The start of the brand-new DC Universe helmed by James Gunn ofGuardians of the GalaxyandThe Suicide Squadfame is still a ways off for now. However, that hasn’t stopped DC fans from speculating about the upcoming 2025 filmSuperman: Legacy, which was recently confirmed to have Gunn as its director as well as its writer.
While Gunn is certainly a filmmaker with a distinctive style, the offbeat comedy and over-the-top violence of his previous movies aren’t what one would typically look for from aSupermandirector. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Gunn is the wrong man for the job. In fact, he might be exactly what theSupermanfranchise needs right now.
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How Can James Gunn Make Superman Better?
James Gunn made his name as amainstream superhero movie directorwith 2014’sGuardians of the Galaxy, which took an obscure Marvel Comics team and catapulted them into stardom. The film’s success was due in no small part to its lighthearted, adventurous tone, which made it stand out from other, more serious superhero movies of previous years. James Gunn is a director who knows how to make unabashedly fun superhero movies, and that’s definitely something that could be a major advantage toSuperman: Legacy.
Of course, the snarky banter ofGuardians of the Galaxyor the R-rated comedy ofThe Suicide Squadare a far cry from the particular brand of fun that one would expect from aSupermanmovie. But thankfully, Gunn has also proven adept at balancing wild humor with genuine human emotion.Underneath all the jokes,bothGuardians of the GalaxyandThe Suicide Squadare, at their core, stories about found family. They feature groups of flawed, broken people who manage to join together to bring out the best in one another. Gunn knows how to mine genuine pathos out of even the silliest of movies — just ask anyone who cried during Yondu’s death inGOTG Vol. 2. Gunn’s movies can be witty and ridiculous one moment, then sincere and heartfelt the next. If Gunn manages to tip the scales towards the latter half of that balance, then he might just be a perfect fit forSuperman: Legacy.
What Will Superman: Legacy Be Based On?
But if Gunn’s previous work still isn’t enoughto convince Superman fansof his credentials, then his choice in source material may fill them with a bit more confidence. Gunn has been very open about usingAll-Star Supermanby writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely as his main comic influence forSuperman: Legacy. Widely hailed by fans and critics alike as one of the greatest Superman stories ever told,All-Star Supermanis a story that perfectly encapsulates Superman’s nature as a kind, compassionate protector of humanity and a beacon of hope for the world.
Granted, Gunn has stated thatLegacywon’t be a proper adaptation ofAll-Star Superman. After all,Legacyis said to be featuring a youngerSuperman in his early daysas a hero, whileAll-Star Supermanserves as a grand finale to the tale of the Man of Tomorrow. However, he’s also confirmed thatAll-Star Supermanwill be serving as the primary influence for the overall tone ofLegacy, with Quitely’s art even representing the film during its initial announcement. And if that’s indeed the case, then fans can likely expect Gunn’s Superman to be characterized similarly to Morrison’s.
Additionally, it’s important to note thatAll-Star Supermanis a massive love letter to the Superman mythos, fully embracing the weirdness of Bizarro World or the Bottled City of Kandor. As such, it’s only natural that a filmmaker like Gunn would gravitate to it — his past work has shown that he’s unafraid to lean into the stranger side of comics. He’salready brought Rocket Raccoonand Starro the Conqueror to the big screen, so why not Krypto the Superdog or Mr. Mxyzptlk?
What Have Other Movies Gotten Wrong About Superman?
Over the past several decades, Superman hasn’t had the best luck when it comes to film adaptations. Despite the success of the first twoSupermanmovies starring Christopher Reeve, the following sequels eschewed the series’ comic book roots in favor of poorly-received stories with original antagonists. And while 2006’sSuperman Returnsattempted to recapture the magic of the first film, it ultimately played things a bit too safe, and failed to leave a real impact on audiences.
In more recent years. Henry Cavill’s Superman, as featured inthe films of Zack Snyder,has proven divisive among fans. While Snyder’s take on the Man of Steel has its defenders, many Superman devotees have found Cavill’s Clark to be far too dour and distant, lacking the warmth and empathy that Superman is typically known for. Controversial story decisions like Pa Kent discouraging his son from helping others or having Superman kill General Zod certainly didn’t help matters either.
Right now, there are countless DC fans longing for a return to the kind, caring, hopeful Superman of ages past — a Superman who never gives up fighting for justice, and helps everyone he can with a smile on his face. This is the perfect time for a fun, heartfelt Superman movie, onefilled with joy and wonderinstead of angst and tragedy. And between his past work and the source material he’s drawing from, it’s looking increasingly likely that James Gunn will makeSuperman: Legacythat exact sort of movie.
