Why SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Is Sick Of Your "Who Would Win In A Fight?" Debates

Why SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Is Sick Of Your "Who Would Win In A Fight?" Debates

Superman writer and director James Gunn has talked more about his approach to the Man of Tomorrow, revealing that he's grown tired of seeing the endless debates about who would beat who in a fight...

By JoshWilding - Jun 16, 2025 05:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: Rolling Stone

Comic book fans have long imagined what would happen if superheroes from different worlds came to blows, and you'll find Superman at the heart of many of those debates. 

With James Gunn's Superman movie set to be released later this summer, the conversation has only intensified. What would happen if David Corenswet's Man of Tomorrow squared off with Thunderbolts*'s Sentry, for example? And could The Boys' Homelander take Supes in a fight?

Gunn officially gives no f***s.

Talking to Rolling Stone, he explained. "I wanted Superman to be vulnerable. I see the online things 'Who would beat whom?' — Homelander or Superman or f***ing whatever, Adam Warlock or Brightburn, and I’m like, 'This is the f***ing stupidest f***ing conversation.'"

"Like, so then whoever would win this fight means that they’re the best? Because I’ll just go out and write God Man, who can destroy you with a wink. And I win. I win all the fights forever. But I didn’t want a Superman who could punch planets. And also we’re creating a whole universe now, so what’s a girl with wings gonna do in the face of that?"

"So he’s a little less powerful. [Green Lantern] Guy Gardner’s pretty [frick]ing powerful. They’re all pretty powerful," Gunn confirmed. "Honestly, in talking to people, a lot of people are like, 'I like Batman better because he can actually be beat,' and I get that. So we have a Superman that can be beat."

For some fans, Superman being "depowered" (to some extent, at least) will be a big deal. However, making him a God-like being does present a lot of problems, and a Superman who can punch a hole in a planet is going to make short work of even the most formidable villain.

Ultimately, the title character wasn't how Gunn managed to crack Superman. "It was Krypto," he admitted elsewhere in the interview. "The beginning of the movie is the first thing I wrote, with Krypto coming to Superman in the snow and Krypto taking him home. That really was about the tone of the whole movie."

"It’s a flying dog who wears a cape, but that led immediately to the robots, to the fortress rising from the ground, to the device that isn’t in the comics — the giant magnifying glass, which powers him up more quickly than just the regular sun would. Bringing all those elements into a Superman movie in a way that hasn’t happened — not to mention that he exists in a world where superheroes, or some form of metahumans, have existed for 300 years. It’s just a different thing."

Talking more about the Silver Age science we'll see in Superman, Gunn added, "I think that’s the biggest tonally novel thing about this film. And it really is based on the tone of [2000s comic book series] All-Star Superman in a lot of ways. And taking that tone into a cinematic realm is not the usual thing for a superhero movie, or for any movie. So I really was thinking a lot when making the film about graphic novels more than movies."

The filmmaker is embracing the comic books in a big way, and it's hard to find fault with that. Not everyone will be on board with his ideas for Superman, but with a character this beloved and iconic, that was to be expected. 

As the marketing campaign for Superman continues to ramp up, IMAX has announced a new fan art competition that you can learn more about in the X post below.

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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JurassicClunge
JurassicClunge - 6/16/2025, 5:37 PM
Translation Nerfed man in a Nerf suit 😩😭😮‍💨
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 6/16/2025, 5:39 PM
@JurassicClunge - Yeah. Who's having these debates? All we know about Gunn's version of Superman is that he often gets his ass kicked.
JurassicClunge
JurassicClunge - 6/16/2025, 6:15 PM
@Lisa89 - watch when people start comparing Gunns superman to the others and he comes out the weakest 😩🤣 Gunn gonna flip his lid
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 5:41 PM
Let me take a wild [frick]ing guess.🤔

Maybe because its a very [frick]ing stupid idiotic and childish [frick]ing question.

The characters are not [frick]ing real, bitch.

For [frick]s sake
Goldboink
Goldboink - 6/16/2025, 5:47 PM
@THEKENDOMAN -
When I was a kid we would argue about who was the best Guitar Player or Drummer just because it's human nature. It's the kind of thing that 12 year olds do.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 6:07 PM
@Goldboink - The difference their mate, is that their [frick]in real.


And on the other hand, a [frick]ing valid point... 12-year-olds. Thats the [frick]ing bullshit age Gunn acts like sometimes.
Patient2670
Patient2670 - 6/16/2025, 6:36 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - There and They're... sorry.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 6:39 PM
@Patient2670 - [frick] OFF. LOL.

