SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Reveals Three Iconic Comic Book Moments He Doesn't Want To See On Screen Again

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Reveals Three Iconic Comic Book Moments He Doesn't Want To See On Screen Again

Superman director James Gunn has revealed three iconic comic book moments that he feels never need to be adapted for the screen again, and it's difficult to argue!

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

There are certain moments that are integral to every superhero's story that it would be almost impossible not to depict when showing their origin play out on screen, but when a character is big enough to get the reboot treatment (sometimes more than once), witnessing these scenes in question unfold again can start to come across a little repetitive.

Batman, Spider-Man and Superman are three of the most popular and well-known comic book characters of all time, and it's probably safe to assume that most people - even non-comic book readers - are aware of the events that put them on the paths to becoming the heroes we know them as today.

Do we really needs to witness those sequences again? James Gunn doesn't think so.

The Superman director was asked to name three moments we simply don't need to see in a CBM ever again during an interview with The Times.

“I don’t need to see pearls in a back alley when Batman’s parents are killed. I don’t need to see the radioactive spider biting Spider-Man. I don’t need to see baby Kal coming from Krypton in a little baby rocket.”

To be fair, Sony Pictures' latest Spider-Man trilogy did not take us back to the fateful day Peter Parker was bitten by a spider (though Tom Holland's Peter he did mention it during a conversation with Ned Leeds), and Matt Reeves' The Batman only vaguely referenced the deaths of Bruce Wayne's parents. Superman: The Movie, Superman Returns and Man of Steel all showed that infant-sized rocket hurtling towards Earth, so it's understandable that Gunn decided to go another direction with his DCU reboot!

Do you agree with Gunn's picks? Drop us a comment down below, and check out a new IMAX featurette for Superman.

Superman 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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Goldboink
Goldboink - 7/7/2025, 3:09 PM
That sums it up.
RockReigns
RockReigns - 7/7/2025, 3:11 PM
Agreed. Everyone knows the origin. Pull me right into the action.
Kadara
Kadara - 7/7/2025, 3:11 PM
That's because studios keep resetting these characters after every years, and so the story needs to be told from the beginning. That's why we have Lex Luthor as the villain once again, when it would have been nice to see Brainiac just once!
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 7/7/2025, 3:12 PM
Agreed, James. Why set yourself up to be inevitably unfavorably compared.
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 7/7/2025, 3:18 PM
He'd be wise to skip Wonder Woman's origin story as well.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/7/2025, 3:21 PM
@Lisa89 - He could actually do a softbooted sequel to the 2017 WW movie without Gal. That movie sums up her origin, tells her classic story (Steve Trevor, World War, Ares) and doesn't necessarily rely on any particular universe for continuity. It could slide easily into any new universe.
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 7/7/2025, 3:27 PM
@ObserverIO - That’s probably the plan. Sidestep a lot of the characters origin stories and say something like, “Those stories have been told. I want to walk in freshly fallen snow.” I wouldn’t blame him. Imagine trying to retell Wondy’s origin and top the “No Man’s Land” sequence?
Kadara
Kadara - 7/7/2025, 3:41 PM
@Lisa89 - Honestly wouldn't mind if we got a Justice League where everyone shows up like they are already aware of each other. Kinda like the animated Justice League: War. After that they can always do spin-off on each character. And this way they won't be copying the Marvel idea.
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 7/7/2025, 3:47 PM
Agreed. I always though one the DCEU's greatest strengths was the penchant for non-liner storytelling.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 7/7/2025, 6:09 PM
@Kadara - That's what SnyderCult said the last time. Didn't work then, might not work now. They don't need to show origin story but they do need solo movies before a team-up.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/7/2025, 3:18 PM
And neither does the audience.

