CinemaCon believed a man can fly on Tuesday as DC Studios head James Gunn showed off an extended look at Superman. The film is a make-or-break moment for DC, which has an ambitious slate, much of which depends on Superman working at the box office this summer.
Gunn appeared alongside his DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran, while stars David Corenswet (Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) and Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor) also took the stage.
Previously unseen footage showed Superman getting assistance from a particularly rambunctious Krypto, who eventually drags him into the Fortress of Solitude. A number of lines were greeted with laughter from the crowd.
After Superman thanks a robot crew for their help, one of them replies, “No need to thank us, sir, as we will not appreciate it.”
From the stage, Gunn shared, “I cannot wait to share the film with all you guys and the rest of the world.” He added, “We’re still in the throes of post-production.”
Gunn was asked about how he got started with the project. “It was a long time coming,” said Gunn in recalling the origins of the film dating back to him being offered Superman in 2018. Instead, he opted to tackle The Suicide Squad, explaining he was unsure how to take on the Man of Steel, who is “perceived as old-fashioned by many.” Ultimately, Gunn was invigorated not only by the character relationships but also the chance to have fun with such elements as pocket universes and Superman’s pooch, Krypto.
Corenswet recalled a scene opposite Brosnahan that took two days to shoot, and he emphasized how many pancakes he ate for it. This led Brosnahan to quip, “So glad that was the most memorable part for you.”
Hoult added about a memorable moment from watching Corenswet during production: “I felt like I was witnessing the magic of cinema in first-person in real time.”
Said Corenswet, “It’s a great honor to play a role that exists so clearly in the public consciousness.”
Brosnahan praised the film’s universality: “I feel like these stories endure because there’s something in it for everyone.” She said of playing characters reviously portrayed by legendary performers, “We get to stand on the shoulders of giants … and then find our ways into their heads.”
Safran noted that Krypto was inspired by Gunn’s dog, Ozu — but Gunn clarified that Krypto’s real-life counterpart is far from heroic. “Ozu is terrible to anyone who comes near him,” Gunn joked. He recalled going to a shelter to rescue the canine: “He kind of looked like my old dog on crack.” He added, “I said, ‘That dog looks funny to me, and I like funny things.’”
Gunn remembered taking Ozu home and seeing the dog chewing up his laptop and shoes, including leaping around the home and knocking over food. “I thought, ‘Oh, my God, what if this dog had superpowers? I’d be fucked,’” Gunn continued. “And I said, ‘Now I know what I’m going to do with Superman.’”
Brosnahan was asked about her preparation for playing Lois. “I begged James to put me in training,” she said with a laugh, adding she had “a little bit of flight training.” She also recalled talking to journalists to research the role.
The castmembers were asked if they would want to play other DC characters. Corenswet named Batman and said to Gunn, “That would be fun to get to do at some point, James, if you’re willing.”
This led Hoult to joke, “Well, I auditioned for Batman and Superman.” He recalled Gunn first offering him the role of Lex and that he thought to himself, “Shit, that’s who I was supposed to be playing all along.”
Superman arrives on July 11, and is distributed by Warner Bros., a studio in need of a hit after several high profile misses this year. The cast also includes Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific), Terence Rosemore (Otis), Anthony Carrigan (Metamorpho), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner) and María Gabriela de Faría (The Engineer).
Gunn wrote the script as well as directs. “I completely relate to Superman because he’s everything I am,” Gunn told previously told The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s somebody who is an outsider who feels like an alien, but also the ultimate insider, because he’s fucking Superman. And that’s kind of like what I feel like.”
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