James Gunn On Recreating Superman: I Wanted Someone Who Is Grounded
The new Superman film reminds us that even heroes want to feel at home
Every generation has its Superman. From Kirk Alyn to Henry Cavill to today’s David Corenswet, kids have always seen a version of the Man of Steel who reflects their moment. But as a new Superman film prepares to hit Philippine cinemas this July, director James Gunn and his cast are bringing the hero back down to Earth, literally and emotionally.
James Gunn, David Corenswet, and Rachel Brosnahan made a quick stop in Manila from June 19 to 20 as part of the film’s world tour, wherein they met fans and got a taste of Filipino hospitality.
James Gunn: Superman Through the Eyes of a Child
At a press conference on June 20, James Gunn, best known for Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, spoke candidly about his vision for Superman and why it was a decade in the making.
“I always liked the character of Superman. I started reading Superman comics when I was 3 or 4 years old,” he shared. “I’m sitting here today not just because of my dream, but because of Peter Safran,” he added, referring to his DC Studios co-head, who had encouraged him to take on the project.
But James waited until inspiration struck. “One day, I saw the film in my head,” he recalled. “I saw Superman in a world full of superheroes, the Daily Planet gang, a flying dog, and giant monsters—a world I was already meshed in as a child.”
James Gunn during the press conference for Superman in Manila. Photo from Warner Bros
For the director and DC Studios CEO, grounding Superman didn’t mean stripping him of fantasy; it meant anchoring the fantasy in truth. “I wanted to create that feeling I had as a young child in a film that both children and adults can enjoy,” he said. “This other universe—but still with real stakes, real people, real relationships.”
In a separate interview with GMA News, James shared that one of the scenes that touched him the most was the special moment between Superman and his dad, Jonathan.
“I lost my dad five years ago, and his relationship with his dad was something that was moving to me,” he said. “The movie in the States is coming out on my dad’s birthday on July 11, which is a coincidence. But it’s a sign up there that he’s listening.”
Screenshot from Warner Bros
David Corenswet: The Loneliness Behind the Legend
David Corenswet may have built Superman’s body in the gym before filming, but what made him truly connect to the character was something far more human.
“In that moment, you feel very alone, even when you are at the gym working out,” he said of his preparations. “That’s when I felt I tapped into something essential to Superman—his loneliness. He struggles with feeling isolated, even from the people he loves most.”
That sense of not quite fitting in? It’s not just a superhero thing—it’s something many kids and teens face every day, whether at school, among friends, or even within their families.
“He wants so desperately to be one of them,” Corenswet said, referring to humans. “He wants to connect—but he knows, and feels, that he’s not like them. That’s a universal human experience: to be surrounded by people and still feel alone.”
David Corenswet during the press conference for Superman in Manila. Photo from Warner Bros
Unlike previous versions of the story, this film doesn’t spend time retelling Superman’s origin, but that doesn’t mean it’s not central to the character’s emotional arc.
“The origin story plays an essential role in the character’s development in the film. It’s just that it’s much fun to jump into the middle where you get your ass kick and get back into the fight. That’s straightforward, easy play as an actor.”
Superman hits Philippine cinemas on July 9.
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