Insider Calls James Gunn's SUPERMAN "Terrible" After Test Screenings
DC Studios has been making headlines this week, rolling out updates on various projects in the DCU. And now we’re hearing that Superman, the film that’s meant to be the foundation of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted universe, is “terrible” according to an insider.
The Wrap recently reported that DC Studios has brought in marketing veteran Ricky Strauss to consult on Superman. Strauss, who previously spearheaded Apple TV+’s marketing efforts, is now tasked with helping position the film for success.
While this could be seen as a strategic move, it’s also fueling speculation about whether Superman might need some serious course correction.
This comes just days after industry insider Jeff Sneider revealed on The Hot Mic podcast that recent test screenings for Superman were getting a more positive response compared to those from last December. However, one of his sources quickly shut that narrative down.
“I got a call from my best source after that newsletter," Sneider shared. "He said, 'Great newsletter tonight. You got one thing wrong. And that's about Superman which I continue to hear is 'terrible.'"
That’s not exactly the kind of thing that Superman fans want to hear. I hope the insider is full of crap, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I just want a great Superman movie, dammit!
Gunn has previously suggested that Superman wouldn’t require reshoots, at least, nothing significant. But during a recent DC Studios press event, he took a more flexible stance.
“We've done real screenings. Definitely learning stuff all the time, definitely editing and making little changes," Gunn said. "You know, we might shoot a couple little, tiny things."
He admitted that while he used to be resistant to reshoots, his perspective has shifted: "I really [like] being able to say, 'You know what? I wish I had a shot that fist hitting that…'
“And so I tend to go back and pick that kind of stuff up. So it wouldn't be anything major, but those kinds of things, yeah, I'll cover you a couple more things like that."
In light of Sneider’s report, some fans are wondering if Superman might need more than just a few “tiny things” fixed.
It’s still too early to know whether Superman will soar or stumble at the box office. Test screenings don’t always paint the full picture, and conflicting reports make it tough to gauge where things really stand.
What is clear, though, is that Superman is under a microscope. DC Studios is betting big on this movie, and if it doesn’t land, it could be a major setback for the new DCU before it even gets off the ground.
For now, all we can do is wait—and hope that the film Gunn delivers is a Superman story worthy of the name.