David Corenswet Says “No Plan” Might Be the Best Plan for DCU as James Gunn Scraps a “Darker” Ending for Superman
While there's plenty of anticipation surrounding James Gunn’s reboot of the DC Universe, don’t expect a tightly mapped-out, 10-year MCU-style blueprint. According to Superman star David Corenswet, that might actually be a good thing.
Speaking to ScreenRant, the new Man of Steel explained why Gunn and DC Studios co-head Peter Safran are taking a looser, film-first approach. Corenswet said:
“I mean, [I know] essentially nothing. Essentially just that he means it when he says that no plan is better than the quality of the scripts and the directors who he and Peter have to do them.
“I know very little about the comic book fandom, and the idea of getting a timeline announcement. I know very little about that. But I know it's a thing, and I know that, for better or for worse, they will compromise a timeline rather than compromise a film.”
Some fans might see that as a refreshing perspective, especially in an era where fans are trained to expect sprawling timelines, multi-year slates, and interlocked stories.
Corenswet added:
“If people knew what goes into getting a movie together and making a movie, they'd understand that if you stick too closely to the plan, you're going to end up compromising on the things that are actually important...
“So that's the guiding light for him and Peter moving forward. There are some things coming up, but that's the main principle and that's a good person to be working for.”
Still, the lack of a concrete DCU rollout has left other fans puzzled. Projects like Clayface, Wonder Woman, and others are in development, but very little from the original Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters slate has materialized, and no titles are officially dated for 2027. But, Gunn has made it clear that he is prioritizing story over schedule.
In a separate interview with Collider, Gunn shared that Project Hail Mary screenwriter Drew Goddard played a key role in shaping the tone of Superman, specifically by steering the filmmaker away from a darker finale. Gunn shared:
“Drew Goddard was really helpful. I think that there were a couple of little things in the movie, three or four things that we really argued about in the film, and all of them had to do with things that were a little bit darker or a little bit lighter.
“In discussing one of them, Drew Goddard was like, 'You know what? It’s just not that film. It’s not that film with this little dark ending bit.'”
Gunn agreed, saying the note stuck with him through the editing process:
“And I thought, 'He’s right. It’s not that film. It is not that film.' And so that line that he said stuck with me for the rest of editing.”
Gunn also mentioned he showed the film to a range of creative voices, including Peter Safran, Chantal Nong, Jason Reitman, Damon Lindelof, and others. “They were so helpful,” he added.
It’s clear that Superman is a collaborative effort, less a corporate product and more a film shaped by trusted storytellers, which is nice. I hope that it works!
Superman flies into theaters on July 11, 2025, and while the rest of the DCU may not be carved in stone yet, it seems Gunn’s priority is simple: make great movies first, worry about the roadmap later.