James Gunn’s Superman Tone Described As ‘Very Jokey’

One insider shared a new update about James Gunn’s upcoming Superman. The scooper claimed that the tone is similar to a previous film Gunn directed, but it allegedly deviates from its original gist.

Gunn’s Superman, starring David Corenswet, is the inaugural movie after he and his co-CEO of DC Studios decided to restructure the DC Universe (DCU) following the conclusion of the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Expectations are high for the anticipated DC tentpole, but one scooper made a somewhat concerning comment about the film.

Related

Superman Test Screening Reactions Draw Comparisons To One Of the Most Well-Received DCEU Movies

Superman is finally in the test screening stage, and it has been compared to a previous DCEU mega-blockbuster.

American entertainment journalist Jeff Sneider, known for his legit movie scoops, shared a new detail about Superman, which could be worrisome, on the latest episode of The Hot Mic podcast. According to him, the anticipated movie is not as serious as the previous superhero flicks from the franchise. “There were a couple things about Superman that I’d heard. I’d heard that it’s very, as you might imagine, jokey,” he said. “I’m hearing it’s very Gunn Guardians-like in tone, which people feel is not the tone of Superman.” This is not the first time Gunn’s upcoming superhero flick was compared to Guardians of the Galaxy. A Portuguese fan site shared the early reactions to Superman’s test screenings and compared it to the Marvel movie and a previous DCEU hit. “The tone is closer to the first Wonder Woman film and the first Guardians of the Galaxy,” the post read. Sneider added that Gunn had already said the new Superman will be “light,” so the audience should not expect a very serious movie.

Sneider also teased about “real big cameos that have not been revealed.” Although he didn’t get into details, he seemingly dropped hints about who the character is. “There’s no Jor-El yet?” he asked while smiling. Jor-El is Superman’s biological father from the planet Krypton. He is a brilliant scientist who ensures his son Kal-El’s survival by sending him to Earth. Host John Rocha says there has to be Jor-El, and Sneider admits if there is, the actor should be a “huge name.” He added that he had always thought it would be Chris Pratt and wondered, “How big did they get?” before teasing if they hired Tom Cruise or Leo DiCaprio. There are rumors circulating on social media that Cruise plays Jor-El in Superman. However, that’s not official, so one should take it with a grain of salt.

Gunn’s Guardian of the Galaxy is a massive hit, but unlike Superman, it’s a mix of humor, adventure and heartfelt emotion. While it has serious moments, it also features a lighthearted and comedic approach, making it one of the funniest entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Some Superman fans might not be accustomed to its new tone. However, Gunn is known for his talent and skills in making movies, so he won’t disappoint.

Also, there’s too much pressure on Superman. Some experts claimed the movie should do well because Warner Bros. Discovery’s future could depend on it. “If Warners can’t finally make the DC franchise work, there is [a] genuine fear that the studio will go the way of Fox, which was swallowed by Disney in 2019,” Puck reported. Pretty sure Gunn is aware of the expectations from his first DCU movie and has prepared for it. Superman is expected to be a critical and commercial success and we will soon see if the film will accomplish that.

Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025.

Superman

Release Date

July 11, 2025

Director

James Gunn

Producers

Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran

• 

  David Corenswet

  Clark Kent / Superman / Kal-El

• 

  Rachel Brosnahan

  Lois Lane

• 

  Nicholas Hoult

  Lex Luthor

• 

  Edi Gathegi

  Michael Holt / Mister Terrific

Source: The Hot Mic Podcast