Its a bird, its a plane, its a report from the set of James GunnsSuperman.
And on that beautiful summer day, we learneda great many things about the film.
And while we cant share everything we learned just yet, we can share some very,verycool stuff.
We spoke to James Gunn while he was filming Superman. Here’s what he had to say.Image: Warner Bros.
Does that sound like something youd be interested in?
Then lets get to it.
Here are 15 things we learned from James Gunn on the set ofSuperman.
Image: Warner Bros.
Thanks to Warner Bros. for providing travel and lodging.
We just start in the middle of the action, Gunn said.
Lois and Clark already know each other.
Photo: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage
Lex hates Supermans guts from the beginning, although they dont know each other personally.
So we start right in the middle of the action.
Supermanis about legacy but needed a title change
When GunnsSupermanwas first announced, it was calledSuperman Legacy.
Superman and his dog, Krypto. Image: Warner Bros.
However, earlier in 2024 that changed and now its just calledSuperman.
Gunn explained why that happened on set and how legacy remains.
I thought maybe the title had a looking back feeling about it, he said.
And this isnt about looking back.
This is about looking forward.
And so its about that.
But I think as a title it felt too looking back.'
To do so, they took inspiration from some very cool movies and pushed other technologies forward.
Being able to shoot stuff in the sky… is really hard.
So we took a lot from films likeTop Gun: Maverick, Gunn said.
And we did that on sound stages.
We got these really small, crazy drones now.
Weve got some of the best flyers in the world here who are working with it.
Its humorous, but it certainly is not as [comedic] as eitherSuicide SquadorGuardians.
Theres plenty of humor in it.
Its fantasy, its taking from other things likeGame of Throneswhere its this universe where superheroes actually exist.
What are they like?
Theres a magic there thats undeniable.
But when you think ofSupermanand music, you only think of one person and yes, hes in there.
But the one thing is it is a score, its not a soundtrack.
So its not about the songs.
Theres a few songs in it.
Its a much, much more of a score film.
And it came from Superman himself.
And one of the things David said is that Superman wants kids to not be afraid of him.
Hes got these incredible powers.
He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity.
So he dresses like a professional wrestler.
And that really clicked in for me.
Hes the first one, brightly colored and thats who he is.
Among those, Gunn says Mister Terrific (For All Mankinds Edi Gathegi) is the leader.
I love Mister Terrific, Gunn said.
These characters all get their moment in the sun.
They all have their moments.
Theyre not just cameos, these are the characters.
Theyre supporting cast, but Mister Terrific is the main character of those characters.
He actually has a big part of the plot.
And so that was fun.
Lex Luthor is almost a sorcerer
Not literally.
All-Star Superman…influenced me more than anything, Gunn said.
Hes a scientist, but hes so good at science and I think of him as like a sorcerer.
Its a complicated relationship and we really get into it, Gunn said.
Well, well see, he said, She knows who Superman is.
And, Gunn thinks, that will be how most of the DC films are for the foreseeable future.
Everything needs to stand by itself, he said.
I dont want somebody to have to go see this movie and be relying on anything else.
Now listen, once we get down the line, that may change a little bit.
He continued, Are seeds being planted?
Its always about getting to the next scene.
Whats in the moment?
How are we making this movie the best we can be?
And its going to stay like that as much as I can possibly make it like that.
Its not just Clark.
Its not just Superman.
Its Clark/Superman, Gunn said.
People say all sorts of different things.
They say, Clarks the real one.
They say, Supermans the real one and Clarks the secret identity.
But I dontand it says it in my script on the second pageI dont believe either of those things.
I dont think anybody knows Superman unless they know both of him.
And when they know both of him, they know the real guy.
Im miserable, he said.
But hopefully its for the greater good.
A lot [is riding onSuperman] he said.
I mean, Were not going to just keep making movies.
That is, unlessSupermanis great.
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