James Gunn And David Corenswet Open Up About The Intense Debate They Had Over One Of Superman’s Biggest Scenes: ‘There’s A Reason Why He’s Asking These Questions’

by

Warning: SPOILERS for Superman are ahead!

Filmmaking is a team effort, and sometimes arguments can ensue between directors and actors regarding the best approach for filming certain scenes. For instance, James Gunn and David Corenswet had their fair share of disagreements during the production of Superman, particularly when it came to the scene where Clark Kent passionately expressed his humanity to Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult’s bald villain who called him a “worthless alien.” Luckily, they managed to reach a resolution, and thankfully for fans, this heated discussion was captured on camera, allowing us to enjoy it in the 2025 movie release.

Following the release of Superman on digital platforms, a behind-the-scenes clip from the documentary “Creating Superman” has been posted by James Gunn across various social media outlets, including X. In essence, during filming of a crucial scene, Gunn requested Corenswet to speak his lines with more volume. However, the actor hesitated, as he believed that instead of showing emotion, Clark Kent would actually feel self-assured following his conversation with his adoptive father.

In a back-and-forth exchange, Corenswet, who had emerged victorious among over 400 contenders for the Superman role, approached Gunn in person to discuss their differences. It was then that Gunn uttered some words which ultimately helped Corenswet grasp the filmmaker’s vision.

It seems like the problem lies there, doesn’t it? Here’s what I want to clarify: Jonathan Kent didn’t explain that feeling bad was incorrect. Emotions and thoughts exist separately. The fact that you feel bad is valid. It’s not wrong for you to feel this way. Nothing is inherently right or wrong. All of it is part of being human, with our vulnerabilities. To encourage you to accept your vulnerability, I have to show my own vulnerability, which means admitting that I was hurt when I shouldn’t have been in this particular situation, and that’s what I’m doing now by acknowledging my feelings towards Lex.

As James Gunn spoke his final words, David Corenswet had already started walking back to set, preparing himself for the mental state required by the Superman director. In this behind-the-scenes glimpse, Corenswet mentioned that Gunn’s last sentence provided a clear understanding of the character’s actions at that moment and what he himself should be doing. Later on, Corenswet noted that the statement perfectly explained the character’s current situation.

James deserves all the praise for coming up with that sentence during our conversation and persisting through my challenging questions.

In an interview following their discussion, James Gunn clarified that his debate with David Corenswet did not stem from any negative intentions. Instead, they engaged in a friendly exchange of messages on the same day.

As a cinephile, I must admit, there’s no hint of anger or ego in this entire scenario. Instead, it’s all about the passion for cinema. The questions posed serve to elevate the experience. David, after that particular night on set, texted me and shared his sentiment that it was his best day working with a director yet. I couldn’t agree more; I too considered it one of my favorites.

It’s great that someone captured this moment on video since it happened. James Gunn expressed his excitement (and relief) upon learning it had been recorded. This discovery has piqued my curiosity to explore the other special features of Superman. However, I must admit that my real interest lies in discovering more about the Superman Saga that Gunn is planning.

Here’s another way of saying it: You can once again watch Superman digitally, or you could still go to the cinema for the first DCU movie. The physical DVDs will be available starting September 23rd, but the exact date when HBO Max subscribers can stream it hasn’t been announced yet.

Read More

2025-08-16 01:11