Crucially, the New Superman Understands That Jimmy Olsen Has Rizz

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In the latest Superman film, it’s not Superman’s impressive feat of leaping over a building that brings about Lex Luthor’s downfall. Instead, it’s a quirky-looking redhead, portrayed by Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen in James Gunn’s adaptation, who charms his way into the hearts of Metropolis women. Unlike Superman, Jimmy doesn’t just outshine Lex Luthor; he wins over Lex’s love interest.

James Gunn’s portrayal of Superman in the movie draws heavily from the character’s comic book origins, even embracing some of its more whimsical aspects. This vibrant Superman has a super-powered pet and uses phrases like “gosh darn it” instead of cursing. Gisondo’s interpretation of the character perfectly matches this lighthearted tone. His Jimmy is more an ordinary citizen living in Metropolis, rather than a hero hiding in plain sight. Surrounded by metahumans and superbeings, it’s this ordinary guy who seems to captivate women. Despite his seemingly typical nature, it’s easy to understand why he attracts attention. For instance, watching him politely fend off a woman’s flirtatious advances at a coffee shop while trying to do his work, you can’t help but sympathize with him.

In the movie, Jimmy Olsen initially appears as an unwanted distraction during Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s conversations at the Daily Planet, even being dismissed by Perry White, portrayed by Wendell Pierce. However, Jimmy quickly demonstrates his value when he unveils a secret source within Lex Luthor’s inner circle. This source turns out to be Eve Teschmacher, Lex’s selfie-loving girlfriend, played by Sara Sampaio, who was once romantically involved with Jimmy despite him dumping her due to her “shrimplike toes.” Later in the film, Eve proposes to send incriminating evidence to Jimmy on the condition that they spend time together. Initially hesitant due to not wanting to spend an entire weekend with her, this sidekick can be seen as somewhat of a player. Nevertheless, longtime followers of Jimmy Olsen will recognize his unique charm, often referred to as “rizz.

Over the course of his extensive comic book career, Olsen has consistently proven himself as an endearing character. In various comics, he unsuccessfully pursued Lois Lane’s sister, Lucy, but in a comic that significantly influenced Gunn’s film, titled All-Star Superman, he managed to win back a girl by penning a heartfelt letter on the moon. Despite his numerous attempts and occasional failures, Olsen has always been there. In virtually every comics appearance, he is portrayed as somewhat of an awkward sidekick to Lois and Clark, often looking up to them and not always receiving their respect in return. He can be petty, unintelligent, and typically serves as a secondary character in Superman’s life. However, he possesses a self-assured swagger that is not entirely unwarranted. Olsen is a rogue who consistently demonstrates his worth, contributing to the rescue missions through a mix of confidence, luck, and clever trickery.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I’ve always been intrigued by the unique portrayal of Jimmy Olsen in various movie adaptations. Marc McClure brought Jimmy to life in 1978’s Superman, and he reprised this role in all subsequent sequels and the Supergirl spinoff, making him the only character to appear in every film. In these films, Jimmy was often depicted as a good-hearted but bumbling character who required Superman’s timely intervention. However, Zack Snyder’s darker take on the series seemed to diminish Jimmy even further.

In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Michael Cassidy portrayed a CIA agent who met an untimely end in the opening sequence. If you didn’t watch the extended director’s cut, you wouldn’t have known that this unnamed character in the theatrical version was actually Jimmy Olsen in the Snyderverse.

I’m grateful for Gunn’s Superman, as it recognized Olsen’s talent and appreciated his value, much like Lex Luthor’s attractive girlfriend did. Fingers crossed that Jimmy gets an opportunity to charm Wonder Woman in a future DCU film.

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2025-07-16 19:54