James Gunn removes unfinished Superman flying scene from the upcoming film after acknowledging both his own dissatisfaction and negative fan reactions to a preview. The decision was confirmed during an interview published Thursday in Entertainment Weekly, ahead of the film’s anticipated release.
Teaser Released With Unpolished Visuals Draws Criticism
The teaser, made public on January 26, featured a brief sequence showing Kal-El soaring over a snowy landscape, a scene that many viewers noticed had glaring visual inconsistencies. The sequence follows the Man of Steel, played by David Corenswet, as he passes a rocky area and performs a barrel roll. The moment that faced criticism arrived when the camera shifts for a head-on view, and Superman’s face appears unnaturally still and oddly shaped, prompting swift reactions from fans.
Behind the Scenes: Unfinished Effect and Gunn’s Response
James Gunn, who is both the writer and director as well as DC Studios co-CEO, explained the technical aspects of the contentious scene. During the interview, he stated,
“The part of him flying, it was a photograph of his face and him flying. It was a photograph of a drone flying in front of an actual background,”
—James Gunn, DC Studios co-CEO. He further added,
“So all the pieces were real, but it was incorporated in kind of a funky way.”
—James Gunn, DC Studios co-CEO.
Gunn admitted that the shot inadvertently slipped through the editing process, saying he had spent less time reviewing the television spot than he would invest in a full trailer. He recognized the criticism but noted there were viewers who defended the creative approach taken with the character’s flight.
Gunn Reflects on the Challenge of Portraying Superman’s Flight
Having previously directed flying characters like Star-Lord and Adam Warlock in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Gunn highlighted how capturing the elegance and simplicity of Superman in flight is uniquely challenging. He acknowledged that the Man of Steel’s movement required a distinct finesse that set this character apart from other superheroes he has brought to screen.
Upcoming Release Promises New Take on Superman
Although the criticized scene will not appear in the final movie, viewers interested in how Gunn will ultimately depict Superman’s iconic flying can see for themselves when the film debuts on July 11. With both fan feedback and the director’s standards influencing refinements, anticipation grows around how the portrayal of this beloved hero will unfold in his latest cinematic chapter.
