James Gunn’s upcoming film Superman (2025) delivers a powerful and complex story, opening with the hero beaten after his first confrontation. Set in Metropolis, the movie follows Superman as he battles monsters, billionaires, and even faces conflict with his girlfriend. The defining moment arrives when Superman uncovers a disturbing secret about the message his Kryptonian parents, Jor-El and Lara, sent to Earth. Initially, their video message displays love and a call to serve humanity. However, after The Engineer, an ally of Lex Luthor, refines the recording, the full message shocks Superman and the world: his parents expected him not only to be a protector but also a god-like figure meant to restart the Kryptonian lineage by taking multiple wives.
How Smallville Predicted This Controversial Kryptonian Mission
Though startling in the film, this revelation has roots in the television series Smallville. The portrayal of Jor-El’s true intentions as less altruistic had been explored in the show’s ten-season arc, deriving influence from the post-Crisis DC comic narratives. From as early as Season 2’s acclaimed Rosetta episode, audiences first heard hints of Jor-El’s complex message. That episode was notable for featuring Christopher Reeve, the iconic Superman actor, who guest-starred as Dr. Swann, an astronomer who unveiled Clark Kent’s extraterrestrial origins.
Dr. Swann disclosed that in 1989, the year Clark arrived on Earth, satellites detected a Kryptonian transmission addressing him:
This is Kal-El of Krypton, our infant son, our last hope. Please protect him and deliver him from evil. We will be with you, Kal-El, all the days of your life.
—Dr. Swann
But when Clark accessed his spaceship hidden by the Kents, he discovered the true nature of Jor-El’s command:
On this third planet from this star, Sol, you will be a god among men. They are a flawed race; rule them with strength, my son. That is where your greatness lies.
—Jor-El’s message
Clark Kent’s Internal Conflict: Then and Now
The resemblance between the messaging in Smallville and Gunn’s film is unmistakable. Both versions of Superman experience profound distress upon learning their biological father’s expectations. In Smallville, this crisis is brief thanks to the comforting presence of Jonathan Kent, Clark’s adoptive father, who reassures him:
It’s you who decides what kind of a life you’re going to lead,
continuing,
Not me, not your mother, not your biological parents.
—Jonathan Kent
Unlike Smallville, which focused on Clark’s personal journey with private counsel, James Gunn’s movie publicizes the full message via Lex Luthor’s manipulations, thrusting Superman into a global spotlight and intensifying his struggle. This public revelation disrupts Superman’s sense of identity and purpose throughout the film’s second act as he confronts various external and internal challenges, including battles with monsters, billionaire enemies, and personal conflicts.
The Role of Jor-El’s AI and Ongoing Father-Son Clashes in Smallville
In addition to the initial revelation, Smallville expanded on the tension between Clark and his biological father through an artificial intelligence representation of Jor-El, stored within Clark’s ship and the Fortress of Solitude. This AI often opposed Clark’s values, pushing a vision of strength and domination that Clark had to resist. Though this narrative thread added depth to Clark’s character, it sometimes felt overextended, as Jor-El’s AI wielded unexplained influence in the show’s storyline.
Comparing the Delivery and Impact of Jor-El’s Message
James Gunn’s interpretation significantly alters the context by making Superman receive the full message publicly, adding to his vulnerability and conflict. This contrasts with Clark’s private revelation alongside Jonathan Kent in Smallville, which allowed a more intimate exploration of his decision-making process. Gunn’s approach heightens the stakes by forcing Superman to confront public scrutiny and doubt in real time, intensifying the emotional weight behind his eventual heartfelt conversation with Pa Kent, which serves as a pivotal moment of personal redemption and reassurance.
Both portrayals, while differing in delivery and emphasis, use Jor-El’s message as a catalyst to explore Superman’s humanity and autonomy. The hero’s ability to choose his own path despite his parents’ designs emphasizes his role as a symbol of hope and moral strength rather than predetermined destiny.
Current Availability and Legacy of Smallville’s Influence
Superman is now playing in theaters, and the Smallville series remains accessible to audiences streaming on Hulu. The connection between Gunn’s film and the television show highlights how earlier Superman stories continue to shape modern interpretations of the character, enriching fans’ understanding of the hero’s internal and external battles. This plot thread, first introduced decades ago, gains new life and relevance as it resonates with contemporary themes of identity, power, and responsibility faced by Superman.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and still finds prayer significant in his life. However, he has also stated he is “partly against religion.”
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. After being removed from the Guardians of the Galaxy project in 2018, the director thought his career was finished. Fortunately, he and Peter Safran were chosen to lead DC Studios in 2022, giving him a chance to work on a new superhero project. Toby Emmerich from Warner Bros. approached him during that period.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. In Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation, the reimagined CGI version of Krypto the Superdog was inspired by Ozu. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and has shared that prayer remains significant to him. However, he also describes himself as being “in some ways, anti-religion.”
