James Gunn has opened up about why he has no plans to retcon the changes that he made for the hero's origins in the recent Superman movie.
One of the controversial debates that fans had when the DCU movie was released was the change that Gunn made to Kal-El's origins. It was revealed that his parents sent him to Earth not to protect humanity, but to rule the planet. The twist on Jor-El and Lara's seemingly villainous motivation shocked a lot of fans, and some have clamored for Gunn to retcon it in the DCU's future.
Why James Gunn is Not Planning to Retcon Superman's Origins in the DCU
In the director's commentary for Superman (whose clip has trended on social media), Gunn addressed the concerns that fans have regarding the changes that he made to Kal-El's origins and his parents' motivations in the movie.
While he acknowledged that his creative choice has been controversial, he iterated that he is standing by his decision and he is not planning to retcon it in the future. He also explained that the comics have explored this type of portrayal of Kal-El's parents before.
"I think it works. It is something that is not going to be retrofitted in the future. It is a fact in Superman's life. He was sent by his parents to Earth to save him primarily, but also the hope that he would continue the Kryptonian heritage and sort of take over the Earth as its ruler. That isn't who Superman thinks of," the director said.
"This moment here with Clark is so important because he's always seen himself as having this destiny: 'My parents sent me to Earth to be a good man and save people and to help the Earth.' He's always thought that what he was doing was for a reason outside himself, that his ethics are born of something that wasn't interior but exterior, and when he was confronted, that exterior is not at all what he thought it was."
Gunn continued, "It creates a personal crisis, and that's what he was dealing with in this moment. But as the movie goes on, we discover, and more importantly, Clark discovers that what he was doing was not because of what his parents told him to do. What he's doing is because of who he is as a human being."
Now, fans are wondering how impactful it will be for Superman in the future of the DCU, as well as what it means for Supergirl when we watch her solo movie next year.
What to Expect in the Man of Tomorrow Movie
Gunn recently confirmed that DC Studios is moving forward with the next Superman movie titled Man of Tomorrow. It is set for release on July 9, 2027.
David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult are confirmed to reprise their respective roles of Superman/Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. Just like the first movie, Gunn is also serving as the director and writer of the project.
While most of the plot details are under wraps, Gunn teased that the film "is a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat."
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