The superhero genre needs to take notes on how Superman handled their iconic costume. When James Gunn and Peter Safran announced that they were revamping the DCU, there was high anticipation for how they would revive a bland cinematic universe. Superman was the perfect first entry for the franchise, bringing a spark back to the superhero genre.
While David Corenswet’s costume still stayed true to the comics, there were some obvious differences from past live-action adaptations of Superman. Corenswet’s costume was notably brighter in color, catching the eye of fans from the first trailer. It was ultimately the right choice for the movie, and the reasoning behind the decision makes the suit even better.
David Corenswet Perfectly Explains Superman’s Brightly Colored Costume
Some of the most notable additions to the costume are the belt and shorts, which the DCEU’s adaptation of Superman didn’t have. However, perhaps the most notable difference is its bright colors. While Henry Cavill’s Superman suit featured darker tones, Corenswet’s suit combines bright blue, red, and yellow to create a truly eye-catching costume.
At one point in the recently released behind-the-scenes footage from Superman, Corenswet and director Gunn discuss the new version of Superman’s costume. Regarding how flashy the new suit is, Corenswet says to Gunn, “The thought that I always had was what you said about Superman needing to be huggable. And there is something about this [color palette] that’s disarming.”
Corenswet and Gunn talk about how Superman was always supposed to be an approachable hero that people would feel safe around. The brighter the colors, the more friendly he’d seem. Corenswet then compares the new Superman suit to a high-visibility uniform, saying, “Everybody knows that I’m here. I’m public safety. I’m making myself the target.”
Corenswet and Gunn perfectly explained why the color palette on the new costume was necessary. Despite being a humble man, it makes sense for Superman’s suit to be flashy since it can attract the attention of his enemies. He’ll do anything to take the danger off of innocent civilians and put it onto himself, which the brightly colored suit does.
More Superhero Movies Should Follow Superman’s Lead
As the superhero genre grows, so do the possibilities with the types of stories that are told. When it comes to a superhero project that focuses on a heavy topic, studios usually go with a more muted color palette. While it fits into the darker tone of the film, it unfortunately means that some hero costumes become muted as well.
Marvel has its fair share of brightly colored costumes, such as Ms. Marvel’s blue and red suit and Wolverine’s classic yellow and blue X-Men uniform. However, most tend to be toned down to feel more realistic. Scarlet Witch is a prime example, as while her suit is an intense dark red, it’s not the bright red one that she has in the comics.
DC and Marvel’s live-action projects stem from the comics, so they shouldn’t be afraid of being flashier with their colors. While realism is important for these films, bright, whimsical costumes would make them feel like a true comic book project. Marvel can take a page out of Superman’s book when it comes to their costumes, and future DCU projects will hopefully follow this trend.
