The DCU’s Superman starts the Man of Steel’s story from scratch, requiring David Corenswet to take up the mantle from Henry Cavill. Henry Cavill played the DCEU’s Superman for nine years, from his starring role in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel to his cameo appearance in Black Adam‘s post-credits scene. Despite his popularity in the role, Cavill only starred in one DCEU solo movie, and the DCEU concluded before Superman’s story could reach a definitive on-screen farewell.
One year after Cavill’s final DCEU appearance, James Gunn officially announced David Corenswet’s casting in Superman. While James Gunn’s Superman movie isn’t the very first installment in the franchise, Corenswet’s Man of Steel launches the DCU on the big screen with his first on-screen conflict with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor. Following Superman, David Corenswet is set to play DC’s top icon for several years.
James Gunn’s Superman Movie Is Launching A New DC Franchise
David Corenswet’s Superman Is The DCU’s First Live-Action Star
The DCEU officially concluded with The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, neither of which acknowledged the end of their franchise. To fully reboot the DC Universe, James Gunn crafted a ten-year plan for the new DCU, comprising several movies and shows, in both live-action and animated formats. Not all projects in the DCU’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters”, have been announced. However, David Corenswet’s Superman is the face of the DCU reboot, at least during its early stages.
By rebooting the DC Universe and casting a new Superman, Warner Bros. and the recently founded DC Studios are ensuring that the new franchise doesn’t carry the DCEU’s baggage. In this continuity, David Corenswet’s Superman is already an experienced hero, but he hasn’t become the world’s most iconic metahuman and hasn’t met other Justice League heroes. James Gunn fast-tracks Superman’s early days in a universe that’s already more populated by comic book characters than the DCEU.
Why David Corenswet Was Cast As Superman
David Corenswet Embodies All Of Superman’s Physical And Personal Qualities
In Summer 2023, Pearl and The Politician star David Corenswet and X-Men‘s Nicholas Hoult were reported to be top contenders for Superman’s lead role after multiple rounds of auditions. After further screen-testing with Lois Lane contender Rachel Brosnahan, James Gunn officially cast Corenswet as Superman and Hoult as Lex Luthor. However, speaking to GQ, James Gunn revealed that, “from the very beginning, [Corenswet] was the guy to beat.” Likewise, Gunn didn’t hesitate to cast Hoult and Brosnahan as Luthor and Lois Lane, respectively.
In an interview with Time, Gunn explained, “like Superman, he’s a simple man in complicated times,” highlighting Corenswet’s humble, respectful, and kind personality on and off-set. At New York Comic-Con 2024, James Gunn praised Corenswet’s all-encompᴀssing talent, saying “dramatically, comedically, he’s the best physical action star I’ve probably ever worked with” (via CBR). Fortunately, the search for the DCU’s Superman didn’t take long before Gunn found an actor who possesses every trait needed to play the Man of Steel.
