The start of the brand-new DC Universe helmed by James Gunn of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad fame is still a ways off for now. However, that hasn’t stopped DC fans from speculating about the upcoming 2025 film Superman: Legacy, which was recently confirmed to have Gunn as its director as well as its writer.
While Gunn is certainly a filmmaker with a distinctive style, the offbeat comedy and over-the-top violence of his previous movies aren’t what one would typically look for from a Superman director. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Gunn is the wrong man for the job. In fact, he might be exactly what the Superman franchise needs right now.
How Can James Gunn Make Superman Better?
James Gunn made his name as a mainstream superhero movie director with 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which took an obscure Marvel Comics team and catapulted them into stardom. The film’s success was due in no small part to its lighthearted, adventurous tone, which made it stand out from other, more serious superhero movies of previous years. James Gunn is a director who knows how to make unabashedly fun superhero movies, and that’s definitely something that could be a major advantage to Superman: Legacy.
Of course, the snarky banter of Guardians of the Galaxy or the R-rated comedy of The Suicide Squad are a far cry from the particular brand of fun that one would expect from a Superman movie. But thankfully, Gunn has also proven adept at balancing wild humor with genuine human emotion. Underneath all the jokes, both Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad are, at their core, stories about found family. They feature groups of flawed, broken people who manage to join together to bring out the best in one another. Gunn knows how to mine genuine pathos out of even the silliest of movies — just ask anyone who cried during Yondu’s death in GOTG Vol. 2. Gunn’s movies can be witty and ridiculous one moment, then sincere and heartfelt the next. If Gunn manages to tip the scales towards the latter half of that balance, then he might just be a perfect fit for Superman: Legacy.
What Will Superman: Legacy Be Based On?
But if Gunn’s previous work still isn’t enough to convince Superman fans of his credentials, then his choice in source material may fill them with a bit more confidence. Gunn has been very open about using All-Star Superman by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely as his main comic influence for Superman: Legacy. Widely hailed by fans and critics alike as one of the greatest Superman stories ever told, All-Star Superman is a story that perfectly encapsulates Superman’s nature as a kind, compassionate protector of humanity and a beacon of hope for the world.
Granted, Gunn has stated that Legacy won’t be a proper adaptation of All-Star Superman. After all, Legacy is said to be featuring a younger Superman in his early days as a hero, while All-Star Superman serves as a grand finale to the tale of the Man of Tomorrow. However, he’s also confirmed that All-Star Superman will be serving as the primary influence for the overall tone of Legacy, with Quitely’s art even representing the film during its initial announcement. And if that’s indeed the case, then fans can likely expect Gunn’s Superman to be characterized similarly to Morrison’s.
Additionally, it’s important to note that All-Star Superman is a massive love letter to the Superman mythos, fully embracing the weirdness of Bizarro World or the Bottled City of Kandor. As such, it’s only natural that a filmmaker like Gunn would gravitate to it — his past work has shown that he’s unafraid to lean into the stranger side of comics. He’s already brought Rocket Raccoon and Starro the Conqueror to the big screen, so why not Krypto the Superdog or Mr. Mxyzptlk?
What Have Other Movies Gotten Wrong About Superman?
Over the past several decades, Superman hasn’t had the best luck when it comes to film adaptations. Despite the success of the first two Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve, the following sequels eschewed the series’ comic book roots in favor of poorly-received stories with original antagonists. And while 2006’s Superman Returns attempted to recapture the magic of the first film, it ultimately played things a bit too safe, and failed to leave a real impact on audiences.
In more recent years. Henry Cavill’s Superman, as featured in the films of Zack Snyder, has proven divisive among fans. While Snyder’s take on the Man of Steel has its defenders, many Superman devotees have found Cavill’s Clark to be far too dour and distant, lacking the warmth and empathy that Superman is typically known for. Controversial story decisions like Pa Kent discouraging his son from helping others or having Superman kill General Zod certainly didn’t help matters either.
Right now, there are countless DC fans longing for a return to the kind, caring, hopeful Superman of ages past — a Superman who never gives up fighting for justice, and helps everyone he can with a smile on his face. This is the perfect time for a fun, heartfelt Superman movie, one filled with joy and wonder instead of angst and tragedy. And between his past work and the source material he’s drawing from, it’s looking increasingly likely that James Gunn will make Superman: Legacy that exact sort of movie.