David Corenswet Wants To See An R-Rated SUPERMAN Project; James Gunn Talks Bollywood Influence

David Corenswet Wants To See An R-Rated SUPERMAN Project; James Gunn Talks Bollywood Influence

David Corenswet has expressed interest in seeing his take on Superman in an R-rated project, while director James Gunn has revealed that he took inspiration from Bollywood movies...

By MarkCassidy - Jul 03, 2025 12:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman

If there's one character most comic book fans would tend to agree simply does not need to go "dark and gritty," it's Superman.

This is not to say that a slightly more serious take on the iconic superhero couldn't work (how successful Zack Snyder's movies were in their depiction of the Man of Steel is debatable, but they certainly have their fans), but by and large, there doesn't seem to be a lot of demand to see Supes go R-rated - at least, not among the fanbase!

During an interview with Nerdist, star David Corenswet expressed an interest in seeing his take on the iconic hero in a more adult-oriented project.

"I would love to see this Superman in an R-rated project... in a thing like Lanterns where it's that True Detective' feel. In spite of how bright and playful this version is, I think there's room to be flexible." 

James Gunn's movie does seem to be fairly light in tone, and it's difficult to picture Corenswet's Man of Tomorrow unleashing heat-vision hell on his enemies. But The DCU is going to be comprised of family-friendly and R-rated projects, so there's nothing to say we couldn't see Superman show up in Peacemaker season 2, for example. The character wouldn't need to change, necessarily, and would simply be adapting to a different environment.

In a separate interview with HT City, Gunn revealed that he took inspiration from a surprising source for his Superman movie.

"Bollywood movies are the most important thing to me. That’s really where I take my inspiration for Superman"

Can we expect to see a couple of song and dance numbers in the movie? Gunn was most likely referring to the movie's overall aesthetic, but you never know!

Around 30 minutes of Superman screened during a fan-event in the UK last night, and you can check out some reactions below.

Superman recently hit box office tracking, with predictions in the $95M-$135M opening weekend range. The movie has already taken in over $10 million from ticket pre-sales.

The DCU reboot stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/the Man of Steel, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.

The cast also Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell as "Ma" and "Pa" Kent, and Milly Alcock's Supergirl has been confirmed to make her debut ahead of her own Woman of Tomorrow movie.

"And that’s a wrap," Gunn posted last year when filming concluded. "God bless our cast and crew whose commitment, creativity, and hard work have brought this project to life. I set out to make a movie about a good man in a world that isn’t always so much. And the goodness and kindness and love I’ve encountered on a daily basis on the set has inspired me and thrust me forward when I felt too spent to move on my own.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It has been an honor. The destination has been Superman, but the journey has been the toil and the laughter and the emotions and ideas and magic we’ve shared together on set - and for that I am forever grateful."

You can check out a synopsis for the movie below.

"In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind."

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SUPERMAN Actor David Corenswet Names Nightwing As The Character He Most Wants The Man Of Steel To Meet

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McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/3/2025, 12:04 PM
I get the bollywood reference but not necessarily what I want to hear lol. I despise bollywood films. If this film sucks I'm going to be bummed. I'm keeping the hope folks. Good news is most of the people I trust are saying it's good so fingers crossed.
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 7/3/2025, 12:08 PM
@McMurdo - Have you seen 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'? It's wonderful.
Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 7/3/2025, 12:19 PM
@McMurdo - Hope can be a mistake. If you keep trying to fix what’s broken you will go insane.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/3/2025, 1:04 PM
@Canyoublush - If Superman sucks, then I am going to do the sensible thing and give up all hope for a workable DC franchise.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/3/2025, 1:09 PM
@Canyoublush - bit extreme bud hope is a good thing it can keep you going. You just have to know when to call it if things don't work out. Never fake it.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/3/2025, 1:10 PM
@ObserverIO - ill be right there with ya. That's not to say Supergirl and Lanterns can't be great but you really need Superman to be good for a DCU to work IMO
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/3/2025, 1:28 PM
@McMurdo - I'll def still be looking forward to certain projects (both Supergirl and Lanterns are promising), but I'll take them on a case by case basis. The universe might stumble around on one leg for 10 years like the DCEU or get put out of it's misery and rebooted earlier, but I just can't wait for that and I just can't hope any more for it to all work out eventually.

I will become a casual.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 7/3/2025, 3:18 PM
@McMurdo -

I could not agree more with everything you just said. Clearly you are a genius too.

I really like most of the many Indian people I have met and worked with, but Bollywood entertainment sucks.

McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/3/2025, 6:49 PM
@Lisa89 - lolllll
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 7/3/2025, 12:10 PM
R Rated Superman.

As much as Rachel Brosnahan likes to take her top off in movies....... Well then there's that
McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/3/2025, 1:10 PM
@TyrantBossMedia - hasn't she only done that once? Albeit in the very first episode of her hit TV show lol
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 7/3/2025, 1:52 PM
@McMurdo - Nope. She has done it a number of times.

She was in an episode of House of Cards, a movie called Louder than Bombs in 2015, and another movie Dead for a Dollar in 2022.

