With David Corenswet’s Superman movie reinventing the Man of Steel for the DC Universe, James Gunn shares what influences are part of the 2025 story. Gunn’s DC Universe may have started with Creature Commandos, but the franchise will get a more solid foundation next year with his Superman film, featuring Corenswet as the next star to portray the Man of Tomorrow. As Superman won’t center on Clark Kent’s origin story, there are a number of past Superman interpretations that are key for Gunn’s movie.

During a Superman set visit in Cleveland, Ohio, back in June, ScreenRant’s Rob Keyes was in attendance, alongside additional outlets, to get a deeper look at Gunn’s DC Universe adventure during the summer. With Superman having been depicted in many ways throughout the decades, Gunn opened up about the versions of the character that served as an influence for the DC Studios co-CEO, stating the following:

James Gunn: I think that all previous DC media influenced me. I think that obviously the original Donner movie influenced me, but there’s also a lot of things that this isn’t, like I’m just making a Donner type movie. It’s very different from that. Zack [Snyder] did some excellent stuff. So there’s a lot of ways that influenced me. There’s a lot of ways in which the DC animated universe [influenced me], and then there’s a lot of stuff from the comic books above and beyond anything else, All-Star Superman, that influenced me more than anything. To take that sort of Silver Age feel, that sort of science fiction approach to it with gadgets, Lex [Luthor] is really a sort of sorcerer in a way. He’s a scientist, but he’s so good at science and I think of him as like a sorcerer.

So everything [influenced me], and then it’s just something that’s completely us. The relationship between David and Rachel’s [characters] on screen is something I don’t think we’ve seen in – I hate to say stuff like this – but I don’t think it’s something we’ve ever seen in any superhero movie ever.

What James Gunn’s Superman Movie Influences Mean

As Superman stories have evolved in the comics, it is natural that TV shows and movie adaptations have also seen growth for the Man of Steel throughout the years. The first Superman trailer is set to release on Thursday, and will be the first time the world gets a proper look at what Gunn is looking to accomplish with his take on the DC icon. Based on the ways Superman has already seemingly paved a new path for itself, it looks like there will be plenty of room for the DC Universe installment to put the Man of Tomorrow in a new light.

From his comments back in June, it’s evident that Gunn’s Superman movie is not about sticking to one version of what’s come before or going back to classic roots. Instead, DC Studios’ Superman is about honoring the best elements that have been seen in live-action Superman projects, while also paving a new path for Krypton’s last son on the big screen. This approach – looking at what came before but also being willing to explore new venues – looks to be a useful tool to help the DC Universe become a successful superhero franchise.

Our Take On James Gunn’s Superman Movie Influences

With Gunn’s perspective on how Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill’s respective Supermen have helped inspire elements for Corenswet’s Superman, time will tell how the 2025 movie will also reinvent the character for the modern audience. But it is also inspiring to hear that properties like animated DC stories, as well as All-Star Superman, are also being used as great sources of inspiration for the new movie. Hopefully, when the Superman trailer debuts later this week, it will serve as a solid taste of what fans can expect when the beloved DC icon returns to the big screen.

Superman is set to release in theaters on July 11, 2025.