David Corenswet’s Superman movie will be able to avoid repeating a Man of Steel mistake regarding Henry Cavill’s version of the DC hero, and it bodes well for the start of the new DCU. It is common knowledge that a huge aspect of the reboot of DC’s shared movie universe is due to how the previous iteration of the franchise had many divisive entries. While not all of the DCEU’s movies were bad, as some would lead to believe, a lot of the franchise’s releases were indeed controversial.
One of the biggest projects to fall in that category is Man of Steel. The movie introduced Cavill’s Superman to the world. I felt like most of the DC film worked, but there were some notable choices that I simply did not believe to be good based on how Superman acts in the comics. Cavill is now out, with the DCU’s Superman movie recasting the role. I have wanted Corenswet to play Superman since I first saw him in 2019’s The Politician, and based on the movie’s trailers and James Gunn’s recent comments, he will likely avoid a DCEU mistake.
I Think Superman Killing Zod Is Man Of Steel’s Worst Choice
There Were Other Controversial Moments In The DC Movie
The first movie in the DCEU timeline, 2013’s Man of Steel, made a few choices that I did not think were particularly fitting for Superman. Yes, I understand that director Zack Snyder had a plan for the hero to start out doubting himself and slowly finding his hopeful persona from the comics, which was not completed due to behind-the-scenes changes. That said, I’m convinced that Man of Steel could still have gone for a darker tone with a Superman who is learning to be a hero without having him kill Zod.
Superman is one of the heroes who should absolutely never kill. That is portrayed in several live-action and animated projects, as well as video games, DC Comics, and more. The idea of starting a cinematic universe with a movie that ends with Superman snapping Zod’s neck was a confusing choice. Superman did not have to display his Boy Scout persona in Snyder’s DCEU film, but the hero could have easily found another way to dispatch Zod. A better solution would have been to send the villain to the Phantom Zone, which multiple DC projects have done before to great success.
James Gunn Confirms The DCU Superman Will Be Different
David Corenswet’s Superman Is Unlikely To Kill Villains For A Key Reason
Before he was ever cast as Superman, Corenswet spoke about how he wanted to see the next version of the hero after Cavill’s go back to Clark Kent’s classic, brighter tone from the comics. I also wanted to see that happen, with a Superman who does not kill, but instead sees all life as precious. During a recent interview with Fandango, Superman director James Gunn explained how that is the direction they are going with the hero’s debut in the DCU. According to Gunn, the hero’s focus is on not letting anyone die, ever. Check out the full quote below:
“He believes the sancтιтy of life is of the utmost importance. No matter what, you do not let anyone die, ever.”
While Gunn never mentions anything about villains in his quote, I think it is safe to say that Superman’s logic expands to everyone he meets, not only the good guys. Based on Gunn’s description of how Corenswet’s Man of Steel thinks, he would never kill a villain, always trying to find a way of defeating them that does not include the use of lethal force. That is what Superman should be like. With all the power he has, it would be easy for Superman to just kill villains. However, his restraint and morals are what make him a true hero.
How The DCU Has Better Alternatives To Superman Killing
The Shared Universe Already Has Many Violent Characters
With Gunn’s comments making it likely that Corenswet’s Superman will never repeat Man of Steel‘s mistake of having the hero kill, I think the DCU already has a pretty good number of announced characters who can fulfill the audience’s desire for more violent DC stories. In fact, Gunn’s DCU started with a very violent project. The TV-MA animated series Creature Commandos followed a team of misfits who had to make their bloody way to stop a dictator from destroying the world based on a vision of the future. They killed whoever they had to fulfill their mission.
|
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 |
A movie with Deathstroke and Bane is reportedly in the works, and more mature projects have been confirmed to be on the way by Gunn. While it is now on the back burner, The Authority is a movie that I think offers the perfect solution for those who want to see Superman kill. Apollo, one of the team’s characters, is essentially a darker version of the Man of Steel. Through him, the fans who want a Superman who has no problem killing villains can be satisfied, while Corenswet’s Superman movie and beyond present a classic take on Clark Kent.
Upcoming DC Movie Releases
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Superman
- Release Date
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July 11, 2025
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Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
- Release Date
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June 26, 2026
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The Batman Part II
- Release Date
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October 1, 2027
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