James Gunn Explains Why He Nerfed Superman (And It’s a Good Reason)

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James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, shared that the decision to portray Superman with slightly reduced powers is part of a larger vision for the DC Universe. While David Corenswet’s Superman can still perform incredible feats like flying, lifting buildings, using heat vision, and freezing breath, Gunn has confirmed this version is intentionally less powerful than some previous iterations, and there’s a good reason for that.

While the new Superman in the DCU might not be as powerful as previous versions, he still showed off incredible strength in his first appearance in 2025. He managed impressive feats like holding up a giant monster’s foot, catching falling buildings, and even using his icy breath to escape a black hole with three other people.

In a recent CBS interview, James Gunn, the director of the new Superman movie, addressed concerns that Superman’s immense power makes him a less compelling character. He then explained his decision to reduce Superman’s power level in the upcoming 2025 film.

Gunn acknowledged that many people feel Superman is overpowered, explaining that this is actually why he personally preferred Batman as a child.

I see where you’re coming from. Some comic book writers, like Grant Morrison, have done amazing things with the idea of an incredibly powerful Superman. But personally, when I was growing up, I preferred Batman. Superman sometimes felt too powerful, which made him less relatable.

He reminisced about watching Superman in the 1970s, noting that the character’s abilities weren’t always consistent. Over time, Superman became increasingly powerful, eventually gaining the ability to essentially reverse time by spinning the Earth.

Growing up with Superman in the ’70s, I noticed his abilities changed a lot over time. He began in 1938 as simply a very strong man – bullets couldn’t hurt him and he could jump well, but he wasn’t the powerful figure we recognize today. The radio show added new powers like heat vision and flight. From there, his strength steadily increased until he could do incredible things, like destroying planets with a single punch, and even reverse time by spinning the Earth, as seen in the 1978 movie.

James Gunn explained his choice to reduce Superman’s immense power by saying that as he develops the DC Universe, he wants to avoid having one character who is vastly more powerful than all the others. He didn’t want other heroes to feel unimportant in comparison.

His power level has always fluctuated, especially after John Byrne’s work in the 80s. We’re creating a whole universe of characters, and I wanted to avoid having one person be overwhelmingly powerful, making other heroes – even those with simpler weapons like a bow and arrow – seem insignificant.

He noted that Superman has historically been vulnerable to Kryptonite and magic, but he aimed to show a different side of the character than what audiences had seen before. Previous versions often depicted Superman as nearly invincible, and he wanted to move away from that portrayal.

Superman has always been vulnerable to Kryptonite and magic. The comics have shown him losing to incredibly powerful villains like Doomsday, so him being defeated isn’t new. However, I wanted to present a different side of Superman than what audiences have typically seen in movies.

David Corenswet stars as Superman, the most powerful being in the new DC Universe, but he won’t be the only hero. The upcoming film, directed by James Gunn and debuting July 11, 2025, will also feature characters like Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (played by Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan). The second season of Peacemaker will continue the story after the film’s events, and some of the Superman cast are already set to return for the next movie, Man of Tomorrow.

Why Nerfing Superman Was Smart for the DCU’s First Movie

Superman is a fascinating figure for DC Comics. He’s incredibly powerful, almost like a god, yet remains one of their most morally upright heroes, perfectly captured by his new motto: “Truth, justice, and the human way.”

Even though David Corenswet’s Superman isn’t portrayed as an invincible god, he’s still incredibly powerful. The film itself establishes him as “the most powerful metahuman,” suggesting he’ll remain the strongest hero in the DC Universe.

Even though this Superman has been around for three years in terms of story, this is the first time we’re really seeing him. James Gunn, as he builds out the DC Universe, might also be allowing this version of Superman to gradually become more powerful, setting him up for even greater feats in the future.

This is particularly noticeable in the upcoming story, Man of Tomorrow, where promotional images suggest Lex Luthor is gaining new abilities. It looks like Superman might need to increase his own power to keep up with what Luthor is planning.

DC Studios’ decision to make Superman less overwhelmingly powerful will likely spark debate, but James Gunn might have a good point. He seems to want to ensure his heroes are relatively equal in strength, especially when the Justice League eventually forms. If Superman is too powerful, heroes like Green Arrow wouldn’t be able to contribute meaningfully to the team.

Marvel Studios has proven it can create a shared universe where heroes have vastly different power levels. For example, in The Avengers, Thor is a powerful god from Asgard, but Hawkeye still proves to be a valuable team member with his archery and fighting skills.

With Superman being Clark Kent’s first film in the new DC Universe, there’s ample opportunity for the character to develop. Man of Tomorrow will feature David Corenswet reprising his role as the hero, potentially introducing a variety of villains that will allow Superman to demonstrate the full extent of his abilities.

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2025-11-25 08:06