James Gunn Hints at His Superman with Tweeted Image
James Gunn just gave another hint about his upcoming Superman movie. Last week, Gunn made a video in which he announced the first slew of movies and shows in his and Peter Safran’s revamped DCU, which included a film called Superman: Legacy. The image he used in the video was from Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman, a popular comic from 2005-2008. Today, Gunn tweeted another comic book image, this one from the cover of Action Comics #1050, released in 2016. Here’s Gunn’s tweet:
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 7, 2023
So, why did Gunn tweet this particular image? The obvious assumption is that he is drawing from the story in Action Comics #1050, as he must be from All-Star Superman (the latter being even more likely, given his apparent man crush on Grant Morrison). But I don’t know if that’s it. Gunn has said that, while not an origin story, Superman: Legacy will feature a younger Superman early in his superhero career. Action Comics #1050 finds Superman married to Lois and having a child. It’s possible he could take elements from the story – Superman goes up against Lex Luthor, a train that’s never late in Superman adaptations. But I think it’s possible he just loved the image and thought it evoked the kind of Superman he wants to write. It’s a stunning image of Superman taking to the skies in a heroic pose; you can hear the “Up, up, and away!” as you look at it, imagining Superman taking off to save the day again. And that’s fantastic; I’m hopeful for Superman: Legacy, particularly after what Peter Safran said about it at a press conference coinciding with the DCU slate announcement.
“It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks that kindness is old-fashioned.”
“Truth, Justice, and the American Way” makes me believe more than anything. The obnoxious virtue signal that was “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow” (which, if you scroll through the comments on Gunn’s tweet, you’ll see one or two people tweet so we know they’re better than us) looks like it’s on its way out, and a traditional, heroic Superman is on his way.
To that end, Gunn tweeted another picture yesterday with the promise that he wouldn’t do this to Superman:
No current plans to adapt. pic.twitter.com/ziEYY15Omj
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 6, 2023
A bored Superman indifferent to the suffering of others? Zack Snyder pretty much nailed that already.
