Summary
- James Gunn sought advice from Zack Snyder on Superman’s red trunks for the upcoming movie.
- Both Gunn and Snyder have different approaches to filmmaking and the character of Superman.
- David Corenswet’s response about the red trunks changed Gunn’s perspective on it.
James Gunn approached Zack Snyder while working on his upcoming Superman movie to ask for advice about a particular element of the character’s costume. The creative head of DC Studios spoke in a recent interview about the encounter.
Zack Snyder played a significant role in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and its early years. He laid the foundation for its interconnected cinematic universe and directed its core films, including Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League (2017). Gunn and Peter Safran became co-CEO of DC Studios in 2022 and they rebranded DCEU as DC Universe (DCU). They began it by creating a new Superman movie with a new lead, David Corenswet, replacing Henry Cavill. Gunn and Snyder have different approaches to filmmaking, with the former blending humor, heart, and heroism for an in-depth take on the character and the latter focusing on the dark, brooding, and mythic side and cinematic highlighting the gods among humans. It’s easy to compare the two since they work in the same field, but Gunn just clarified that there’s no rivalry. He even approached Snyder for help for the new Superman movie he directed.
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In a recent interview with Screen Brief, Gunn got candid about the challenges he encountered regarding Superman’s costume, in particular the trunks. “There was a time when I was developing the Superman costume, with David Corenswet and Juliana [Makovsky], our costume designer and it was coming together, but it had the red trunks, it had the whole thing,” Gunn told Screen Brief. “And we really went back and forth a lot about the red trunks.” Feeling out of options, Gunn approached Snyder for some input, and the latter admitted to feeling the same. “I even talked to Zack Snyder about it. He said,
I tried like a billion versions with the trunks and just never got there.
“And I said, ‘I see how that’s the case,'” Gunn continued.
Gunn admitted wanting to use the trunks but found them too colorful. Gunn spoke with Corenswet about the costume, but the latter had no issues with it. In fact, the Superman lead told him, “I love it,” when the filmmaker asked the actor how he felt about the costume. Corenswet’s perspective about the trunks eventually convinced Gunn to let it be. “And David said, ‘I’m an alien from outer space who can fly and lift buildings, and I shoot laser beams out of my eyes that can dissolve things. I want kids to not be afraid of me. So, what am I going to wear? And I think that was really part of where the costume came from. And I saw the character in a new way,” Gunn explained.
Superman’s red trunks do not bother some fans, who consider them among the superhero’s legacy. However, practicality-wise, it serves no functional purpose. It even looked out of place compared to modern superhero suits. It seems old-fashioned and against the contemporary costume designs that favor sleek and aesthetic patterns. Even Snyder ditched the red trunks in Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel and fans approved of it.
The issue about the red trunks is subjective; some probably find it bothersome, while others barely notice it. Superman is more than his costume, the superhero is a symbol of hope for many. This is evident in its official trailer, which shows a little boy holding a flag pole with Superman’s logo. In the latter part of the teaser, the public can also be heard chanting “Superman.” Overall, Superman is a superhero whether or not he wears red trunks.
Superman will hit theaters on July 11, 2025.
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Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.’ rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill’s departure from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.”
Source: Screen Brief