SUPERMAN: LEGACY Director James Gunn Reveals How Much Of Kal-El's Origin Story Will Feature In Reboot

SUPERMAN: LEGACY Director James Gunn Reveals How Much Of Kal-El's Origin Story Will Feature In Reboot

Superman: Legacy director James Gunn has shared a couple of new updates about the reboot, including how it will be shot and whether he intends to revisit Clark Kent's famous origin story. Check it out!

News
By JoshWilding - Jan 28, 2024 01:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman: Legacy

While Creature Commandos will be the first DC Studios project set in the new DCU, that's just going to be an appetiser; Superman: Legacy is the main course.

Very little is known about James Gunn's plans for the Man of Tomorrow, though we are expecting a take on the character that's more in line with his classic comic book adventures. While Lex Luthor is currently the reboot's only confirmed villain, rumours we'll also see Brainiac continue to swirl. 

Updating fans on Threads earlier today, the filmmaker confirmed plans to shoot Superman: Legacy in IMAX. However, by far the biggest revelation came when Gunn revealed that "none" of the movie will be dedicated to Clark Kent's origin. 

Like the radioactive spider that bit Peter Parker and the death of Bruce Wayne's parents, even people who have never picked up a comic book know about Krypton's destruction. Showing it again feels unnecessary and Gunn clearly wasn't tempted to put his own spin on how Kal-El came to Earth.

While the DC Studios co-CEO has so far only told R-Rated DC stories, Superman: Legacy will likely be more in line with his Guardians of the Galaxy work.

Talking last year about how he's approaching each DCU movie and TV show in terms of their ratings, Gunn explained, "It depends on the story. We’re going to give every story what it deserves. Some things we know. Superman is definitely something we know we’d like to be PG-13, so I’m going to make sure it is."

"Other things, like the Waller TV show, are a little bit more mature," he continued. "And we have other things that are aimed a bit more at young women or at kids that are still within this world."

A very cool new Superman: Legacy fan poster is also getting some attention on social media. You can take a closer look at that below!

Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

David Corenswet is playing the Man of Steel, while Rachel Brosnahan has been tapped to star as Lois Lane. Other recent casting additions include Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. 

Superman: Legacy is currently set to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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GhostDog
GhostDog - 1/28/2024, 1:28 PM
We all know it already so good
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 1/28/2024, 1:32 PM
Good. Even the most casual comic readers and superhero project watchers know it all ready. Seems to have worked just fine for the more recent Spider-Man and Batman projects. These origins are basically pop culture at this point.
kg8817
kg8817 - 1/28/2024, 1:46 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - Listen I know what you were trying to say, but to say “casual comic readers and superhero project watchers know it already” is a bit disingenuous.

Ask your grandparents if they know the origin of Superman. Hell if they are still alive, ask your great grandparents. Then ask your parents. Then ask your friends. Coworkers. If you have kids, ask them too.

Everyone, of every generation whether they have ever even looked at a comic book or not, knows the origin of Superman. He’s never been my favorite superhero, but he is far beyond just a superhero or comic book character - he is without a doubt, one of the most recognizable pop culture icons of both the 20th and 21st century. His origin has been covered in more forms of media than any other character besides Batman.

So to your point, yes, there is no reason to cover his origin again.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 1/28/2024, 2:05 PM
@kg8817 - Not true IMO. You still have oblivious people out there who may know Superman but don't know about the rocket crashing to Earth origin or Krypton exploding.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/28/2024, 2:47 PM
@kg8817 - I just asked my nephew and he said "I dunno, I never watched Man of Steel", smh... That kid is my blood? smh

Have I failed as an uncle for not showing him Man of Steel? No. I have not.

I have failed as an uncle for not showing him Superman: The Movie.
Forthas
Forthas - 1/28/2024, 1:37 PM
Bad mistake! And before everyone point to Spiderman as proof we don't need an origin story, there are other factors that played into its success namely it association with Marvel.

