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What We Want From James Gunn’s Superman 

In a post we made in January, we spoke about all the things we knew about Superman: Legacy, now 8 months later we still know very little about it except that we have seen the suit and know David Corenswet looks perfect as Superman. As we edge closer and closer to the release date, a trailer feels inevitable at some point soon and I am hoping with all my being that this film will be a smash hit.

I want James Gunn’s DCU to succeed and most of all, I want Superman to be Superman again. With Zack Snyder fans, I unfortunately feel there are already a lot of people looking to be negative on this film and James Gunn as a whole but the DCU under Snyder was only going downhill and we could be in for a new major series if this film goes well.

As a diehard Superman fan, there are certain aspects of the character that need to be done correctly and below I will list what they are and how I would like to see them done. 

Clark Kent and Lois Lane

Clark Kent is obviously an essential part of the character of Superman and I feel there is a contrast that needs to be done where Clark is still a strong, but nervous, man so when we see him as Superman we see the true him. Clark Kent is a farm boy and should be shown to be kind and earnest who cares about people and can actually do something about it as Superman.

This is why Lois is such an important character too. As much as I think Amy Adams is a wonderful actress, at points in the Snyder films she felt like a pawn in the story instead of the strong character that she should be known for. 

Their relationship is so key and the chemistry between Clark and Lois is the heart of the film. Lois is a stronger character than Clark and that balance is key. We need the relationship to feel real and we need their chemistry to be authentic. 

The CW show, Superman and Lois, is not only one of the best depictions of Superman but of the relationship between these characters. They made it clear that Lois was in love with Kent and finding out that he was Superman was just a plus for her and this is a nice character moment that should be reflected in this Superman movie. 

Make It Different

The 1978 Superman is the best example of Superman on the big screen and I think making a Superman that takes elements of that film is key, but, we need something different. We need Corenswet to feel like his own Superman. This is something that I think Synder succeeded at but in the wrong way, the essence of Superman felt lost and too dark considering Superman is meant to be the brightest DC character, he should be saving cats from trees, telling kids his Mum made his suit and being a farm boy while being Superman and all of me wants this to happen. 

But, Be Simple

As much as we need him to be his own, I don’t want him to stray too far like Man Of Steel did. If they just make Superman feel like Superman they can’t go wrong.

The same goes for most entertainment series in life, whether it be films or gaming. You look at other film series like Harry Potter, the feel and culture remains the same throughout. You look at games like GTA, they all feel the same, have the same culture, excitement. The same goes for online slots, you have slot series where they keep the same feel across all of them, just with some enhancements here and there. You will notice that they change the games but keep them in the same realm so they are familiar and that is a prime example of what should happen with this take of Superman. Keep him close to the 78 Superman but allow Corenswet to do his own thing. 

Pa Kent

Jonathan and Martha Kent are the reason why Superman exists, they nurture him, take him and show him who he should be. This is so important and the biggest miss in the Snyder Superman story. 

Pa Kent is the most important man in Superman’s life and a lot of his lessons should come from him. The passing of Pa Kent is usually from an illness that takes him from Clark as a teenager, which is meant to be a key lesson for Clark to show that he can’t save everyone as much as he wants to try. 

This is arguably the biggest lesson he ever gets, so in 2013 when we watched Man of Steel and saw Jonathan Kent die by a tornado, you can see why fans were frustrated. He could easily save him from a tornado but didn’t and this has always confused me.

With Pruitt Taylor Vince cast as Pa Kent, the farmer look is nailed on and I think we could see a great take on the character he needs the most.

Obviously, this is a major aspect of the character but as long as we see Jonathan Kent be a dad, who cares about his son and wants him to use the powers he is blessed with to the best of his abilities. 

About the author

Tom Smith

Please note that articles by this author may be in collaboration with other companies.

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