Summary
James Gunn delivered an informative update on the production ofSuperman, and it is a positive sign for theDCUand the movie industry as a whole.Supermanwill be released on June 16, 2025, and will be the first cinematic installment ofGunn’s new DC Universe. Despite the release date being so far away, principal photography forSupermanwrapped recently, giving a huge window in which to complete post-production, of which a huge part will be perfecting the movie’s visual effects.
James Gunn was recently questioned about his approach to VFX onThreads, wherehe stated that he ensures artists working on all of his movies receive ample time in which to complete their work. The interaction can be seen below:
Gunn, who has also worked on VFX-heavy comic book movies like theGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy andThe Suicide Squad, points to his previous body of work as evidence before stating that VFX collaborators deserve the respect of enough lead-time.
Every Actor Cast In Superman (So Far)
Superman will be the first film released in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, and the Man of Steel reboot boasts an impressive cast.
James Gunn’s Superman Update Explains Why Filming Wrapped Over A Year Before Its Release
Superman’s Year-Long Window Is Plenty Of Time To Perfect VFX
Supermanbegan filming in late February 2024 and wrapped five months later in late July 2024. This is a pretty standard timeline for a movie ofSuperman’s scale, but the year-long gap between wrapping and the intended release date is noticeably vast. Gunn has provided a clear reason for this that not only makes sense for the production that will kick off a new era of DC movies but should also be lauded as best practice.
10 DCEU Movie Rules The DCU Needs To Break
The DCEU had a certain style, code, and structure it followed which the DCU will need to break in order to succeed in the way James Gunn wishes.
Set photos forSupermanhave revealed that myriad elements ofSupermansuch as costumes are being depicted through practical effects - which is often the preferable choice in modern superhero movies. Nevertheless, there is no doubt thatSupermanwill be just as replete with computer-generated spectacles as Gunn’s previous superhero movies.Giving the VFX team an entire year in which to render these sequences believably and with as much visual flair as possible is imperativeasSupermanwill set the standard for what audiences can expect from remaining DCU movies.
The promo image that revealed David Corenswet’s Superman’s costume depicted some otherworldly event in the background that suggests some significant CGI will be used inSuperman.
Why James Gunn’s Superman Approach Should Be A Lesson To Hollywood
Theextended post-production period onSupermanis honestly a practice that other movie studios and filmmakers should care to replicate.Marvel Studios seem to have had the epiphany that delivering quality over quantity is now of paramount importance to the success of the MCU, and there are few audiences that would argue against giving a movie they are excited about more time to cook if it meant turning in the highest quality product possible.
In the past, Hollywood horror stories of nightmare productions would gain almost mythical status, with troubled set stories making certain films notorious. What happened behind the cameras on the likes ofJawsandApocalypse Nowis just as much a part of their mythos as what they showed on screen. Withthe rise of the digital age and a greater skew towards heavier post-production workloads, that has shifted to an unfortunate rise in reports of effects team crunch and difficult expectations.
Gunn’s continued promise to give his VFX teams time to do the work they need to not only guarantees the time to create a solid final product free of the kind of shortcuts that lead to poor - and widely mocked CGI - but also sets a positive working standard. Deadlines will always be a thing in Hollywood, because of budgetary concerns, but it should never come at the cost of the human work force. Ultimately, James Gunn’s decision forSupermanto take its time in development should be seen as a positive move and a good sign overall for the DCU.
Superman
Cast
Superman (2025): Superman follows the dual life of Clark Kent, a journalist in Metropolis, as he endeavors to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Set against a backdrop of personal discovery, the film explores his journey of identity as he navigates his existence in a complex world.
