It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman…as a victim of cancel culture?
In his first installment for the new DC Universe, James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) reimagines the Man of Steel in a world that feels all too familiar.
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Rethinking What We Know
Few directors blend sincerity with spectacle as seamlessly as Gunn. Just look at how many people still lovingly chant, “I AM GROOT!” years later! Now at DC Studios, he continues that tradition, blending humor and humanity in a world that mirrors ours.
That being said, he makes a deliberate and interesting choice to skim over Superman’s origin story. During the film’s Manila press conference last June, he explained that when you’re working with a character the audience already knows and loves, “you don’t have to explain that they were born at this time or this place.”
In doing so, he acknowledges the cultural weight and fanfare surrounding Superman. Rather than rehashing what we already know, he dives straight into the film’s main conflict. But if you’re not fully caught up on the lore, the script weaves in just enough to get you up to speed.
Modern Problems, Modern Solutions
This film’s Metropolis is steeped in real-world issues, reminding us that this Superman is as modern as it gets. From political warfare to troll farms, the threats are as ideological as they are physical. This makes his fight for truth and justice feel more urgent than ever.
Each actor also embraces this grounded approach. David Corenswet (Twisters) brings an earnest warmth to Superman, portraying him not as a distant savior but as someone trying to do good in a complicated world. Meanwhile, Nicholas Hoult (Nosferatu) plays Lex Luthor with chilling familiarity, the kind of cunning, power-hungry figure you might see trending on social media for all the wrong reasons.
Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Skyler Gisondo (Booksmart) round out the cast with wit and conviction as Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, respectively. Their portrayal of the Daily Planet journalists reminds us that, in a city full of noise and misinformation, the truth —and especially the courage to report it —still matters.
You Are Your Choices
At its core, Superman isn’t just about capes and supervillains; it’s a story about integrity in the face of chaos. At one point, a character reminds us: Who you are comes down to the choices you make. Gunn’s take underscores that true heroism means choosing to do good when it’s hardest. And for this new era of DC, that might just be the boldest superpower of all.
Superman is now showing in cinemas nationwide.
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