James Gunn Responds to SUPERMAN’s Controversial Origin Change After Fan Backlash
James Gunn’s Superman has been praised for staying true to the heart of the character, but one big twist has fans divided, and that it that Jor-El’s motives aren’t as noble as we’re used to.
In the film, Lex Luthor uncovers a holographic message from Jor-El and Lara-El that reveals a shocking revelation, Kal-El wasn’t just sent to Earth as a beacon of hope.
According to the message, Jor-El intended for his son to eventually subjugate the planet and its people. Clark had no idea this was the case as the full message was damaged. This is a departure from the classic origin, where Jor-El’s mission is to save his son, not conquer worlds.
The change sparked plenty of debate online, and Gunn recently addressed the controversy during an interview with IGN, assuring fans that the twist doesn’t betray Superman’s core values:
"I'm a huge Superman fan, so first of all I had to trust myself that I was going to honor the pieces of Superman that we needed to keep the same. And also allow myself to make changes where changes might work and wouldn't go against the integrity of who the character is.
“And so I think that was [...] simply dealing with allowing ourselves to change part of the story in a way that was interesting for the DCU, but that wasn't [something] that went against who Superman was. And has been something that's been played with in the comics before."
This isn’t the first time DC has explored morally gray Kryptonian origins, but seeing it on the big screen was enough to ignite heated discussion among longtime fans.
One of the most surprising elements of the film is Jor-El himself, played by Guardians of the Galaxy star Bradley Cooper in a secret cameo. Gunn explained why Cooper was the right fit for the role once made iconic by Marlon Brando and later Russell Crowe:
"I needed somebody who could play Jor-El… who had the stature of what we imagine that character being. Somebody who could walk in the footsteps of Marlon Brando."
Whether you love or hate this bold twist, Gunn clearly stands by his vision, confident that the essence of Superman remains intact. So what do you think? Did this origin shake-up add depth to the story or cross the line?