SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Says Movie Offers A "Canon" Explanation For Clark Kent's Glasses

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Says Movie Offers A "Canon" Explanation For Clark Kent's Glasses

Superman writer and director James Gunn has revealed that he'll deliver a "canon" explanation for Clark Kent's glasses being able to hide his identity as the DCU's Man of Tomorrow. Read on for details...

By JoshWilding - Jun 16, 2025 03:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: Rolling Stone

When Superman begins, Clark Kent has been protecting Metropolis for at least the last three years. That's allowed filmmaker James Gunn to breeze past many of those expected, and all-too-familiar, moments from the character's origin story. 

Among them is the moment Lois Lane discovers that her fellow Daily Planet reporter is Superman. She and Clark are already a couple in the DCU, meaning Lois knows her boyfriend is also the world's most powerful metahuman. 

Exploring their dynamic should still be fun, but Rolling Stone pointed out to Gunn that he's managed to sneakily bypass one of the biggest questions about how Superman hides his secret identity:

How did Lois not see past his "disguise" (a pair of glasses) and realise that Clark and Superman are one and the same?

"It comes up again later in the movie and it’s explained. She says it. We mention it," Gunn confirmed. "And it’s a one-off and people chuckle, but there’s stuff later in the movie about the glasses that are canon. That’s canon in the comics."

The site brought up an explanation from the comics, which saw readers learn that Superman was using "super-hypnotism" to change people's perception of him while he was wearing the glasses as Clark. 

"Something like that! I only know it from [DC Comics writer] Tom King," Gunn noted. "The first time we met was at Peter [Safran’s] house. We had this sort of writers group come in. One of those people was Tom King, and he was the most helpful. I’m like, 'I just don’t know how to [frick]ing deal with the glasses thing, because it bothers the f*** out of me.'"

"All that little stuff that people are like, 'It’s a fantasy, just let it go.' I’m like, 'No, I have to explain everything.' Everything for me has to come from a place where I believe it, as outlandish as it is," he continued. "With Rocket, I could not just make it a talking raccoon. It had to have a real foundation for where he came from and how he came to be. And I needed to believe that."

Gunn didn't elaborate on how Superman will explain the glasses, but we wouldn't be surprised if they're Kryptonian in origin. Recent comics have confirmed they're made from the same glass used in the ship that brought him to Earth, so that seems most likely. 

We've also seen that David Corenswet has changed his hair and posture for scenes as Clark, a nod to what Christopher Reeve did in 1978's Superman: The Movie, perhaps (and All-Star Superman, a key source of inspiration for Gunn).

Ever fancied taking a bite out of the Daily Planet? Then the video below is most definitely for you...

@amauryguichon #WBPartner I am honored to have been challenged by @Warner Bros. to recreate the iconic Daily Planet Globe from the upcoming @Superman movie arriving in theaters July 11th. For the occasion, let’s awaken the Superhero in all of us! Tickets on sale now. #amauryguichon #chocolate #superman @DC ♬ original sound - Amaury Guichon

Superman, DC Studios' first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures.

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.  

The movie stars David Corenswet in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

Also appearing are Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, and Milly Alcock.

Superman arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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Forthas
Forthas - 6/16/2025, 3:16 PM
"super-hypnotism"

This is going to be worse than Superman 3 and Superman 4.
foreverintheway
foreverintheway - 6/16/2025, 3:25 PM
@Forthas - the interviewer used those words, Gunn said "something like that". So you can rest assured it will NOT be "super-hypnotism"
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/16/2025, 3:28 PM
@Forthas - Superman three was better than four somewhat
Forthas
Forthas - 6/16/2025, 3:37 PM
@dragon316 - Superman 3 was only better because the metaphorical fight between Superman and himself was somehow powerfully acted and hit on a deeper struggle between Superman and Clark Kent. It was interesting symbolism that was unique. Other than that Superman 3 was just as bad as Superman 4.
JayWiIkes
JayWiIkes - 6/17/2025, 6:46 AM
@Forthas - Keep miserably failing at trolling, braindead neckbeard
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 6/16/2025, 3:17 PM
Is there a "canon" explanation to whatever that shit on top of his head is supposed to be? 🤔
SATW42
SATW42 - 6/16/2025, 3:46 PM
@Feralwookiee - he saw tony khan and thought he was the perfect example of what he thought a dorky ass human no one cares about would look like.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 6/16/2025, 4:49 PM
@Feralwookiee - I guess it's their way of modernizing Clark's hairstyle to that weird broccoli cut so popular with the youngins nowadays. But that's dumb because if they did that with Reeves Superman in the 70s he'd have shaggy hair and sideburns. And if they did it with Man of Steel he'd have that Justin Bieber bang look.

Imagine Henry Cavill rocking this do

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Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/16/2025, 3:19 PM
HE IS A MAN
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 6/16/2025, 3:20 PM
But, if he can use "super-hypnotism" to change people's perception of him when he's wearing the glasses, why bother to wear the glasses at all?

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Forthas
Forthas - 6/16/2025, 3:28 PM
@Feralwookiee - Please become CEO of DC studios so we have at least one working brain cell guiding DC films!
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 6/16/2025, 3:38 PM
@Forthas - I am sure that job would fit you better if the requirement is "one working brain cell."
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 6/16/2025, 3:52 PM
@Feralwookiee - I was wondering that too. Maybe the glasses serve as an extender of sorts so he can effect more people around him?
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 6/16/2025, 5:25 PM
@TheFinestSmack - So, he has super-hypnotizing powers, but needs the glasses to amplify it?
🤣
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 6/16/2025, 8:46 PM
@Feralwookiee - maaaaaaaybe? Lol. I'm just brainstorming here. If a piece of glass can amplify light then maybe his glasses amplify light from his eyes and it does weird shit to people
JayWiIkes
JayWiIkes - 6/17/2025, 6:42 AM
@Forthas - Enjoy seething in your basement, loser
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 6/17/2025, 7:23 AM
@Feralwookiee - I mean I assume it is a retcon to explain the unexplainable that never realy needed explaining but the upshot would be along the lines that Superman doesn't have any hypnotic powers but tech in the glasses give him that ability suffice to make folk not connect the dots.

