Why Superman Looks So Weak In James Gunn's New Movie

The release of the new Superman movie trailer picks up the debate over why the DC Universe version of the hero looks so weak. After James Gunn teased that a new Superman movie trailer would be coming soon over the past few weeks, we finally got to see a new look at the highly-anticipated film. I have to say that, for the most part, Superman looks to be exactly what I pictured based on Gunn’s comments about how the film would go for a classic tone.

Superman is the most well-known superhero out there, so it makes sense that the DCU’s Chapter One is using him for the franchise’s first movie. David Corenswet’s Man of Steel looks fantastic. The new Superman trailer showcases how great the actor is at both the Clark Kent and Superman sides of the character, which is crucial for a good adaptation of the DC icon. That said, I can’t help but note how Superman is doing something that I was not prepared for, which is making Superman weak, and it keeps being repeated with every new footage.

James Gunn’s Superman Trailers Keep Showing The Man Of Steel Being Beat Up

Clark Kent Simply Does Not Catch A Break In Any Of The DC Movie’s Trailers

The first Superman movie teaser we ever got opened with a shocking moment. Instead of taking on a villain in a fight or soaring through the skies, the footage started with Corenswet’s Superman bleeding in the snow. Superman was so injured that he could not carry himself back to the Fortress of Solitude, having to call in Krypto for help. With the Superman movie sneak peek that was released in theaters before A Minecraft Movie, DC showed an extended look at Superman’s state.

The sneak peek had Krypto tug at his cape and jump on Superman, who could do nothing to resist, and we could hear what appeared to be the sounds of bones cracking. Having watched a lot of Superman adaptations over the years, such as Tom Welling’s Smallville and Christopher Reeve’s Superman movies, I have to say that I’m not used to seeing the Man of Steel in such a weak state. Now, the new Superman movie trailer features quite a few moments with Corenswet’s Superman getting beat up, including by what seem to be rather fragile robots with stun batons.

Superman Looking Weaker Avoids An Old Superman Problem

The DC Universe Understands A Common Criticism About Superman

While I’m certainly not used to seeing Superman as weak as the DCU movie’s trailers depict him as, I can understand why James Gunn decided to include moments like David Corenswet’s Superman falling into a crater and being helped by Metropolis’ citizens. Superman is the comic book definition of what a superhero should be. Not only is he the one whose morals and compᴀssion trump all the rest, but he is extremely powerful, with few beings capable of hurting the Man of Steel.

Actor	Character
David Corenswet	Clark Kent/Superman
Rachel Brosnahan	Lois Lane
Nicholas Hoult	Lex Luthor
Skyler Gisondo	Jimmy Olsen
Terence Rosemore	Otis
Sara Sampaio	Eve Teschmacher
Nathan Fillion	Guy Gardner/Green Lantern
Edi Gathegi	Michael Holt/Mister Terrific
Isabela Merced	Hawkgirl
Anthony Carrigan	Rex Mason/Metamorpho
Maria Gabriela De Faria	Angela Spica/The Engineer

Over the years, that has led to many debates about how Superman is just overpowered, making it hard for him to appear in other characters’ stories without defeating villains easily, and with complaints that he is so powerful that Superman becomes boring because little besides Kryptonite can hurt him. 2017’s Justice League is an example of that, with the heroes struggling against Steppenwolf, but the villain being easily defeated once Henry Cavill’s Superman got into the mix.

By showing a weaker Superman who gets hurt quite a bit, the DCU eases those concerns, making the movie’s villains bigger threats and justifying the presence of so many DCU heroes, such as Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern Guy Gardner and the rest of the Justice Gang. Superman can get hurt and will likely need to rely on the help of other heroes, making him more interesting than if Corenswet’s Clark Kent could solve all problems with little to no struggle.

The Meaning Of Superman Bleeding & Being Beat Up In James Gunn’s Movie

The DCU Hero’s Injured State Is Part Of The Movie’s Bigger Theme

The idea of starting the first Superman movie trailer with the hero bleeding in the snow instead of doing something heroic is fascinating to me. That led to many questions as soon as the trailer was released, and James Gunn addressed why he chose to have Superman bleed during a Superman movie trailer Q&A session at a press event where ScreenRant was in attendance. Gunn compared the injured Superman to the United States, with Superman representing the “basic kindness” of people, which “can be seen as uncool and under siege [by] some of the darker voices.” Check out the full quote below:

“We do have a battered Superman in the beginning. That is our country. I believe in the goodness of human beings, and I believe that most people in this country, despite their ideological beliefs, their politics, are doing their best to get by and be good people — despite what it may seem like to the other side, no matter what that other side might be. This movie is about that. It’s about the basic kindness of human beings, and that it can be seen as uncool and under siege [by] some of the darker voices are some of the louder voices.”

While Gunn was talking about Superman bleeding in the snow, his words rang true for the movie’s main theme. As the new Superman trailer shows, Clark gets into trouble for being involved in another country’s war. Superman sees the people turn on him, is arrested by the Secretary of Defense, and Lex Luthor refers to him as “an it,” not a person. Based on what we have seen in the trailers and Gunn’s comments, making Superman weaker and appealing to his kindness and ability to get the best out of others might be the right move for the Superman reboot.