Thanks though. I keep making the same [frick]ing mistake
Patient2670
Patient2670 - 6/16/2025, 6:43 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - LOL! All good. I wouldn't have even said anything but, 3 versions of the word, 2 uses in that post. Statistically you should have at least accidentily gotten 1 right. I was just [frick]ing rooting for you.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 7:20 PM
@Patient2670 - 😂😂😂 And you will probably keep seeing me make the same [frick]ing mispelts😂

So please feel free to correct at [frick]ing will 😂😂 👊🏿
Goldboink
Goldboink - 6/16/2025, 7:51 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - Or maybe that's the folks who flip out when a high level director and executive does his best to promote his properties with the most effective modern tools.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 8:13 PM
@Goldboink - [frick]ing Maybe matey. Its [frick]ing exhausting.
OptimusInTime
OptimusInTime - 6/17/2025, 3:59 AM
@Patient2670 - Don't forget " Their" 🤣🤣
Oscar wild is turning in his grave at these Neanderthals 🤣🤣
antirock
antirock - 6/16/2025, 5:41 PM
I've never seen a filmmaker get so worked up about random internet people discussing the characters he is making films about. Sorry James, we won't talk about Superman anymore.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 6/16/2025, 5:51 PM
@antirock - yeah, I'm seeing a lot of quotes where he uses the word fuсk so much. Not used to that
TK420
TK420 - 6/16/2025, 5:56 PM
@antirock - These mf are immature assholes. That's why shit bothers them so much.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 6/16/2025, 6:55 PM
@antirock - Because he's an insecure man child.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 6/16/2025, 8:25 PM
@bkmeijer1 - it's Rolling Stone.
Razorface1
Razorface1 - 6/16/2025, 9:26 PM
@antirock - nice missing the point there buddy
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/16/2025, 5:43 PM
Ok but who would win?
AllsGood
AllsGood - 6/16/2025, 5:46 PM
Just having fun :)

Talking to Rolling Stone, he explained. "I wanted Superman to be Vulnerable.

User Comment Image
mck13
mck13 - 6/16/2025, 5:46 PM
This movie was made for KIDS. It's FUNNY/GOOFY with NO STORY just Lex throwing the kitchen sink at SUPERMAN...what else is new??!! Over color saturation No Story just ALL spectacle. The heart of the story is the dog. Gunn des that in AL: his movies. It will TANK in its 2nd week when wordiest out how goofy & funny it is...the adult fans will be turned OFF!
McMurdo
McMurdo - 6/16/2025, 8:27 PM
@mck13 - oh great our resident 12 year old is back and he hasn't fixed his caps lock autism.
Forthas
Forthas - 6/16/2025, 5:48 PM
What is with the over coverage of James Gunn? Why not do a two part series on if James Gunn pees standing up or sitting down? Curious James Gunn cultists need to know....
TK420
TK420 - 6/16/2025, 5:56 PM
@Forthas - I'll bet you a nickel it's sitting down.
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 6/16/2025, 5:57 PM
@Forthas - Sitting down.

User Comment Image
SATW42
SATW42 - 6/16/2025, 5:58 PM
@Forthas - it’s all from ONE Rolling Stones write up. This is the FOURTH article based off ONE story
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 6/16/2025, 6:29 PM
@Forthas - Sheeeiiiit they might as well put that MF in the tights himself and fly through the press junkets at this point. 🤣
Forthas
Forthas - 6/16/2025, 6:58 PM
@TK420 -
Lisa89 -

Sitting down makes the most sense! That is where he gets the ideas for his toilet humor!
Forthas
Forthas - 6/16/2025, 7:00 PM
@SATW42 -
@DarthOmega -

My goodness!!!! I hope he does not offer his followers and shillers a trip to be with him in Jonestown Guyana. I think we have seen that movie before.
JayWiIkes
JayWiIkes - 6/17/2025, 6:53 AM
@HashTagSwagg - I can smell you through the screen 🤮

Enjoy another epically busy day in the basement
TK420
TK420 - 6/16/2025, 5:58 PM
So he didn't want to make a Superman movie, then. Superman is god mode. That's the character.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/16/2025, 6:04 PM
Thank God…

Power scaling/levels is definitely the most boring conversation “fans” can have imo so I’m glad Gunn has no interest in that like myself.

Him embracing the more silver age-y sci fi aspects of the character is cool and fun as evident from the trailers which helps the film feel like the most fantastical or comic booky take on the character so far which I like!!.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 6/16/2025, 6:57 PM
@TheVisionary25 - I mean one of the things that increasingly made me get tired of Superman (was originaly my fav supe but dropped down my list a lot over the years) was them always increasing his power levels thus needing to increase the power of the villains or find a way to depower him. This is the character that initialy couldn't even fly after all.

So i get both sides, we've come to know him as one of the most OP characters but that creates narrative issues so do you go with what most expect and have to find ways that it makes sense he doesn't always win in an instant or do you go back to a point where he wasn't as OP that some may not recognise?
RedFury
RedFury - 6/16/2025, 6:12 PM
As much as I love to see Superman be the powerhouse from the comics that he is; I think Gunn's choice of powering him down a little bit is actually a smart call.

I have a lot of friends that have said one of their biggest problems with getting into Superman is that he's overpowered, and it's not as interesting as the heroes that actually have a chance of losing, just like Gunn is saying. So this could be a change that actually helps the audience engage with the character more. I honestly don't mind Supes being so godly, but I can definitely see how it takes some of the interest away.
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