THOUGH HE'S KNOWN as the Man of Steel, Superman has always been a malleable American figure. Throughout the character’s history, he’s taken on various forms and functions, changing with the times. In 1978, he proved superheroes could jump from page to screen. In 2006, he returned, melancholic. In the 2010s, he transitioned into a Christ-like figure in Zack Snyder’s deconstructionist vision.
So, what does the character have to say in 2025? That’s the question writer and director James Gunn has been charged with answering in his latest reboot, Superman. While the film’s title is simple, Gunn’s thoughts on what it means for this character to exist in today’s world are anything but. On top of that, both the character and the film have to serve as the launching point for a revamped DC cinematic universe. In short: There’s a lot riding on Superman, right out the gate.
Which is probably why, when the movie begins midway into a Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) scheme, it does so with little hand-holding. A series of title cards quickly establishes that in this version of the DC Universe, the world has been well aware of super-powered beings for the better part of three centuries. What they’re not so used to is aliens. Three years before the events of the film, Superman (David Corenswet) revealed his astral origins—and, as an immigrant, has faced a higher level of scrutiny ever since.
