Recently, Mike De Luca, Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group, opened up about James Gunn’s upcoming film, Superman. Set to jumpstart the DC Universe, the movie stars David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, Edi Gathegi, Isabela Merced, and Nathan Fillion. Specific plot details have been kept quiet, but Superman is also set to feature the live-action film debut of Krypto the Superdog.

Speaking with ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, De Luca heaped praise on the film, saying: “I love Superman.” He added that “James Gunn crushed it,” and the movie has both “his trademark heart and humor” and “jaw-dropping” action. For De Luca, viewing Superman was an emotional and nostalgic experience. He explained:

“It’s the Superman I grew up with, so I get choked up when I watch it. I think it’s so epic and visually arresting and emotional. The performances are great. It is a five-star movie to me, and I can’t wait for the world to see it. Yeah, we’re really excited about Superman, James crushed it.”

When asked about how it recalls Richard Donner’s Superman, De Luca stated: “I would say in spirit, it is closer to that, but it’s also a big hunk of epic sci-fi. It has a little bit of what I loved about Guardians of the Galaxy, but it’s true-blue Superman.” Adding that Gunn also blended in elements from the comic book source material, he concluded: “It is really a love letter to what has made Superman endure for almost a hundred years. He managed to get it all in there.“

What Mike De Luca’s Superman Comments Mean

James Gunn Hopes To Channel Classic Superman

De Luca’s comments reflect the prior sentiments shared by others ᴀssociated with Superman, chiefly Gunn himself. Previously, the director has boiled Superman as a character down to the ideals he represents. While he’s been ᴀssociated with the slogan “truth, justice, and the American way,” Gunn stated that his film approached the Superman story in a different way: “I think this is a movie about the values of being human, about kindness and love, and although those are some things some people… don’t like, most all of us really do like that stuff no matter what our other ideological beliefs are.“

While some modern versions of Superman tend towards an edgier, more melancholic characterization, the hero has more often been depicted as a beacon of hope. Given De Luca’s statements and those of Gunn, Superman seems to be aiming to bring Clark Kent’s old-school sensibilities to a modern world instead of making him more modern.

Our Take On Mike De Luca’s Superman Comments

A True Sci-FI Superman WIth Throwback Elements Could Be Fun

Blending Superman’s lighthearted nature with the sci-fi sensibilities of his comic origins could create a special film. There is a reason that, even nearly 50 years later, Christopher Reeve’s tenure playing Superman is so fondly remembered.

Aside from having a mᴀssive impact on superhero cinema, those Superman films, especially the first two helmed by Donner, have a nostalgic and optimistic feeling that makes the viewer feel something. If Gunn’s Superman hits the same mark, it might just make an instant classic.

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

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  Superman

  Release Date

  
  July 11, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

  Release Date

  
  June 26, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Batman Part II

  Release Date

  
  October 1, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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