Phil Roberts 
James Gunn recently opened up about that change to the Man of Steel’s origins in Superman.
With Superman now flying high at the global box office, fans are beginning to unpack the ramifications of the film’s events on the wider DC Universe. From the film’s opening moments, when Jor-El and Lara appear via holo-message and explain why they sent Kal-El to Earth, James Gunn changed the game on the widely accepted origin story. But what prompted the DC head honcho to change the formula?
SPOILERS AHEAD!
In the movie, Superman finds comfort in his message from Jor-El and Lara, but part of the message is corrupted and unreadable. However, Lex Luthor decodes it with the help of his nanite-empowered ally, the Engineer.
With the message fully decoded, it’s revealed that Jor-El and Lara have urged their son to build a secret harem to restore the Kryptonian race. Furthermore, they encourage him to conquer Earth and rule with an iron fist, should humanity offer any resistance. While this change in Superman’s origins has been explored in the comics on a few occasions, it represents a significant departure from the traditional storyline. So, why did Gunn decide to switch it up? While speaking with IGN, Gunn talked about the change to Superman’s origin.
“I’m a huge Superman fan, so first of all I had to trust myself that I was going to honor the pieces of Superman that we needed to keep the same,” Gunn said. “And also allow myself to make changes where changes might work and wouldn’t go against the integrity of who the character is. And so I think that was […] simply dealing with allowing ourselves to change part of the story in a way that was interesting for the DCU, but that wasn’t [something] that went against who Superman was. And has been something that’s been played with in the comics before.”
THE FUTURE OF DC
With his new secret origins now revealed for the world to see, will this radical shake-up affect Superman’s journey in the DCU? By the end of the film, Jor-El and Lara’s message has been banished and replaced by images and videos of his human parents. So, on the surface, it seems as though Gunn has ratified that wrinkle in the narrative. But it begs the question: Can humanity ever really trust the Man of Steel?
It’s a fascinating plot thread that Gunn could exploit should he wish to throw a curveball into the mix. But for now, Superman’s halo is back where it belongs, and the Man of Steel is the hero we know and love, and long may he reign!
REVIEW
In my review of the film, I said: “James Gunn’s Superman is a blast. Although the film is marred by a chaotic, overstuffed plot, some eye-rollingly bad gimmicks, occasionally ropey CGI, and even more jarring acting, it delivers a bonanza of DC awesomeness. The film is ambitious, bold, and unapologetic. David Corenswet is impressive as the Man of Steel, but isn’t afforded the time needed to reach his full potential. Rachel Brosnahan sparkles and delivers an excellent performance as Lois Lane. And finally, Nicholas Hoult delivers an energetic but confusing performance as the new Lex Luthor.” Read my full review here.
RELEASE
James Gunn’s impressive cast for the film features David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Nicholas Hoult will take on the role of Lex Luthor. They will be joined by Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific. Also joining them are Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.
James Gunn’s Superman is swooping into cinemas everywhere now. Did you enjoy the film? Let us know in the comments below.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
