After some apprehension sparked by recent news about Superman, insiders have addressed and alleviated three main concerns. The public is eagerly anticipating the debut of David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor on July 11. However, fans approach this event with a mix of excitement and caution due to the history of setbacks in the blue brand. Many are hopeful that the DC Universe reboot by DC Studios co-CEO and Superman director James Gunn will turn things around.
As the upcoming movie featuring Superman gets nearer to its release, a report from World of Reel raised concerns that the DC film has been met with a mix of positive and negative feedback during initial screenings. This response reportedly led to a series of adjustments being made.
It appears that these alterations were made following some concerns about humor from Warner Bros. executives. A new editor was brought in, which led to adjustments in the narrative approach. Some additional scenes were filmed during reshoots, and a second composer joined the team to rework the music score.
In the end, modifications apparently led to approximately 25 minutes being removed from previous versions of Superman, aiming for a more streamlined and efficient vibe as the studio strives to ensure it delivers an optimal product.
Although the release of this report stirred apprehension among many DC enthusiasts, including those eagerly awaiting Superman, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) alleviated three major concerns.
Reshoot Rumors
In December 2024, James Gunn clarified on Twitter that there were no complete reshoots for Superman, instead, just a few specific shots were being taken to improve the movie’s quality, without adding or replacing any previously filmed scenes.
In about a day and a half, we’ll be capturing some additional shots for the movie. These aren’t full scenes; instead, we’re just gathering a few selected shots to improve the overall quality of the film. No need for reshoots in this case.
THR emphasized that, with less than a month remaining before its launch, the film featuring Superman has so far only undergone “three days of additional filming in Atlanta and no significant reshoots have been planned.
Regardless of any alterations made during post-production, Superman remains consistent with the character portrayed by director James Gunn between February and July 2024.
Or in a more colloquial manner:
No matter what’s been adjusted behind the scenes, Superman is still the same guy that James Gunn played from February to July 2024.
Composer Replacement
Initially slated as the composer for “Superman” in February 2024, when production began, John Murphy from “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” was. However, recent news about David Fleming joining the project to assist with the music has caused a stir, leading some to speculate that there might be problems with Murphy’s initial composition.
Luckily, it was confirmed that Fleming came on board as another composer alongside Murphy earlier this year, and both of their compositions were included in the finished project.
No matter if another composer comes into play, Fleming’s credentials speak for themselves as an Emmy winner, boasting contributions to The Last of Us, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Dune: Part Two, Top Gun: Maverick, The Lion King, and numerous other productions.
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Even if a second composer is involved, Fleming’s impressive portfolio shines as an Emmy winner, with credits spanning The Last of Us, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Dune: Part Two, Top Gun: Maverick, The Lion King, and many others.
Test Screenings
Despite rumors suggesting that Warner Bros.’ test screenings for Superman might indicate quality issues, an insider privy to DC’s operations informed THR that such procedures are “not necessarily a cause for concern,” emphasizing that it’s a standard part of the process to refine any movie, not just Superman.
According to another reference, Gunn is both a tester and an experimenter; he’s not the type of director who finds it difficult to accept advice.
There have been varying responses to the test screenings of Superman since March, with some people expressing enthusiasm, saying “many enjoyed it,” while others, who are industry insiders, have reported hearing a mix of opinions, including some that were “mixed” or even negative. It’s worth mentioning that these viewers saw an early version of Superman, which is likely to be less polished than the final cut that will be released in July.
As THR mentioned, Gunn is set to submit a definitive version of “Superman” next Friday, which is just five weeks prior to its scheduled July release. This move suggests that the studio is content with the test screenings as some big-budget films may undergo editing until the very week of release, when there might still be problems to address and tweaks to make.
Why DC Fans Shouldn’t Worry About Superman
In approximately a month, it’s been announced that Superman will be making an appearance on the big screen. At that time, viewers can form their own opinions about the film. It’s often best to take early reactions with a grain of salt, particularly when considering test screenings for The Flash, which were rated similarly to the Dark Knight trilogy – a claim many DC fans would dispute given that the time-travel movie did not live up to such high expectations.
Nowadays, the hidden aspects of film production are more exposed than before, which might make headlines about retakes, preview showings, and artistic adjustments appear worrisome. However, it’s essential to remember that these steps – from reshoots to final release – are just part of the extended journey a movie takes to reach the big screen.
James Gunn, in essence, consistently delivers impressive work with superhero projects like the Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Creature Commandos. This track record could certainly win over film enthusiasts’ confidence.
Superman might be either the best thing that has come along since pre-sliced loaves of bread, or DC’s least successful film in recent memory. Nevertheless, enthusiasts will have to wait until July 11 to discover what hidden gems it may contain and assess how solid a foundation the DC Universe is laying for itself.
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2025-06-10 08:34