But they do need to see the origins of Metamorpho, Hawkgirl, etc.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 7/7/2025, 3:40 PM
@ObserverIO - Do we really though? Not just being argumentative, but I dont really think we need the origin of every character before they are introduced and am interested in your perspective. Other movies dont do that for all their characters, and even the comics dont work that way. You typically find out more about a character's backstory as time goes on and maybe you get the full origin if/when they get their own solo story. I actually prefer it that way and it makes it MUCH easier for them to build the DC universe fairly quickly while leaving room for individual stories for the more popular characters that can be told in solo films.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/7/2025, 6:12 PM
@Shivermetimbers - It depends on whether or not your talking about their character's backstory or the origin of their powers. The backstory can absolutely be told in later movies, but the origin of their powers is something that the audience needs to know at some point within their first movie, unless it's an acknowledged mystery and is never taken for granted.

But I get the feeling that Metamorpho, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl's powers will just be accepted and no exposition or explanations will be offered for any of them.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 7/7/2025, 6:48 PM
@ObserverIO - Fair enough, we have different perspectives about that. Agree to disagree. I can understand where you are coming from though. Hopefully there is some explanation given that works for you.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/7/2025, 7:02 PM
@Shivermetimbers - I was thinking more about it working for general audiences. Us die-hard comics fans are way more forgiving.
tluciotti74
tluciotti74 - 7/7/2025, 3:27 PM
agree but he still marched out the same ole villian for Superman? There are plenty of stories to tell that do not involve Luthor
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 7/7/2025, 3:42 PM
@tluciotti74 - you realize there are several villains in the film, right? Especially ones we haven't seen on the big screen before....
tluciotti74
tluciotti74 - 7/7/2025, 3:49 PM
@lazlodaytona - yes, and from everything out there, all controlled by Luthor, so again, he is the BBG in a Superman movie
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 7/7/2025, 5:31 PM
@tluciotti74 - sure. As compared to the BBG Luthor who just wanted land.
Mrnorth1921
Mrnorth1921 - 7/7/2025, 6:01 PM
@tluciotti74 - Luthor is Superman’s joker. His green goblin. He has to appeared in this movie. Compare that to Zod in Man of Steel or whatever the Jesse Eisenberg was playing BVS. It’s been a while since we had a good Lex on the big screen.
TheNewYorkerr
TheNewYorkerr - 7/7/2025, 3:28 PM
“What the hey, dude”.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/7/2025, 4:41 PM
@TheNewYorkerr - it's "what the hay". Like hay on a farm, you know, the stuff horses eat? It's a euphemism someone who grew up on a farm might use if they were against "swearing".

It's okay. You'll catch up!
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 7/7/2025, 3:35 PM
Yea he's right
FleischerSupes
FleischerSupes - 7/7/2025, 3:35 PM
Won't need to show it until about 5 years from now when nobody under 12 knows where TF any of these characters actually come from. And the whole thing repeats

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MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/7/2025, 3:35 PM
Agreed on all fronts. I will say I think it was a mistake for the Spider-Man movies to not have any Uncle Ben flashbacks at all. Maybe "mistake" is the wrong word because I've enjoyed Holland's Spider-Man quite a bit.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/7/2025, 3:49 PM
@MyCoolYoung - same.

I like Hollands Spider Man but I do think it was too much of an over correction on their part From TASM to not focus atleast on Uncle Ben at all.

If you don’t want to show his death again then that’s fine but I think flashbacks or direct mentions to see and understand his relationship with his nephew and May would have been nice but oh well.
Toecutter
Toecutter - 7/7/2025, 4:05 PM
@TheVisionary25 - I don't even think flashbacks were necessary. Just a mention here and there would have been fine, but instead, they act like he never existed. In the third one, when Toby mentions Uncle Ben, it would have been a perfect opportunity for some form of acknowledgement. Instead Holland simply stares at him like he doesn't know who the [frick] he's talking about. Very strange descision on the creators part IMO.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/7/2025, 4:41 PM
@Toecutter - yeah , I get yah and I agree.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/7/2025, 6:49 PM
@TheVisionary25 - facts. All we got was a few references to him. I said almost few, but honestly, I just remember the suitcase. Maybe the old suit. Definitely an overcorrection. They could've done something different without ignoring him especially so soon after his death. I hope destin and crew make mentions of him
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 7/7/2025, 3:40 PM
I agree, but have a question.

