Film Influencer 2025 - Superman

Superman is back on the big screen and doing big business!

Written and directed by James Gunn, it is the first film in the DC Universe (DCU) produced by DC Studios and the second reboot of the Superman film series. 

David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent / Superman, alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. 

With less backstory (thank god!), the action starts early, with Superman proving to the world that he is their protector after billionaire Lex Luthor enacts a plan to turn public opinion against him.

Development on a sequel to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film Man of Steel (2013) began by October 2014, with Henry Cavill set to reprise his role as Superman. Plans changed after the troubled production of Justice League (2017) and the Man of Steel sequel was no longer moving forward by May 2020. 

Gunn began work on a new Superman film around August 2022. In October, he became co-CEO of DC Studios with producer Peter Safran and they began work on a new DC Universe. Gunn was revealed to be writing the film in December. 

The title Superman: Legacy was announced the next month, Gunn was confirmed to be directing in March 2023.

The subtitle was dropped by the end of February 2024, when filming began in Svalbard, Norway. Production primarily took place at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, with location filming around Georgia and Ohio. Filming wrapped in July. The film takes inspiration from the comic book All-Star Superman (2005–2008) by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, among others.

Superman  is the first film of the DCU's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Superman received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $220 million against a $225 million budget. 

My review might not be so positive. It was long, CGI plagued and chaotic. However it didn't dwell on Superman's arrival to Earth, origin story or the usual half an hour of these Superman films.

Skyler Gisondo was excellent as Jimmy Olsen, who ended up via Lex's lady friend, saving the world. Sorry brief random spoiler alert. But it's not really just a straight up Superman film, it's filled with additional characters.

Superman is also flawed and gets smacked down on multiple occasions.

Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner / Green Lantern and 

Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, whilst Aussie Milly Alcock has an uncredited cameo appearance as Superman's cousin Kara Zor-El / Supergirl ahead of Supergirl, the next DC film to land in 2026.

Look this wasn't anything new. Particularly after watching all four seasons of Superman & Lois on The CW, which actually moved forward, with Superman and Lois joined by two teenage boys.

This will continue to do good school holidays business. It's not a great superhero film, however it was like Jurassic World, a fun popcorn flick, that despite it's long run, the film breezed by!

2.5 passing stars for the latest Superman film.