ at least in his superheroic persona.

This certainly stems from the hero’s comic tradition, where he can literally achieve anything. But it’s also why people dismiss Superman as “boring” or unrelatable. Why does Superman stand up for what’s right? His followers will say, “Because he’s Superman.” Why doesn’t he falter or fail? “Because Superman wouldn’t.” What if he doesn’t know the right choice? “Superman always knows.” What happens when he can’t save everyone? “He’s Superman, he would find a way.” And with almost a century of evidence in comics, nobody can blame them

James Gunn's Superman and Superman comic

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This tradition of superiority makes for a comforting idea, but these are also definitely reasons for Superman to be worshipped as a god, not for him to be a compelling protagonist of a story. At least not one expected to have conflict, tragedy, drama, growth, or meaningful triumph. So instead of taking these impossible expectations and infallibility as granted, writer David S. Goyer and director Zack Snyder made Man of Steel, placing all of that impossible pressure onto the shoulders of Clark Kent himself.

Zack Snyder Made ‘Superman’ An Idea, Far Bigger Than Clark Kent

Instead of a story which saw Clark Kent discover his superpowers, and decide to become a hero called ‘Superman,’ the story of Man of Steel created the idea outside of Clark, as the dream of not one, but both his fathers. While keeping true to the letter and spirit of the comics, young Clark was slowly introduced to the grand destiny that was expected and hoped for him. Jonathan Kent prepared Clark for the reality he would face from childhood, explaining that he was destined “to change the world,” and that mankind wouldn’t go along with it willingly.

After allowing his father’s death to show his commitment to this idea, Clark reached adulthood, and got an even bigger responsibility from his birth father, Jor-El. Explaining the scale and significance of his role, and even laying out his hope-emblazoned uniform for the job, Clark’s biological father told him what had to happen next:

“You can embody the best of both worlds. The dream your mother and I dedicated our lives to preserve… That’s what you can bring them… All the hopes and dreams of Krypton live in you now… You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards… In time, you will help them accomplish wonders.”

Through the ensuing movies, Snyder and Cavill’s hero strove to somehow make this “dream of a farmer from Kansas” a reality. In the process, giving more powerful answers to those same age-old questions. “Why does this Superman stand up for what’s right?” Because his father(s) taught him to. “Why doesn’t he falter or fail?” He does, who wouldn’t? “What if he doesn’t know the right choice?” Hey, now we’ve got a movie!

Henry Cavill in Man of Steel 2 Fan Trailer

Jor-El believed his son could change humanity’s future by rising above them. Jonathan Kent was terrified his son would be rejected and hated for it, and both fathers were right. Man of Steel and Batman v Superman showed the role was an impossible one to even attempt, which makes Clark Kent a hero long before he’s any ‘Superman’ we recognize. Unfortunately, this depiction of the character bordered on blasphemy for some, causing controversy, to say the least.

James Gunn’s Superman is ‘Fixing’ The Controversy, But Ignoring The Problem

The final Superman movie will tell how much Gunn has grappled with the same challenge. But already, it seems that the weight, the fear, the self-doubt, and the tragedy injected into the character by Goyer and Snyder has been intentionally removed for Gunn’s brighter incarnation. Optimists might wonder if Gunn has replaced them with something as potent, but skeptics will point to Corsenswet’s Clark scoffing at international incidents, Ma Kent cleaning his Super-boots, or his very-much-alive father Pa Kent, and suspect otherwise.

After the most hypeerbolic criticism of Man of Steel and the films which followed being cold, joyless, or otherwise “too heavy,” there’s no mystery as to why Gunn’s Superman would aim to lighten its load. But if the filmmakers (or audience) fail to realize why Snyder made ‘being Superman’ a legacy, not an identity, then it’s far more likely to fall prey to the same problems from the comics.

And in the process, deliver a Superman to the big screen who is now interchangable with Star-Lord, Captain America, Thor, and every other superhero who takes on the role… because they just do.