What advice did James Gunn ask from Zack Snyder about Superman? Explained

Modified Dec 25, 2024 08:09 GMT

A still from the trailer of Superman (Image via Warner Bros. Pictures)

Superman, one of the most iconic superheroes, is set to return to the big screen in a highly anticipated reboot. Set to premiere on July 11, 2025, James Gunn is the director and writer of the new movie titled Superman. Warner Bros. Pictures is the distributor and DC Studios serves as the producer of this project.

Complementing Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult, David Corenswet will be introduced as Clark Kent/Superman in the upcoming movie.

As part of his preparation, creator James Gunn sought advice from filmmaker, Zack Snyder. Gunn asked the Man of Steel (2013) director, Snyder, especially about adding the iconic red trunks, a long-contested design feature in the hero's costume.

In an exclusive Q&A with Screen Brief released on December 21, 2024, Snyder suggested Gunn:

"I tried like a billion versions with the trunks and just never got there."

The question of whether to include the red trunks encapsulates Gunn’s broader challenge of honoring Superman’s legacy while crafting a narrative for contemporary audiences. By engaging with Snyder, Gunn gained insights that has helped shape a Superman fitting for this new era of the DC Universe.

Zack Snyder’s take on Superman’s red trunks

The red trunks have been a defining part of the iconic costume since his debut in the comics. But Zack Snyder's Man of Steel chose a modernized look and omitted them. James Gunn sought Snyder's advice on the difficulties of designing the costume when he thought about bringing back the trunks for his reboot.

During the interview with Screen Brief, James Gunn stated:

“There was a time when I was developing the Superman costume, with David Corenswet and Juliana, our costume designer.”

Gunn continued:

“And it was coming together, but it had the red trunks, it had the whole thing. And we really went back and forth a lot about the red trunks. I even talked to Zack Snyder about it."

This acknowledgment resonated with Gunn, who struggled with the same issue. Gunn ultimately decided to forego the classic design.

In the same interview, James Gunn talked about taking inspiration from Snyder. He stated:

"Zack Snyder did a lot of amazing things with action, and I took a lot of stuff from that, and already have before then."

Gun added:

"I took a lot of different things from different time periods. But I really go back to the comic books, because I’m first and foremost a comic book fan. I really took more inspiration from the comics than I did from the film adaptions."

The costume design process

James Gunn worked closely with costume designers and actor David Corenswet to develop a suit that embodies the superhero's dual identity as an alien and a human symbol of hope.

In the same interview, Gunn recalled having a conversation with Corenswet on how he felt about the colorful suit. According to Gunn, the actor responded:

“I’m an alien from outer space who can fly and lift buildings, and I shoot laser beams out of my eyes that can dissolve things. I want kids to not be afraid of me.”

All about the movie

The new movie is supposed to have a fresh plot with action, romance, and introspection. From Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman comic book series, the story gets ideas for Clark Kent's journey as both a reporter and a superhero.

David Corenswet’s portrayal of the superhero brings a youthful energy to the character. Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is presented as a fearless journalist and equal partner to Clark. Together, their chemistry is likely going to be a highlight of the film.