Super-hypnotism as a go to term I don't like, I prefer what Dr Who went with why most don't notice his blue box, as in a perception filter, don't need to explain it just a throwaway line to explain a percieved plothole.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/16/2025, 3:25 PM
Interesting , I wonder if it’s akin to this since Corenswet’s Clark has changed his hair and I feel like even changed the pitch of his voice when he’s not Superman…

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I do get Gunn’s need to try to explain everything as much as possible since I feel that way too sometimes where I want to know how something exactly works but then sometimes I’m like “it’s [frick]ing fiction , get over it dude lol”.
ImNotaBot
ImNotaBot - 6/16/2025, 3:25 PM
for me Quietly did the best "explanation" about how people don't recognize Clark

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foreverintheway
foreverintheway - 6/16/2025, 3:26 PM
@ImNotaBot - Peter Griffin is Superman?
MisterBones
MisterBones - 6/16/2025, 3:32 PM
@foreverintheway - LMAO
Kiba
Kiba - 6/16/2025, 4:32 PM
@foreverintheway - Sometimes

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MisterBones
MisterBones - 6/16/2025, 3:26 PM
I feel like somethings don’t need to be so tangible or be so rooted in a deep meticulous explanation. And one of those things is how Clark tricks people to not noticing he is Superman. Because I think the greatest reason he is able to do it is: he is a phenomenal actor.

His performance as a mild mannered man is just that good. The right wardrobe, change of voice, quirks and physical performance does it all
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HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 6/16/2025, 4:51 PM
@MisterBones -

Not to mention that this was all written before the internet sleuths, ai, and face/ voice recognition software. It was much easier to be fooled by a disguise/ makeup/ etc. before those inventions came to be.

Apophis71
Apophis71 - 6/17/2025, 7:33 AM
@MisterBones - Yup easier ways to do it than a tech dump, the whole Louis suspecting and his goofball stuff throwing her off the scent and/or finding ways to avoid obviously using his powers when trying to force him to do so was enough along with stuff like that gif before the days of social media. There is something about glasses that alters perceptions, an almost optical illusion aspect of changing the shape of a face (even percieved IQ) and such like why even ordinary specs can make someone look different enough but adding a techy perception filter thingy to them to shut up those who run with the bad disguise memes/jokes I can kinda get even if not realy needed.
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/16/2025, 3:29 PM
I enjoy watching guy make stuff out of chocolate
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 6/16/2025, 3:34 PM
Not gonna lie....I dont care about that shit. Move on to other shit plz. Nobody is going to the movie to watch these Heroes identities being found out...so move on...
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 6/16/2025, 3:54 PM
@BlackStar25 - I really do appreciate you not lying about something like this.
BigGrayGolem
BigGrayGolem - 6/16/2025, 3:37 PM
I dream of a world where James Gunn has no internet access and can STFU. We really don't need this level of micromanagement of public opinion.
SATW42
SATW42 - 6/16/2025, 3:47 PM
@BigGrayGolem - in fairness, this is one Rolling Stone article Josh has made THREE articles from...SO FAR
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 6/16/2025, 3:55 PM
@SATW42 - what are we thinking...at least 3 more articles from this one interview?
Deklipz
Deklipz - 6/16/2025, 4:31 PM
@BigGrayGolem - I dream of a world where people just don’t read shit they don’t want to read and don’t feel the need to complain about things they’re making a conscious decision to do… yet here you are
ElJefe
ElJefe - 6/16/2025, 3:39 PM
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Goldboink
Goldboink - 6/16/2025, 3:50 PM
@ElJefe -

I bought those. They didn't work.
ElJefe
ElJefe - 6/16/2025, 4:01 PM
@Goldboink - No mental slaves?!?! Bummer.

I bought a spy camera from a comicbook ad and - whilst taking pics of cars with said camera - fell out of a tree. It was the 70s, so I laid there until I woke up and nobody was the wiser.
Goldboink
Goldboink - 6/16/2025, 4:12 PM
@ElJefe -
I got the Joy Buzzer and it worked as intended. Squirting lapen flower as well. I was so bummed that I couldn't hypnotize my teachers into giving me good grades.
ElJefe
ElJefe - 6/16/2025, 7:29 PM
@Goldboink - Hahaha
StSteven
StSteven - 6/16/2025, 9:21 PM
@Goldboink - But did you use them with a woman with a 20" waist and a 40" rack, as is clearly depicted in the above ad? If not then there's your problem right there.

As it turns out, I also bought those glasses but unfortunately I had them on upside down and now I'm married to a woman who's shaped like a bowling pin. *sigh* And THIS, gentlemen, is why we need to read the God damned instructions!
Goldboink
Goldboink - 6/17/2025, 1:24 AM
@StSteven -

I missed the part where it said “only works on impossibly shaped women.”
StSteven
StSteven - 6/17/2025, 4:46 PM
@Goldboink - Well you have to read the fine print, but doing so requires that you purchase the X-Ray so that's where they get you. Typical.
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