James Gunn is Skipping Superman's Origin Story in SUPERMAN: LEGACY and Here's Why That's Good
Superman: Legacy writer and director James Gunn was recently asked on Threads how much of the movie would be dedicated to Superman’s origin story. The filmmaker responded with “none.”
We all know the origin story of Superman, so it makes sense that Gunn would want to skip it and jump straight into a story with the character already established in the DC universe that Gunn is looking to build. We also don’t need to see another superhero origin film.
Forgoing traditional origin stories in favor of diving straight into the action is a significant evolution in superhero movie storytelling and can lead to stronger, more compelling narratives. By skipping the origin story, filmmakers can immediately immerse audiences in the world and conflicts of the superhero, avoiding the often predictable and formulaic beginnings that many viewers have seen numerous times. This approach allows for a fresher and more dynamic introduction to the character and their universe.
One of the primary benefits of bypassing the origin story is the opportunity for filmmakers to explore more complex themes from the outset. Without the need to establish basic character motivations and backgrounds, the narrative can dive into deeper, more nuanced storytelling. This can include exploring the hero's challenges, dilemmas, and growth in greater depth, thereby offering a more sophisticated and engaging experience for the audience. This approach can lead to more time being devoted to developing secondary characters and subplots, further enriching the film's world, and Gunn is introducing a lot of different characters into this Superman story.
Also, skipping the origin story in superhero movies may reinvigorate audience interest and engagement. Fans of the genre are already familiar with the backgrounds of well-known and presenting characters like Superman, so not rehashing their well-trodden origin stories can be a breath of fresh air, offering a new perspective and keeping the franchise fresh and exciting.
This strategy also allows for more creative freedom, as filmmakers are not bound to a specific narrative structure and can experiment with different storytelling techniques.
Superman: Legacy stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica, aka The Engineer.
It was also recently announced that Sara Sampaio, the Portuguese Victoria’s Secret model, has been cast as Eve Teschmacher, the assistant and sometimes mistress to the scheming villain Lex Luthor.
Superman: Legacy will tell the story of “Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”
Superman: Legacy will launch the movie part of DC Studios’ Gods and Monsters: Part 1. It’s scheduled for a theatrical release on July 11, 2025.