Not having an origin story deprives the audience of the circumstances that led to the choice to become.a superhero and therefore makes the character arc incomplete. That is why the McGuire Spiderman will always be superior.
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 1/28/2024, 3:22 PM
@Forthas - but there’s not one single individual who readily recognizes Superman’s “S” that doesn’t know his origin story.
Superman is more recognizable than any historical figure, so his origin story and motivations are known by everyone who knows him. Krypton doesn’t need to be exploded at the beginning of Legacy for a 9th time.
Forthas
Forthas - 1/28/2024, 6:22 PM
@WruceBayne - There are aspects to his orgin story that changes with each version. In the Donner version Zod is focused on revenge against Superman out of his view that Jor-El betrayed him...in the Snyder version he is trying to recover a "codex".

In the Donner version Superman comes to know his origins because a mechanism leads him to create the fortress of solitude....in the Snyder version he searches for it learning lessons about humanity in the process.

There is also more world building with regard to the origin of Krypton in the Snyder version which lays the groundwork for why Zod would want to destroy the earth in a way that provides a cogent explainaition. And how for example would this version of Superman expalain Zod since he is integral to the orgin of Superman? This is what people will be deprived of when these things are explored (hopefully WB will have come to their senses and cancelled the DCU as it is now by then)
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 1/28/2024, 1:39 PM


As said in the article above , Superman’s origin is as known as Spider Man’s & Batman’s so no need to go over it again for the umpteenth time and best to just get into the meat like the recent big screen iterations of those characters did.

Plus , we already know that this Superman and DCU is already somewhat established so telling a story of him in his early years is ground we haven’t really covered yet imo on the big screen so that makes it refreshing to a degree.

Anyway , cautiously optimistic for this so hope it turns out well!!.
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 1/28/2024, 1:52 PM
One of the best things The Incredible Hulk did was containing the origin story within the opening credits, saving time for the new story, providing the best of both options
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/28/2024, 2:56 PM
@ProfessorWhy - And the other thing it did was not contradict the events of Ang Lee's Hulk so much. In fact by having the movie pick up where the last one left off, it supported them. It even had Lou Ferrigno reprise his role as the security guard of the Culver Institute.
Yes we do see Banner in that chair (as an homage to the TV series) but that doesn't directly contradict the origin in Ang Lee's Hulk, that could be an attempt to cure him.

So if someone is unfamiliar, they can watch Ang Lee's Hulk and they're all caught up.

Even with Spider-Man Homecoming, you could watch The Amazing Spider-Man and you're set. He's in high school, he's single, he's got his powers, his uncle Ben's dead, he lives with his aunt and... go.
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 1/28/2024, 3:08 PM
@ObserverIO - I'm a fan of Lee's Hulk and was very pleased with the T.I.H. segue and the way it was flavored with the TV show
TheLight
TheLight - 1/28/2024, 1:58 PM
All for the better.

We already know his origins, we don't need another. Even if something needs to be done, show it in quick opening credits like S&L and BOOM all caught up.

marvel72
marvel72 - 1/28/2024, 2:17 PM
Tell it in the opening credits, I think almost everyone knows Superman origin.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 1/28/2024, 2:35 PM
The WB/DC brand has been dragged through the mud and is at rock bottom.
Their last SEVEN movies in a row have been box office failures.
The general public isn't even aware that this Superman movie is part of a (half assed) universe reboot.

I can easily see this flopping and Gunn walking away.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/28/2024, 2:43 PM
@Feralwookiee - The last five DC films have flopped (since The Batman).

The last NINE DCEU films have flopped.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/28/2024, 2:38 PM
And the same answer probably goes for how much of the movie will be spent telling the origins of Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, The Authority, etc. etc.

But unlike Superman, the audience is not the least but fcuking familiar with any of them.

