James Gunn has declared an end to superhero origin stories in movies, signaling a shift in how these characters will be portrayed going forward. Speaking to The Times, Gunn explained that he no longer feels the need to show familiar origin moments like Batman’s parents’ murder, Spider-Man’s radioactive spider bite, or Superman’s arrival from Krypton.
Gunn’s approach to Superman and streamlined storytelling
Gunn’s upcoming Superman film will skip the classic origin tale of Kal-El’s journey from Krypton, likely due to the film’s two-hour timeframe. Instead, the story appears to focus on a more mature Clark Kent, who visits his adoptive Earth parents and develops a quicker romantic connection with Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan. Trailers reveal that Lois is already aware that Clark is Superman, bypassing the typical secret-identity reveal usually saved for sequels.
Critique of repetitive superhero narratives
In his interview, Gunn pointed out the redundancy of origin stories that delve too deeply into a character’s early life, drawing a parallel to films like Good Night, and Good Luck, which portray a figure’s journey without rehashing the background in detail. He emphasized that audiences don’t always need to see a character’s upbringing to understand their motivations or role in the story.
“There are three things I don’t ever need to see again in a superhero movie,” Gunn told The Times. “I don’t need to see pearls in a back alley when Batman’s parents are killed. I don’t need to see the radioactive spider biting Spider-Man. And I don’t need to see baby Kal coming from Krypton in a little baby rocket. We have watched a million movies with characters who don’t have their upbringing explained, like when we see Good Night, and Good Luck we don’t need to know the early life of Edward R. Murrow to explain how he became a journalist. Who cares?” —James Gunn, Director
Influences and perspectives behind Gunn’s Superman
Gunn has revealed that his experience of being fired from Marvel influenced the way he wrote his Superman character. He also expressed that he does not feel pressure for the movie to be a guaranteed success, dismissing the idea that
“Iron Man was the be-all and end-all”
of superhero films. According to Gunn, in this new DC Universe (DCU), Superman is portrayed as a more complex and intimidating figure, described as “this terrifying creature.”
Changing trends in superhero filmmaking
This shift away from origin stories aligns with other recent adaptations, such as Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which avoids showing Bruce Wayne’s parents’ murder on screen. Instead, the trauma is implied through the character’s actions and demeanor. Gunn’s stance reflects growing frustration with retreading familiar ground and suggests audiences will see superhero stories that advance more quickly into new territory.
Anticipation for the new Superman film
The new Superman movie, featuring David Corenswet as the titular hero, is set to premiere in theaters on July 11. Its fresh approach to storytelling could influence future DC projects and reshape how superhero narratives are presented in cinema, focusing on character development without repetitive origin exposition.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and often talks about how prayer still matters to him. However, he has also described himself as somewhat against organized religion.
Q. Why did James Gunn leave the MCU?
A. Alan Horn, the Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, said the comments and views found on James’ Twitter are unacceptable. They don’t align with the studio’s values, so they ended their partnership with him.
Q. Why is James Gunn leaving MCU?
A. When Gunn took on the role of co-CEO at DC Studios, he became fully committed to that company. This meant he would stop working on Marvel Studios projects. Gunn had developed strong connections with the actors in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, for which he was the writer and director.
