Movies

James Gunn’s Krypton Twist in Superman Isn’t as Big as People Think

BBG News

Director James Gunn skillfully crafted numerous unexpected plot developments for the DCU Superman film, with one major shock revealing a darker side to Krypton and Kal-El’s parents that contradicts all previous cinematic depictions of Superman’s family but aligns perfectly with the comic book lore.

In the initial scene, we see a wounded Superman viewing a partially distorted video as he recuperates. The video featured his parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, expressing their love and urging him to uphold Krypton’s ideals. He interpreted this to mean using his powers for the benefit of others. Yet, once the video was fully deciphered, it became clear that they desired him to conquer Earth, ruling as a dictator with multiple wives. Superman dismissed this inheritance, instead choosing to identify with his human qualities and Pa Kent’s belief that the meaning he derived from the message was more significant than its actual content.

Superman 2025’s twist isn’t as unexpected as people think

Critics accused Gunn of this unexpected turn as being merely for shock value, but the concepts of a corrupt Jor-El and an authoritarian Krypton are not novel. In fact, the 1978 Superman movie portrayed Krypton as a society where any form of dissent was prohibited. Jor-El faced exile to the Phantom Zone for discussing Krypton’s impending doom, which was the same punishment meted out to General Zod and his followers for planning a violent military rebellion.

In the TV show Smallville, Superman’s people and his father were portrayed in a rather gloomy light. Over ten seasons, the AI from the Fortress of Solitude, pretending to be Jor-El, deceptively controlled Clark Kent and his loved ones. Although this was just a computer simulation and not the real Jor-El, it gave us a grim impression of Kal-El’s father, suggesting he would treat his son so harshly.

Many versions of Krypton have been dystopian in the comics

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but appreciate how these adaptations draw heavily from the original Superman comics. Instead of heeding Jor-El’s prophetic warnings, Kryptonians were often depicted as arrogant and xenophobic. This was particularly evident during the New Krypton storyline when Clark managed to restore the miniaturized citizens of Kandor to their normal size. Instead of integrating into Earth society, they chose to construct a new Krypton. Regrettably, this led to conflicts between the two worlds, with Supergirl’s mother Allura In-Ze spearheading the fight against Earth.

In the DC Rebirth period, the character once known as Jor-El was brought back and transformed into the antagonist Mr. Oz. Prior to Krypton’s destruction, he was sent to Earth early on, allowing him to observe humanity up close. His experiences revealed a disturbing side of human nature that led him to believe they did not deserve Superman’s protection. In the end, Jor-El abducted his own grandson, Jonathan Kent, with the intention of turning him into a harsher, more Kryptonian type of superhero.

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2025-07-21 23:16

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