James Gunn‘s work up to this point has displayed a consistent pattern, both in Marvel and DC. The filmmaker’s Guardians of the Galaxy Trilogy, his 2021 film The Suicide Squad, and the television shows Peacemaker and Creature Commandos all feature similar underdog characters with traumatic pasts. More than that, it’s unlikely bonds and riveting character chemistry that make his films worth watching, and it’s all driven by humorous dialogue. The comedic tone in Gunn’s filmography is truly unique, but as it turns out, it’s something that he relied a lot less on when writing and directing his latest film, Superman.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn was asked about a pivotal scene that features in the trailers for the film, in which Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) interviews Clark (David Corenswet) as Superman. What Clark believes will be a lighthearted discussion becomes a hard-hitting interview in which he’s confronted with the morality of his actions and the incredible powers he possesses.
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“Everybody wanted to make the movie. It was greenlit, ready to go.”
As it turns out, the kind of script writing required for a scene like this was a big deal to Gunn. As he would tell the magazine, writing about opposing worldviews and disagreements required him to handle it differently to the amusing dialogue he’s used to:
“That’s a huge thing for me. I have long talking scenes in Guardians, but they are stuffed with jokes. And that’s not the case here. There’s funny stuff that happens in that scene, but it’s all situational. And so allowing myself to write that scene, which is truly about two characters and the different ways they see the world and morality…”
‘Superman’ Features A Different Kind Of Writing From James Gunn
Warner Bros.
Gunn would also be asked if he had the impulse to write the scene more “jokey” than the finished product, to which the director provided a candid response, saying that he would have. The filmmaker went on to explain that certain genres are more comfortable for specific creatives, as they resonate more with the emotions of the audience. However, certain scenes and character interactions in Superman required Gunn to step out of his comfort zone and into unfamiliar territory with the audience. Meaning that one of the biggest worries, that Superman will be far too “jokey,” has seemingly now been put to bed.
“Yeah. Horror movies and comedies are so comforting to a filmmaker, because if they’re working, the audience is reacting constantly. Even, like, people crying at the end of Guardians 3. But it’s also a rather selfish thing as a filmmaker. Because I’m not making something so that I can sit in an audience and be happy; I’m making something that really works on a fundamental level. So I have to be willing to sit there with an audience and not know if they’re liking it or not.”
Knowing that Gunn won’t resort to what he knows and instead try out a different kind of situational writing for Superman provides much-needed confidence in how the film will turn out. Some detractors, particularly those online who prefer Zack Snyder’s films, have often criticized Gunn’s writing, claiming that his brand of offbeat humor will ruin a character like Superman. Thankfully, the filmmaker recognizes when a tonal shift is required for a story.
Source: Rolling Stone
Release Date
July 11, 2025
Director
James Gunn
Producers
Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran
You can view the original article HERE.
