Superman director James Gunn doubled down on his previous ᴀssertion that the film is very much centered on its protagonist, Clark Kent/Superman. In addition to Superman, the movie will also feature Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Krypto the Superdog, Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, among others. Because of this, audience members expressed concern that Superman may focus too much on side characters.

In a special press event that Screen Rant attended, Gunn addressed these concerns by reiterating that Superman is Clark Kent’s story first and foremost. The filmmaker stated: “I do not think of Superman as an ensemble. It’s about three characters: Superman, Lois, and Lex. Those are the three characters it’s about.” He then elaborated that: “Everybody else serves that story. Although Edi Gathegi’s character is pretty big, those are the three—Krypto’s pretty big too, actually, but it really is about those three.“

Gunn instead explains that Superman is “about [Clark’s] personal journey” and “every single frame of the movie is about Superman’s story.” Even so, the supporting players will still contribute. Per Gunn, “every character has their arc, like [he] would have in any story, but it really is about Superman.“

What James Gunn’s Superman Comments Mean

Though he has in part been eclipsed by the heroes that came after him, Superman is truly the godfather of the superhero archetype, something that originated in comics and continues into the film landscape. He certainly holds his own as a character, but also, Superman is a team player. Beyond that, he still exemplifies some of the “old school” values from the era in which he was created. As a result, Gunn is likely setting him up to be juxtaposed with heroes who have more modern sensibilities. In doing so, this highlights the thematic journey Clark will have.

Speaking about the moral center of Superman, Gunn stated “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 like do that stuff no matter what our other ideological beliefs are.” This will likely be a unifying theme that the heroes—Superman and the rest—connect over.

Our Take On James Gunn’s Superman Comments

Moreover, Gunn emphasized the roles of Lois and Lex in the story. This tracks; Lois is his paramour and equal—not in power but in how they share his life and secret. Lex is his foil and in a lot of ways, his moral opposite. While Clark grew up as a farmer with modest values, Lex—depending on the origin—grew up wealthy, coveting power and influence. Centering these three characters creates a narrative balance that heightens the themes Superman represents as a character. Any additional characters will likely undergo arcs that contribute to the overall message of Superman.

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