James Gunn recently clarified the authenticity of Jor-El’s message to Kal-El in his latest Superman film, addressing widespread speculation about whether it was altered. Released on July 11, 2025, the movie stars David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult, and has already generated over $400 million in global box office revenue, underscoring its success within the DC Universe.
Authenticity of Jor-El’s Message Confirmed by Director James Gunn
During an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, James Gunn was questioned about the nature of the message from Jor-El, Superman’s father, in the film. The story reveals that Kal-El holds a recording from his father Jor-El (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and his mother Lara (played by Angela Sarafyan). Initially, the message appeared to be guiding Kal-El to protect Earth’s inhabitants. However, part of the recording was corrupted and later restored by the Engineer, exposing a startling truth: his birth parents urged him to dominate humanity instead.
Later in the plot, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) publicizes this recovered message in an effort to sway public opinion against Superman, amplifying the controversial implications of his parents’ words. Despite this, many viewers presumed that Luthor had tampered with the message to frame Superman negatively.
Gunn expressed his surprise at this assumption and pointed out that the film explicitly addresses the message’s authenticity. He explained,
“In the movie, Mr. Terrific says, ‘I know those computer forensics guys. There’s no way.’ That’s Mr. Terrific. Smart as Lex Luthor. Then I have my Secretary of Defense say, ‘Think whatever you think about Luthor, but it’s real.’ And then the clincher is that Gurkos and Lex are walking together, and you know, Gurkos says, ‘Ah, you doctored the message. This is great.’ And Lex says, ‘It’s not a message.’ You know, ‘It’s not doctored. It’s real.’” —James Gunn, Director
Gunn’s Approach to Balancing Superman’s Legacy and New Storytelling
James Gunn has openly discussed the careful decisions he made while reimagining Superman’s background, seeking to preserve the character’s essence while introducing fresh elements. He stated,
“I’m a huge Superman fan, so first of all I had to trust myself that I was going to honor the pieces of Superman that we needed to keep the same and also allow myself to make changes where changes might work and wouldn’t go against the integrity of who the character is.” —James Gunn, Director
This balance was critical as the film explored difficult themes related to Kal-El’s origins and the expectations placed upon him by his birth parents. The controversial content of the message adds a complex layer to Superman’s story, challenging traditional perceptions and opening new narrative directions in the DC Universe.
Implications for Superman’s Future in the DC Universe
The revelation that Jor-El’s message was genuine and carried a commanding tone raises important questions about Superman’s role and morality as a ruler or protector on Earth. It casts doubt on the clear-cut hero image and suggests future storylines may explore the tension between heroism and authority more deeply. With Gunn’s direction and a strong cast including Bradley Cooper and Nicholas Hoult, the film has set a compelling foundation for ongoing developments.
As audiences continue to debate the moral complexities introduced in the film, this new interpretation of Kal-El’s message could shape the trajectory of Superman’s character and influence how future DCU movies approach his legacy. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see how these revelations impact Superman’s place in the cinematic universe.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household, and he has talked about how prayer is still important to him. However, he also describes himself as “in some ways, anti-religion.”
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. After being removed from the Guardians of the Galaxy series in 2018, the director, Gunn, feared his career was finished. Fortunately, in 2022, he and Peter Safran were chosen to lead DC Studios, allowing him to work on another superhero project. At that time, Toby Emmerich from Warner Bros. approached him.
Q. What religion is James Gunn?
A. The new CGI version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman was inspired by Ozu. Gunn, who grew up in a Catholic family, still values prayer in his life. However, he also considers himself somewhat against organized religion.