Matador
Matador - 7/3/2025, 2:30 PM
@TyrantBossMedia - Damn Mr. Skin you know your stuff.
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 7/3/2025, 2:34 PM
@Matador - The internet is magic
McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/3/2025, 6:48 PM
@TyrantBossMedia - damn lol
Pictilli
Pictilli - 7/3/2025, 12:11 PM
Gunn saying Bollywood (the Indian Hollywood knockoff) is what influenced his movie is just to appease the spiteful indians that got butthurt over his reference to online trolls the other day.
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 7/3/2025, 12:28 PM
@Pictilli - you say it like pandering is a good thing. Don't worry, you're going to love the hall of justice dance number at the end 🤠
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 7/3/2025, 12:38 PM
@Pictilli - What was the reference to online trolls? I missed it. Link?
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/3/2025, 1:14 PM
@SpiderParker - He was talking about how he can't let it get to him. The quote is:

"Every once in a while someone will say something, it's always the weirdest stuff ... and then I go 'I think I might be getting upset about something a 12 year old boy in India is saying'... you know what I mean? And I'm like 'let it go'".

The example of a 12 year old boy in India is obviously speaking to how these commenters are completely random people from all over the world. He's putting it into perspective. Why would he let a random child from halfway across the world get him down? That's all he's saying. They made a big thing about it because these are the times we're living in.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 7/3/2025, 2:20 PM
@ObserverIO - Wow. That's funny. And I just read this article so apparently, Snyder has a lot of fans in India.

https://www.financialexpress.com/life/entertainment-netizens-call-for-superman-boycott-james-gunns-racist-india-comments-under-fire-ahead-of-dc-revival-3900300/
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/3/2025, 4:30 PM
@SpiderParker - Humans are a bloodthirsty lot. A wisp of justification is all they need, whether it actually makes sense or not. Of course the Snyder Cult is pouncing on this. Good ammo for them for sure. Fuel for the fire.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/3/2025, 12:14 PM
Honestly , I think Superman could work in a more “adult” or “mature” story if done right…

I think the best way to do something like that is Superman vs The Elite where you make The former be the light in the darkness and not someone who becomes a part of it like the character in BVS imo.

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Anyway in regards to the Bollywood comment , Gunn could have just be appealing to the crowd so to speak since the interview he said that in was to an Indian news outlet but if so then as a fan that has me intrigued tbh…

I doubt Superman has song & dance numbers but there is a certain way in which they present their biggest stars especially in action films that’s very larger then life which could be the influence here in regards to how Gunn handles the character.
0bstreperous
0bstreperous - 7/3/2025, 12:30 PM
Man I'm expecting this movie to let me down so I can only be pleasantly surprised

(But I'm still expecting a let down)
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 7/3/2025, 12:32 PM
As long as it's well done I say go for it
Huskers
Huskers - 7/3/2025, 12:40 PM
Oh hell no on the R-rated Superman! Between Snyder’s take on the character, Brightburn, and Injustice, I’ve had enough of dark Superman!
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/3/2025, 1:19 PM
@Huskers - R-rated doesn't necessarily mean dark Superman. For example Superman was kind of in Peacemaker Season 1. He was in Justice League Dark: Apocalypse War too (but that's probably a bad example because it featured a possessed Superman at one point).

It could be exactly the same Superman but maybe a villain like Doomsday is horrific and monstrous and maybe there's nudity or sex or something. A little cussing from a few characters. Doesn't have to affect Superman's character though.
Huskers
Huskers - 7/4/2025, 1:32 AM
@ObserverIO - You know honestly, now that I think about it, “What’s so funny about Truth, Justice and the American Way?” would be an amazing R-rated story to adopt to the big screen, which stayed true to the character. And it’s one of my favorite stories! So I appreciate your point.
MisterBones
MisterBones - 7/3/2025, 12:42 PM
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ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 7/3/2025, 12:45 PM
Well at least we have Bright Burn.
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 7/3/2025, 12:49 PM
Wasn't that what that edgy Bright Burn shit was supposed to be ? No thanks.
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 7/3/2025, 12:50 PM
James Gunns Superman…
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AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 7/3/2025, 1:49 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - not enough characters
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 7/3/2025, 1:00 PM
Bright Burn, The Boys, and Invincible exist for this very reason. And if you want to go beyond that and this might be controversial but the Dragon Ball Z Manga exists for some more Superman esque characters with evil motivations. I'm talking about you Frieza.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 7/3/2025, 1:07 PM
Bollywood Influence?.... phuck me
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Forthas
Forthas - 7/3/2025, 1:14 PM
""I would love to see this Superman in an R-rated project... in a thing like Lanterns where it's that True Detective' feel. In spite of how bright and playful this version is, I think there's room to be flexible."

Wasn't the whole point of rebooting this was so we can make it bright and kid friendly. It looks like Warner Brothers was duped yet again by these fake "Superman fans" that were advocating for a Super sensitive and colorful diaper Man!
ComicBookPsycho
ComicBookPsycho - 7/3/2025, 3:46 PM
@Forthas - It's not like Superman will switch personalities when he's in a more mature project.
Forthas
Forthas - 7/3/2025, 4:23 PM
@ComicBookPsycho -

@ComicBookPsycho - So he will continue to be goofy in serious films also?

User Comment Image
bkircher
bkircher - 7/3/2025, 1:36 PM
An R rated/mature take on Superman? Is the new supes delusional? Bro pretty sure that was the whole point of Zach Snyder's Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman........? I guess we're all gonna pretend that those movies never happened?? As much as I want this movie to succeed, all the previews make it seem like a recycled peas powerful version of Cavils supes.
dragon316
dragon316 - 7/3/2025, 1:41 PM
Injustice Superman all I can think of be r rated kinda had one brightburn
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 7/3/2025, 3:47 PM
@dragon316 - or Red Son. Could use Hank Henshaw and the Radicator too.
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