James Gunn has dismissed concerns that his upcoming Superman reboot might confuse audiences with its large ensemble cast, pointing to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer as proof that moviegoers can handle expansive storytelling.
The DC Universe relaunch will introduce David Corenswet as the new Man of Steel alongside a host of superheroes, including Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho, Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl. The film also features Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen.
When asked by Esquire Philippines if he worried about audience confusion, Gunn responded confidently: “No, not really, because I’ve screened the movie for so many people and saw that people aren’t confused. So I know from fact that it’s not confusing.”
He compared the dynamic to any other film with a strong protagonist and supporting characters: “Superman is definitely the protagonist, and he has his work friends and his play friends. Just because they have insignias on their costumes or superpowers doesn’t mean they’re not like any other supporting character in any movie.”
To put it in perspective, Gunn noted: “I think ‘Oppenheimer’ has three times as many speaking roles as we do. So I think people are fine.” Nolan’s Oscar-winning biopic featured over 25 speaking parts yet still captivated global audiences, grossing $975 million worldwide—a benchmark Gunn and DC Studios would love to match.
Superman soars into theaters on July 11. Watch Gunn’s full interview with Esquire Philippines below.
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.