One Surprising Idea James Gunn Had That Actually Worked To Make David Corenswet Look Taller In One Superman Scene

by

The superhero movie world is evolving, especially with the launch of the new DC Universe. James Gunn, one of the heads of DC Studios, has been carefully building this universe with the initial projects in what’s called ‘Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.’ The first film, *Superman*, is now available to stream, and Gunn recently shared a smart trick used to make actor David Corenswet appear taller as Clark Kent.

David Corenswet starred as Superman, capturing the character’s hopeful spirit and humanity in the movie. He physically embodies the iconic hero, even sporting Superman’s famous hair curl. Director James Gunn shared in the commentary that he specifically focused on visually establishing Clark Kent as a towering figure within Metropolis.

This scene really showcases David Corenswet’s height. I specifically cast extras who were five foot six or shorter to emphasize how much taller he is when he’s walking down the street.

I’m really impressed! It’s a surprisingly effective technique used in *Superman*. When the movie showed him walking toward the Daily Planet, they made him appear much taller than everyone around him. Even though they tried to disguise his height, it was still noticeable in that scene.

I’ve been a big fan of James Gunn for a while now. He just *gets* comic books, and he’s amazing at translating that energy to the screen – his work on *Guardians of the Galaxy* (you can find it on Disney+, by the way) was proof of that, and he continued to impress with *The Suicide Squad* and *Peacemaker*. What I also find really cool is how he manages to make the actors *look* like they stepped right out of the comics – it’s a subtle thing, but it really works!

HBO Max offers a wide range of movies, shows, documentaries, and all things DC, like Superman. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month for the Basic With Ads plan. See the deal here.

It’s really interesting to hear James Gunn talk about his vision for *Superman* and how he approached making the first film in the new DC Universe. He also explained his reasoning behind the surprising twist involving Superman’s parents, where Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van intentionally sent Kal-El to Earth not just to save him, but with a hidden goal of him eventually taking over and carrying on the Kryptonian legacy.

The new *Superman* movie was both a commercial and critical success. James Gunn has won over fans, especially those who have followed the DC films in order, because his new universe already features more interconnected stories than the previous DC Extended Universe. Even with just three projects released so far – *Creature Commandos*, *Superman*, and Season 2 of *Peacemaker* – there have been a lot of connections between them, like the unexpected appearance of Lex Luthor in the final episode of *Peacemaker*.

You can now watch *Superman* on HBO Max. The next DC film coming to cinemas is *Supergirl*, scheduled for release on June 26th as part of the 2026 film lineup, and I definitely plan to watch the director’s commentary when it’s available.

Read More

2025-09-27 00:30