SUPERMAN: LEGACY Director James Gunn Shares Photo From Production Office Revealing Key Source Of Inspiration

SUPERMAN: LEGACY Director James Gunn Shares Photo From Production Office Revealing Key Source Of Inspiration

Superman: Legacy director James Gunn has shared a new photo from the movie's production office, showcasing one of the comic book runs which will likely inspire his approach to the DCU's Man of Steel...

By JoshWilding - Nov 19, 2023 03:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman: Legacy

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn remains hard at work developing Superman: Legacy, a reboot which will introduce fans to a new Man of Steel and the DCU. After Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the DCEU will be no more, but how better to relaunch this franchise than with DC Comics' most iconic superhero?

Today, the filmmaker has taken to Instagram to share a new look inside his production office. As you can see, Gunn's wall is plastered with panels and cover art from writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale's Superman for All Seasons, a comic released to widespread critical acclaim in 1998. 

There are lots of great shots depicting Superman taking flight along with some atmospheric shots of Kal-El transforming back into Clark Kent and generally just protecting Metropolis. 

Comprised of four issues taking place over Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, each instalment was narrated by a different character (Jonathan Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang) and it was also named as a key source of inspiration for the Smallville TV series. 

"Just received this stunningly gorgeous Absolute edition of Superman for All Seasons, one of my favorite Superman stories [and] a huge influence on Legacy ([and] a strangely perfect bookend with All-Star Superman)," Gunn said back in September. "The late, great Tim Sales artwork [and] Bjarne Hansen’s watercolor work have never looked better - nor have Clark [and] Ma [and] Pa. Jeph Loeb’s elegant, confident story still sings."

It's hard to say exactly what, if anything, Gunn plans to directly adapt from this story, though the pictures he's selected for his wall may offer at least a few hints. Regardless, we're guessing its tone and approach to the Man of Tomorrow (along with what we saw in All-Star Superman) will be what he focuses on bringing to his upcoming reboot.

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, and Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer.

Skyler Gisondo is rumoured to be playing Jimmy Olsen and we recently learned Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 star Kurt Russell may be in the running for Jor-El.

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

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Highflyer
Highflyer - 11/19/2023, 3:15 PM
One thing about All seasons (which I love) is it's a very intimate and almost quiet story. There's no big boss fights. Considering everything else we've heard (especially the characters appearing) I'm curious as to what exactly he's taking from this.
jst5
jst5 - 11/19/2023, 3:33 PM
@Highflyer - The All Seasons approach to start the movie would be a good way to introduce this new Superman to viewers during parts of his life up to the point of the movie...Jor-El for the Krypton timeline and Kal-El being sent to earth...Pops Kent for the early part of the Kansas timeline.....Lana for the High School and college timeline....Lois or Jimmy to talk about Clark during the early part of the Daily Planet and to hint about things Superman has done so far.

It would be an approach we've never seen in a Superman movie....at least the
OleBobbyTiger
OleBobbyTiger - 11/19/2023, 4:07 PM
@jst5 - Except Audiences don't really need an explainer on who Superman is.He's like Spiderman or Batman. We don't need an origin. Everybody knows.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 11/19/2023, 4:11 PM
@jst5 - Can all that be crammed into a theatrically released movie? Also, I think it's probably wiser to introduce a new Clark in his own perspective instead of others.
jst5
jst5 - 11/19/2023, 4:20 PM
@RoberTiger - You're not doing to because you don't think the audience doesn't know....you're doing it to place THIS Superman in an audiences mind with those events.
jst5
jst5 - 11/19/2023, 4:22 PM
@Highflyer - You could do each one of those as a "flash back" in 20 mins tops till you get to current day....
BraxtonHicks
BraxtonHicks - 11/19/2023, 4:39 PM
@jst5 - Snyder did it best, the opening credits in BvS. First 5mins, moved on quick to real story.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 11/19/2023, 4:44 PM
@jst5 - I think the beauty of All Seasons is by the time the story ends, multiple people have reached a conclusion of some sorts (the last being lana). I don't think it would work if you use it for just early flash back. For all I know, he might be able to make it work, so I won't judge.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 11/19/2023, 5:06 PM
@Highflyer - I kinda hope there is SOMEONE he gets to throw down with. Almost want a perfect mix of Superman Returns and Man of Steel.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 11/19/2023, 6:03 PM
@lazlodaytona - I get what you mean. While I don't need him to throw down with him in the traditional third act, I'd like to see a spectacle battle in the second act.
CaptainFlapjaks
CaptainFlapjaks - 11/19/2023, 6:50 PM
@Highflyer - there seems to be a focus on superman and the people around him and how they view him. The narrations in the comics seem to point to that so maybe we will get a portion from clarks perspective and a portion from lois' perspective.
OleBobbyTiger
OleBobbyTiger - 11/19/2023, 8:34 PM
@BraxtonHicks - Spiderman Homecoming did it well too... "The Spider's Dead, Ned..." And we move on to the story.
OleBobbyTiger
OleBobbyTiger - 11/19/2023, 8:40 PM
@jst5 - Audiences already know those stories. Audiences didn't need an origin for Spiderman to place THAT spiderman in the MCU. Nor did they need a detailed origin to place Batman in The Batman or in Batman vs Superman. Darth Vader didn't get an origin story for 30 years and he was still considered a great character in a great series of movies. Don't get hung up on origins. Tread new ground. Or don't... and increase superhero fatigue.