This universe? Is [frick]ed. In the face. Why does James Gunn not want his universe to be a success, does he not want this job?
dragon316
dragon316 - 1/28/2024, 3:08 PM
I personally want see costume stop this trunk and belt nonsense look at high jack wolverine costume to cartoon version no one comaplined about that version same with vision not have trunks black panther no cape trunks and belt don’t make character it’s there actions

?feature=shared
MarvelZombie616
MarvelZombie616 - 1/28/2024, 3:21 PM
Most kids today don't know shit about Supermans origin.
The last movie is from 2013, that is 12 yesrs past once Legacy hits cinemas.
There needs at least to be a scene where the rocket shoots away from an exploding Krypton or where he tells somebody what happened.
I am pretty sure that this movie will underperform.
It will make less than Man of Steel ($670 million worldwide) for sure.
grif
grif - 1/28/2024, 3:50 PM
as for that fan poster


TheJester187
TheJester187 - 1/28/2024, 4:46 PM
They make Superman and Batman harder than what it needs to be especially when it comes to Film & movies. They might as well go hard. Cause when the rights are public domain it’s up and they won’t matter. So many amazing characters get shit on cause dumb executives and elite that don’t wanna spend or care about source material.
micvalpro
micvalpro - 1/28/2024, 7:43 PM
@TheJester187 - every time a character is redesigned the copyright is renewed. It’s the first interpretation of the characters that go into public domain. So Batman and Superman are fine where they are.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/28/2024, 4:59 PM

Since taking my Dad to the theater to see Superman II, I have been waiting for another great Superman movie.

I'm still waiting.
BritishMonkey
BritishMonkey - 1/28/2024, 5:25 PM
Can you stop using AI images for 5 [frick]ing minutes?
knomad
knomad - 1/28/2024, 10:29 PM
You don't do an R-rated Superman story. Just.. no.

The Krypton sequence in Man of Steel was the best treatment of Krypton and Kal-El's blast-off. Loved how they did Krypton.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 1/28/2024, 11:30 PM
I get it. And yet unknown-ish characters to the general public like Mr.Terrific, Hawkgirl and Metamorpho have never been properly explained to the audiences.

It'll be worrysome if their origins aren't even summed up in the film and that's the danger of jumping straight ahead into a full-realized and functioning universe: no connection to whom these people are beyond their coat of arms that is earned by starting from the beginning.
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 1/29/2024, 1:53 AM
I never understood why people hate retelling origin stories. To me, each version of the telling unlocks new facets of the characters, and updating them to me challenges the storyteller to find the element of the tale that resonates with them personally.

To me, if you are hired to make a Superman film and you aren't EXCITED to tell the origin story in the PERFECT way you've always dreamed of seeing on screen, then you arent the person for the job.

Having the audience understand the heart of Clark Kent and his indominable good character is absolutely essential to having them connect with Superman as a character, and you dont do that by having him beat up bad guys and hang out with other supers... you do that by telling this Clarks story in a meaningful way.... THEN you get to have fun with his sandbox of toys.

But if you simply skip to the sandbox and toys without spending the time bonding with THIS Superman just because "We all know the story already..." then i promise you any semblance of an emotional beat will fall absolutely flat the same way nobody felt anything for Cavill Superman dying in BvS. We hadnt spent hardly anytime getting to know Clark as a character beyond him being a moody drifter... which isnt really anything to latch onto EVEN WITH all of us knowing his history and origin.

Its the reason despite Holland nailing the roll, i still feel his Peter isnt complete.

Just my two cents. I know its a hot take since everyone doesnt like origin stories anymore.
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 1/29/2024, 2:00 AM
Thats not to say the whole film needs to be an origin story. The show Superman and Lois spent the first chunk of the episode showing the audience in a very emotional and well edited and paced and scored segment Clarks life story. A montage is a bit cliche but even that can be done creatively, some of the imagery gave me goosebumps and chills.

But i just dont like feeling like i missed the first part of a movie when we just jump into the hero being the hero and we dont even mention how or why or any of that.

I suppose for a totally self-contained story it could work, but this is supposed to kick start not only a franchise but a whole universe.
Forthas
Forthas - 1/29/2024, 7:38 AM
@TheVandalore - Wow! You absolutely nailed my sentiments better than I could and sorry to tell you I am totally stealing that response for when it comes up again! I salute you!
KingMob20
KingMob20 - 1/29/2024, 7:01 PM
@TheVandalore - I actually agree with most of this, but then if you think back to Batman '89, we start in the "middle" of his story with only a quick flashback to Crime Alley, so it could work with Legacy.
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 1/29/2024, 11:11 AM
Shiiiiii....I wouldnt mind an opening sequence that tells the origin like how Hulk did.
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