Did the opening credits of Superman Returns count as baby Kal-El coming to earth? Because I don't remember that during the film. An adult Superman came back in a ship at the beginning (and soared through dead Krypton in the deleted scenes), but that's it I believe.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/7/2025, 3:46 PM
Honestly out of these , the one I don’t want to see the most ever again is Bats parents being killed..

I could take or leave having Krypton exploding and Kal escaping on the rocket depending the relevance it has to the story such as Braniac etc.

I also wouldn’t mind seeing Peter be bitten by the spider again (however , Uncle Ben getting shot is a different story).
ChrisRed
ChrisRed - 7/7/2025, 3:48 PM
While I agree that Spidey’s origin didn't need to be showed in the MCU, it did really hurt the character that Uncle Ben didn't impact the whole "with great power..."
Not including that lesson somewhere in flashbacks or conversation was a mistake. Peter didn't learn this until the end of the third movie which I think is too late but I guess that depends on the next movie
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 7/7/2025, 3:54 PM
Fair enough. Some heroes' origins are just pop culture at this point, they don't need to be shown.
mistral1
mistral1 - 7/7/2025, 3:57 PM
I could watch Krypton's demise anytime... it adds that sci fi aspect to the Superman mythos that I love.
PatientXero
PatientXero - 7/7/2025, 3:59 PM
Autocorrect and spell check are your friend.
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 7/7/2025, 4:02 PM
Those three were my Big 3 growing up....which means I don't mind if the origins are included...but I cant lie...the nostalgia of seeing it over and over again does something for me.
Webheaded225
Webheaded225 - 7/7/2025, 4:20 PM
Since we're about to know whether the critics like it or not, i'd just like to say that, in the entirety of this media tour, and every interview about this movie, James Gunn has been incredibly superficial about this. I don't think that's the way to go. Superman is the first superhero, he's the blueprint for every other super hero that ever existed, and James doesn't seem to have anything to say out of the ordinary on these interviews. The most original stuff he said so far is that "Superman represents good" and even Tom King had to tell him why the glasses thing wasn't silly. I feel like he's just keeping his contract here, there's nothing so far in the press junket or trailers that have me thinking he has any sort of emotional connection about the character outside of plain and boring answers like "He represents good". Now, he's a talented writer and director and i could be proven wrong tomorrow, but nothing seems passionate about this movie, yet. You see Donner talking about Superman, and it was like that was the project of his life, all the work he did and everything he went through to get te project out of the ground proves it, and yet James Gunn now has more power over the character than anyone ever had, since he's the head of the studio, and everything he has to say about the character seems like the most boring and middle of the road stuff you ever heard about the character. At the end of the day i'm only worried about a lack of vision for the character, not the bad CGI nor the bad jokes. All i care about is this: Is this guy even passionate about what he's doing? Is he genuinely interested in these characters? Did he make this movie like his life depended on it, or is he just getting a check to do something and now he kinda has to do it? I hope i'm proven wrong, but i do worry about that. Hope it's a great movie, tho.
Deklipz
Deklipz - 7/7/2025, 4:35 PM
@Webheaded225 - to be fair, if he leans into some aspects too much he’s going to alienate the more conservative chunk of the fanbase, in the US at least. It’s already been shuffled down to a single screen at our theater when one would expect it to be 2-3 screens for opening week at least. If he gives reasoning and opinions leaning the other way he’ll be accused of kowtowing to that side, and all before anyone in the GA gets to see the first frames of the movie. Politics is engrained in everything and every business decision nowadays. By staying middle of the road in his answers he avoids giving people a reason to be assholes.
Webheaded225
Webheaded225 - 7/7/2025, 5:04 PM
@Deklipz - I understand, but even without mentioning either political views or spoilers, he could say stuff that is at least substantial. The way he talks about the character makes me feel he thinks the character is just "generic superhero from the '40s #3" that's the kind of what i hate about this whole thing.
Deklipz
Deklipz - 7/7/2025, 6:06 PM
@Webheaded225 - as someone who has no investment in Superman whatsoever I can’t disagree. To be fair though, none of them have done anything to get me excited for it. It looks to be a by the numbers generic Superman flick. I think it’ll float past like Superman Returns and it’ll just exist.
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