For decades, Superman has been the Big Bang of superhero culture. Before billionaires in batsuits and wise-cracking web-slingers, there was one man in a red cape who could leap tall buildings in a single bound — and redefine what it meant to be a hero.
But in the era of multiverses, morally gray antiheroes, and cape fatigue, one question keeps surfacing:
Does Superman still matter?
The answer is a resounding yes — and James Gunn is here to prove it.
David Corenswet, Superman (2025) [credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]
The OG of Superheroes
Since his debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman has been more than just a comic book character. He’s a symbol, a myth, and for many, the blueprint for heroism. Created by two Jewish teenagers during the Great Depression, Superman represented the immigrant experience, the yearning for justice, and the fantasy of strength in the face of powerlessness.
Superman wasn’t just faster than a speeding bullet — he was hope in spandex.
But that clarity of purpose started to blur.
The Superman Problem
In recent years, Superman’s relevance has been questioned. Some see him as “too perfect,” too boring, too much of a relic of a simpler, black-and-white world. In a pop culture landscape dominated by conflicted characters like Batman, Deadpool, and the Punisher, Superman began to feel… quaint.
And then there were the movies.
While Henry Cavill’s Superman had fans, his tenure was weighed down by gritty aesthetics, inconsistent direction, and a DC universe still trying to find its footing. Superman became more of a concept than a character: talked about, referenced, but rarely felt.
David Corenswet, Superman (2025) [credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]
Enter James Gunn — and a New Hope
James Gunn’s upcoming Superman reboot (set to release in July 2025) isn’t just another superhero flick. It’s a mission statement.
Gunn, who turned obscure characters like Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon into household names, isn’t interested in making Superman “cool” by modern standards. He’s interested in reminding us why Superman always was.
Gunn’s approach? Re-centering Superman as a symbol of optimism in a cynical world. Not by ignoring complexity, but by leaning into it. His Superman (played by David Corenswet) will be navigating a world that doubts him — but he’ll lead with kindness, strength, and moral clarity, not snark or violence.
In Gunn’s words, it’s about “truth, justice, and the American way — interpreted for everyone.”
David Corenswet, Superman (2025) [credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]
Why This Matters
In a fractured, polarized, and doom-scrolling world, Superman could be the hero we need again — not because he punches the hardest, but because he believes the most.
He’s not a god trying to be human. He’s a human raised to be better than his biology. He’s not perfect — he struggles. He doubts. But he chooses to be good.
And that’s radical.
James Gunn’s Superman could be the cultural reset button for DC and for the modern superhero genre at large. Not just a course correction — but a return to why we fell in love with heroes in the first place.
Final Thoughts: The Return of the Light
The MCU gave us humor. The Snyderverse gave us myth. But maybe what we’re craving now is heart.
With James Gunn steering the ship and a renewed focus on hope, Superman (2025) isn’t just a movie. It’s a chance to reintroduce the world to a character who never stopped being important — we just forgot why.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s time we believed a man could fly again.
