Highlights
- James Gunn's recent comments on Superman: Legacy have stirred up controversy and divided fans.
- Fans are questioning Gunn's decision to recast Henry Cavill as Superman, especially after his comment that he wasn't making a "young Superman" movie.
- The DCU needs to find a way to unite fans for their upcoming films, including Superman: Legacy, to be successful.
James Gunn's recent Superman: Legacy comments have upset some fans, while others have jumped to defend him.
If there is one thing that can be said about Gunn's DCU, it has been divisive since the beginning. Although many people agreed that the DCEU needed to be rebooted to make the universe more cohesive, they disagreed on how to do so. One of the few things almost universally loved about the DCEU was casting Henry Cavill as Superman, and Gunn made the tough decision not to rehire him for the DCU. Gunn's recent comments about Superman: Legacy have re-sparked the debate about that decision.
Gunn recently replied to a fan on threads who asked if Blue Beetle's references to Superman mean his “young Superman movie is set in the past?” Gunn replied, “I was never making a “young Superman” movie, just a Superman movie!” This comment was met with backlash, as Gunn previously stated that Cavill was recast because the “story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life.”
These comments seem contradictory and have led to fans asking why Cavill was recast for a younger actor in the first place if Gunn was never making a “young Superman” movie. Additionally, fans pointed out other times when Gunn may have lied, like when he said Ben Affleck wanted to direct in the DCU, and then a few months later, Affleck said he would “absolutely not” direct. There is also the messy Gal Gadot and Wonder Woman 3 situation that Gunn has yet to comment on.
Some fans are angry that such a good casting like Cavill was thrown away for seemingly no reason, while others question if they can even trust anything that Gunn says about his upcoming DCU. Other fans believe that Gunn's recent comments are not that deep.
When Gunn clarified Superman's age in his film, he said it would be “younger than in his forties,” while young could mean his teens or early twenties. Cavill, who is currently 40, could play someone younger, but the new Superman will be in the universe for a while and may require a younger actor for the long term. No matter what Gunn meant with his comments, the DCU must find a way to unite fans for their upcoming films to be successful.
Superman: Legacy is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Source: James Gunn