The DCU's inaugural film, "Superman," has garnered significant positive buzz since its 2025 release, with David Corenswet's portrayal of the Man of Steel hailed as a brighter, more humanistic take on the iconic hero.
This interpretation, however, has not been without its share of debate. Comic book writer Grant Morrison, whose seminal work "All-Star Superman" profoundly shaped the character's modern image, recently shared their thoughts on James Gunn's "Superman" during an interview with "Half the Picture," offering praise while also raising several points of contention.
Morrison stated directly in the interview that the film is "the closest anyone has come to capturing the feeling of Superman so far," indicating their general approval of the movie's overall direction. However, they also admitted dissatisfaction with certain creative choices. Morrison elaborated:
"James made some understandable choices for dramatic effect, to make Superman more human, but he let Superman get beaten up too much." They further expressed a desire to see Superman "stop constantly getting beaten and instead start fighting back."
Beyond the portrayal of combat, Morrison also expressed reservations about the film's reinterpretation of Kryptonian lore. Specifically, the plot point where Clark Kent learns his original mission to Earth was one of conquest, not protection, reminded them of the narrative direction seen in "Invincible."
Morrison stated they disliked this aspect, preferring Krypton to be a lost utopia. They added that the tragic sense of a once-beautiful world erased by nature due to neglect was, in their view, more poignant.
Due to these changes, Morrison felt that the film, at one point, made Superman's moral core appear unstable. They candidly expressed feeling almost uneasy that the film's Superman seemed to possess a fragile sense of morality, as if it were merely built upon wish fulfillment. However, Morrison also emphasized that this concern did not persist throughout the entire film.
Morrison noted that the film's final act successfully redeemed their initial concerns, particularly highlighting Clark's unwavering stance when confronting a defeated Lex Luthor. They stated that while the film had them worried Superman might lose his way, he ultimately did not, and that moment was "actually quite beautiful."
As Gunn embarks on a new narrative chapter for Superman, the industry continues to watch how the director will further develop the character. The sequel, "Man of Tomorrow," slated for a 2027 release, is expected to introduce new characters like Brainiac and potentially redefine the relationship between Superman and his archenemies.