Superhero movie secrets in the DC Universe or its Marvel counterpart have become increasingly difficult to keep, and James Gunn’s recent comments about Superman help to display this. There have been some great superhero movie twists revealed in movies over the years, but with so much attention on the production of each of these films, they become harder and harder to keep hidden. Audiences simply care so much about their favorite properties, and the opportunity to know things in advance can be difficult to resist.

Superhero movies in the past few decades have had a big part in changing how the box office works, with most films being incredibly front-loaded. Captain America: Brave New World‘s box office dropped 68% in its second weekend, and while this is higher than average, it remains true that the opening weekend is almost always the biggest by far for a superhero film. A portion of this has to do with audiences rushing out to see the film in order to avoid spoilers. Unfortunately, an increasing number of these spoilers make their way out before the film is even released.

The Superhero Genre Having Grown To Such Heights Means There’s More Attention On Its Movies Than Ever

Audiences Pay Attention To Superhero Films All The Way Through Development

Superhero movies are among the biggest in the world, and people care about them deeply. Many of them are in the top results of the year, and many more superhero films make even more money than expected. With Avengers: Endgame making its way to the second-highest-grossing film of all time, with a total of nearly $2.8 billion, it is clear that audiences are invested in these stories. With so much source material to draw from, and so many pre-existing expectations for these popular characters, even following the development of these films has become a part of the appeal.

The release of Superman‘s trailer felt like an event, with build-ups and announcements, and something similar happened with the first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. With the size that these films have in the culture, their development has come to a point where audiences watch for every look and every bit of news throughout the entire process. Casting, writing, developing, and filming are all part of the news cycle that people now look to engage with. While fun, this can cause issues.

James Gunn’s Superman Suit Reveal Comments Underline How Hard It Is To Keep Major Superhero Movie Moments Under Wraps Now

James Gunn Recently Opened Up About Showing The First Look At Superman Early

At the recent February 2025 DC press event, James Gunn opened up about the challenge of keeping these details hidden, explaining some context behind the first Superman reveal pH๏τo: “With Superman, we were sort of forced because we knew we were going to shoot outside for weeks.” Because of the attention that would be placed on the project, Gunn felt it better for them to control the first look at Superman. Being in charge of the narrative over Superman‘s story forced the filmmaker to put out an image that would face great scrutiny, but at least it would be one he chose.

In addition to the creative concerns for the films, it is unfortunately the reality that filmmakers must now also consider and respond to leaks from set. This is a difficult and frustrating task, and has probably resulted in some filmmakers filming on green screen more than is strictly necessary.

Both Marvel & DC Have Had To Reveal Major Superhero Suits Before Movies Because Of Outside Filming Being Impossible To Keep Private

Attention On Outdoor Shoots Has Been Able To Reveal Too Much About Various Films

Set pH๏τos gave the first look at The Thing just as they gave the first look at Superman. The former, shared to X, proved exactly how this can be detrimental, as the first response that appeared from a user in August commented simply “Looks terrible” to the design. These pH๏τos are not properly lit, and only give a brief look at the physical components used for the film, which are often touched up with CGI, reframed, and color-filtered. Making ᴀssessments based on these pH๏τos can negatively affect perception of the film.

Studios have had to go to extra lengths to combat this. Both Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson revealed their Bat-suits in dark, calculated sH๏τs, that highlighted the components the filmmakers wanted to focus on. Both Marvel and DC have been forced to reveal their concepts early, due to the proliferation of pH๏τographers getting sH๏τs of their sets. These advance looks at designs, such as the comic-accurate Wolverine suit from ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, unfortunately can affect the reveals from within the films themselves.

So long as people care as much as they do about superhero films, it will be difficult to keep things hidden. This is a reality that filmmakers and marketers must work within, finding ways to still present their material in the best light. It is a difficult task, and likely a frustrating one, but fortunately filmmakers like James Gunn have found a way to work around them and provide great films despite these leaks. Hopefully, Superman will not be affected by any of the leaks, and will still be an exciting experience full of unexpected moments.

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