James Gunn on Striking a Perfect Balance Between Silver Age Nostalgia and Modern Storytelling in SUPERMAN
The first trailer for James Gunn’s Superman has landed, and fans are already buzzing about its vibrant Silver Age-inspired visuals.
With bold colors and imaginative sci-fi elements, the aesthetic is a clear homage to Superman's comic book roots from the 1950s and '60s. But Gunn is also crafting a story that dives deeper than the surface-level plots often associated with that era.
At a press conference during the trailer's premiere, Gunn shared his vision for blending the classic imagery of the Silver Age with modern, character-driven storytelling.
He said: “I love the Silver Age of Comics in terms of the aesthetics of it. But…this is a story about a man and both his external and internal obstacles and what he's facing in life, and that's what the film is about.”
While the imagery may evoke the vibrant feel of Superman’s early days, Gunn emphasized that the heart of Superman lies in its exploration of the character as a person.
Gunn explained “It’s taking the character of Superman and really getting into who he is as an individual and what his personal obstacles are in this film.
“Although some of the imagery is very Silver Age, I don't think that's a very Silver Age plot. So it has elements of both the traditional and the new. And I think that's where we find our balance.”
The challenge Gunn was to honor the long-standing expectations surrounding Superman while pushing the character in fresh directions.
“Superman is one of the most popular characters, famous characters, in the world, and everyone has their idea of what he should be like,” he said. “Finding something that was as true and as authentic as I could possibly make it…was trial and error, trial and error, trial and error.”
One key to achieving this authenticity was collaborating with the film's creative team, including costume designer Juliana Makovsky and the VFX department.
They worked together to merge the retro charm of the Silver Age with a grounded realism. “We wanted to give it that feeling of the Silver Age stuff, but again, also to see those things in a grounded way that we haven’t seen them before.”
So, this will be a film that honors Superman’s legacy while offering a fresh, heartfelt take on the character.
As Gunn put it: “At the end of the day, if I can make something that’s authentic, then I think it works.” Based on the trailer that was released, it looks like he’s delivered on that promise.
Via: GamesRadar+