But I for one would prefer original stories, not redundant ones that have been told multiple times.
dragon316
dragon316 - 11/20/2023, 3:32 AM
@Highflyer - made it work in civil war that was suppose be captain America movie didn’t look like one
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 11/19/2023, 3:17 PM
Red trunks are coming back.
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 11/19/2023, 3:23 PM
@GeneralZod - I think Gunn is definitely going to give him the trunks and it’ll be a couple of jokes about it but he’ll definitely have them.
Solarkalel85
Solarkalel85 - 11/19/2023, 4:32 PM
@WruceBayne - it's a gunn film there will be loads of jokes, trunks or not
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 11/19/2023, 5:12 PM
@GeneralZod - Rumor has it Superman will be sporting new LGBT flag trunks.

Source: Trust me bro.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 11/19/2023, 5:19 PM
@Solarkalel85 - Rumor has it that Superman spends a great deal of the movie complaining about his sensitive nipples.
Turns out the yellow sun has an adverse on Kyrptonian nips.
Who knew?
Timerider
Timerider - 11/19/2023, 5:35 PM
@GeneralZod - I think the red trunks show up, but Lois might tell him to lose those red trunks, and he agrees with her.
Deadinside
Deadinside - 11/20/2023, 12:44 PM
@Timerider - "Lois might tell him to lose those red trunks", but not for aesthetic purposes...!☮😉
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/19/2023, 3:22 PM
I love All Star Superman, my favourite Superman story.
Relativity
Relativity - 11/19/2023, 3:27 PM
If the trunks are in he also needs the yellow diamond on the cape and hopefully a more royal blue rather than the muted blue that’s been used.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 11/19/2023, 3:45 PM
He better be wearing the panties
Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 11/19/2023, 3:56 PM


(Btw he said in the comments that the Middle East storyline is bullshit lol).
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/19/2023, 4:09 PM
He’s COOKING
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 11/19/2023, 4:19 PM
Seems like he knows what he's doing. This was a pretty good Superman showing, especially the closer examination of Kent and his various dynamics with the Smallville community.
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 11/19/2023, 4:33 PM
Aquaman 2 will of course be conflicting.

But Gunn is secretly cleaning up shop and starting production for a lot of content he's already mapped up. The fact that he has a plan might give him an advantage if DCU plays their cards right.
RolandD
RolandD - 11/19/2023, 4:57 PM
I have high hopes. James Gunn knows how to do heart and I think he truly does get it. This movie should not have the same kind of humor as the Guardians movies.. He is also a fan and cares about the material as opposed to some movie sets where they’re told not to read the comics, etc..
RolandD
RolandD - 11/19/2023, 4:57 PM
Hey, this is like CBM from several years ago. We were actually talking about movies and not being all divisive about it. I sure would like to see more of that on this site.
RolandD
RolandD - 11/19/2023, 4:58 PM
@RolandD - I have no problem with differing opinions and such. I just like to see it without all the bitterness that sometimes shows up in these threads.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 11/19/2023, 5:15 PM
@RolandD - same. Since a few years I've been blocking user that were bitter all the time, and that already cleaned things up nicely for me.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/19/2023, 6:42 PM
@RolandD - there's hope for us after all lol
RolandD
RolandD - 11/19/2023, 7:12 PM
@bobevanz - Right. I used to enjoy this form a lot more than I used to so hopefully this is a sign of better things but I’m not too hopeful. Lol.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 11/19/2023, 5:13 PM
If I didn't already had faith in Gunn, I would know. Character and atmosphere is what makes a great Superman story for me, and Gunn certainly is taking inspiration from all the right places. I'm sure he'll get those two things right
RolandD
RolandD - 11/19/2023, 5:17 PM
@bkmeijer1 - I’m not trying to go overboard with it, but I do have high hopes.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 11/20/2023, 3:32 AM
@bkmeijer1 - Totally agree.

While Gunn is known for some things, whether good or bad, I do think he’ll be able to pull this off well. I can only imagine he understands the task at hand and how much is riding on it.
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