James Gunn and Peter Safran are spearheading a reboot of the DC Universe, starting with the animated series Creature Commandos, now streaming on Max. Next summer, Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman will hit theaters, marking a new era for the iconic superhero. Projects like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Lanterns, and Clayface are also slated to begin production next year, further expanding this reimagined DC cinematic landscape.

David Corenswet is set to play Superman in the new DC Universe, replacing Henry Cavill, who portrayed the Man of Steel in Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe. Corenswet emerged as Gunn’s top choice after beating out actors like Nicholas Hoult, who will now play Lex Luthor, as well as Tom Brittney and Andrew Richardson.

During a set visit for Superman, which Heroic Hollywood attended, Gunn explained his decision to cast David Corenswet as the Last Son of Krypton. “Yeah. The truth is, I think I took cues from their casting process when I cast Chris [Pratt] in the Star-Lord role. So I’ve been taking tips from those casting processes all along. I’ve always believed that the casting is the most important and that as long as the actor is the best possible actor for that role, that’s more important than it is for a name. Especially in today’s market, which is you see movie stars are not the same as they used to be in terms of you can’t open up, like what it was 15 years ago, open up a Melissa McCarthy movie. Instantly, you’re going to make this much money. Open up an Adam Sandler movie, instantly you’re going to make this much money. It’s not like that anymore. So I just wanted to go for who was the best Superman.”

James Gunn’s first reaction to David Corenswet

Gunn also recounted his initial impressions of Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane: “A lot of people auditioned, and the weird thing is I was so crazily nervous about getting Superman ready, on very first day of the tapes coming in, I had seen [David] Corenswet in Pearl. So I said, ‘Get him on, get him on.’ I said, get him on the tape. And then the very first day came in David’s tape and Rachel’s tape, and I saw both of those and I went, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to be okay.’ Because both of these people are amazing. There were other really good actors for both of those roles, but at the end of the day, it was both of them as individuals. Then we did something that I didn’t do with Guardians, which is I cast the two leads together and they all came in and we had this 15-minute-long scene that they have to act together and talk and discuss and just communicate. And I mixed and matched all the different couples and it was simple magic when the two of them came up. I got to say, it’s one of my greatest moments in filmmaking.”

Gunn has emphasized his unique approach to the character, explaining how his vision for Superman focuses on the duality of Clark Kent and Superman. In fact, Corenswet auditioned for both roles. “It’s not just Clark. It’s not just Superman. It’s Clark/Superman,” Gunn said. “And the only people that know Clark/Superman are his mom and his dad and a few others who know who he is, and those are very different things… I don’t think anybody knows Superman unless they know both of him. And when they know both of him, they know the real guy. And that means not too many people.” This nuanced perspective aims to delve deeper into the complexity of Superman’s identity, offering a fresh take on the iconic hero.

Production on Superman has already wrapped, and fans eagerly await the first trailer to get a glimpse of Corenswet as the next Superman. The film is one of the most anticipated projects under Gunn and Safran’s leadership, as it’s expected to set the tone for the revamped DC Universe

With its release date drawing closer, Superman represents a new beginning for the DC Universe. David Corenswet’s portrayal of the iconic superhero will serve as the foundation for Gunn and Safran’s ambitious plans, ushering in a fresh chapter for one of the most beloved characters in comic book history.

Superman arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe.