SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Teases Lex Luthor’s Rage, Monster Babies, Love, and and the Moral Core of Superman

James Gunn isn’t pulling from any one comic book for his Superman movie. Instead, he’s building something fresh, something wild, emotional, and full of monster babies.In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn opened up about his take on Superman and what’s really driving this new cinematic version of Lex Luthor. During Warner Bros.’ CinemaCon presentation they screened about 5 minutes of the and while I enjoyed what I saw, other didn’t with attendees called it boring and barely a tease. Regardless, Gunn had plenty to share behind the scenes in Las Vegas.When asked if the film is based on a particular comic storyline, Gunn said:"I would say it's an original story, but the tone and the look of the film, in many ways, is inspired by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman. “I read that comic book, and it really has this feeling of the big, old-school, science-fiction Silver Age comics. We have robots and monster babies and giant kaiju and all of that stuff."So, expect some beautifully bonkers stuff. But beneath the sci-fi spectacle, Gunn is anchoring the story in something more grounded: the awkward, messy beginnings of love. He explained:"But that is also grounded around these incredibly real relationships with a couple that has started dating a few months ago, and now they're really learning the ins and outs of each other. What's good about them? What's not so good about them? And what are their ideals like?"Superman’s optimism will be put to the test by Lois Lane’s no-nonsense approach to life."We have Lois Lane, who's a pragmatist, and Superman is an idealist, and how does that work together? My wife and I are like that, actually," Gunn shared, giving a nod to his partner, Peacemaker star Jennifer Holland.Gunn’s Lex Luthor won’t be a mystery. He’s upfront about what the villain wants: "[Lex wants to] defeat and destroy Superman."That grudge comes from years of feeling like he was the smartest guy in the room… until the caped alien with the square jaw showed up. Gunn explained:"Here's this guy who's this [incredible] genius scientist who's worked his whole life to become one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, and he does it all to be lauded."I mean, he wants to be the greatest, and suddenly this jerk comes in wearing a cape with a lantern jaw and a cocky grin, and he just takes all of the oxygen out of the room, out of the room of Earth, and it creates a burning hatred in the guy."As for Lex’s wealth, apparently, it comes from a game-changing battery invention. Gunn says:"I think Lex has invented one of the best forms of battery in the entire world that almost everything runs on. And we don't ever talk about this in the movie, but I think that's where he's made the majority of his money."For Gunn, Superman is about more than just saving the world. It’s about finding the good in people, especially in a time when it feels like that goodness is being dismissed or forgotten."What I tried to bring to it is something beautiful that is about the goodness of human beings, about kindness in people, because that's what Superman represents to me."He almost represents something old-fashioned, and yet I think that's exactly what we need right now: kindness, goodness, the innate moral values that we grew up with, that somehow the internet has drowned out and deemed weak."I like what Gunn is saying here and I hope he manages to pull off a great Superman movie because that’s what we all want! It seems like he’s on the right track.Based on what Gunn’s saying? He’s aiming for something that flies.

Apr 2, 2025 - 20:00

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Teases Lex Luthor’s Rage, Monster Babies, Love, and and the Moral Core of Superman

James Gunn isn’t pulling from any one comic book for his Superman movie. Instead, he’s building something fresh, something wild, emotional, and full of monster babies.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn opened up about his take on Superman and what’s really driving this new cinematic version of Lex Luthor.

During Warner Bros.’ CinemaCon presentation they screened about 5 minutes of the and while I enjoyed what I saw, other didn’t with attendees called it boring and barely a tease. Regardless, Gunn had plenty to share behind the scenes in Las Vegas.

When asked if the film is based on a particular comic storyline, Gunn said:

"I would say it's an original story, but the tone and the look of the film, in many ways, is inspired by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman.

“I read that comic book, and it really has this feeling of the big, old-school, science-fiction Silver Age comics. We have robots and monster babies and giant kaiju and all of that stuff."

So, expect some beautifully bonkers stuff. But beneath the sci-fi spectacle, Gunn is anchoring the story in something more grounded: the awkward, messy beginnings of love. He explained:

"But that is also grounded around these incredibly real relationships with a couple that has started dating a few months ago, and now they're really learning the ins and outs of each other. What's good about them? What's not so good about them? And what are their ideals like?"

Superman’s optimism will be put to the test by Lois Lane’s no-nonsense approach to life.

"We have Lois Lane, who's a pragmatist, and Superman is an idealist, and how does that work together? My wife and I are like that, actually," Gunn shared, giving a nod to his partner, Peacemaker star Jennifer Holland.

Gunn’s Lex Luthor won’t be a mystery. He’s upfront about what the villain wants: "[Lex wants to] defeat and destroy Superman."

That grudge comes from years of feeling like he was the smartest guy in the room… until the caped alien with the square jaw showed up. Gunn explained:

"Here's this guy who's this [incredible] genius scientist who's worked his whole life to become one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, and he does it all to be lauded.

"I mean, he wants to be the greatest, and suddenly this jerk comes in wearing a cape with a lantern jaw and a cocky grin, and he just takes all of the oxygen out of the room, out of the room of Earth, and it creates a burning hatred in the guy."

As for Lex’s wealth, apparently, it comes from a game-changing battery invention. Gunn says:

"I think Lex has invented one of the best forms of battery in the entire world that almost everything runs on. And we don't ever talk about this in the movie, but I think that's where he's made the majority of his money."

For Gunn, Superman is about more than just saving the world. It’s about finding the good in people, especially in a time when it feels like that goodness is being dismissed or forgotten.

"What I tried to bring to it is something beautiful that is about the goodness of human beings, about kindness in people, because that's what Superman represents to me.

"He almost represents something old-fashioned, and yet I think that's exactly what we need right now: kindness, goodness, the innate moral values that we grew up with, that somehow the internet has drowned out and deemed weak."

I like what Gunn is saying here and I hope he manages to pull off a great Superman movie because that’s what we all want! It seems like he’s on the right track.

Based on what Gunn’s saying? He’s aiming for something that flies.