James Gunn’s SUPERMAN Rewrites the Clark and Lois Dynamic with a Modern Spin on Classic Romance
James Gunn’s Superman may borrow a page from Richard Donner’s 1978 classic, but it’s giving us a new dynamic, especially when it comes to the heart of the story… Lois and Clark.
In the original Superman: The Movie, Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Margot Kidder’s Lois Lane share an iconic rooftop interview where the reporter quizzes the caped hero about his height, hometown, and mission, “To fight for truth and justice and the American way”, all without realizing her awkward colleague Clark Kent is the man floating just above her window.
That whole “doesn’t-know-he’s-Superman” dynamic was tossed out the window in Gunn’s film. His version introduces us to a very different Lois and Clark, one where the cape is optional, and the truth is already out.
This time around, Clark (David Corenswet) sits down for an interview with Lois (Rachel Brosnahan) as Superman, yes, but she already knows exactly who she’s talking to. They're not hiding secrets. They’re in the thick of it.
Corenswet told Entertainment Weekly:
“This isn’t like the interview in the Donner movie where Lois doesn’t know that he’s Clark. Lois knows everything about him, so he’s in a very vulnerable position. He’s madly in love with this woman and desperately wants her to understand him and appreciate him and love him back.”
That vulnerability flips the dynamic on its head. It’s not about the thrill of discovery anymore, it’s about emotional honesty, and in this story, the relationship is already in motion when we meet them. They've been together for about three months. Brosnahan explained:
“Which is the point in a relationship where you’re like, Was this a really great fling or is this more serious, possibly forever? It’s one of the things that I love about their love story. While they have totally opposite worldviews, they complete each other, and they kind of need each other.”
Gunn and the cast seem to be embracing the roots of the Donner classic while making room for something more emotionally evolved. Brosnahan called out Gunn’s attention to showing Lois in action, both on the ground and, literally, in the sky piloting Mister Terrific’s T-Sphere alongside Perry White (Wendell Pierce) and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo). Brosnahan said:
“I think, in that moment, she sees an opportunity for a front-page story. I really appreciated that James makes space for you to see her in action at the height of her journalistic prowess.”
The new Superman is clearly embracing its comic book world unapologetically. By the time the movie starts, Superman is already an active player in a larger superhero ecosystem, fighting in international conflicts like Boravia vs. Jarhanpur, and swapping headlines with supervillains like Metallo, who Lois and Clark were covering when they met.
As far as the casting for the film goes, actors like Tom Brittney and Nicholas Hoult were considered for Superman before Hoult ultimately landed Lex Luthor. Phoebe Dynevor and Emma Mackey tested for Lois. But in the end, it was all about that elusive chemistry. Gunn said:
“We mixed and matched these different actors and actresses to find out not only who was the best Clark and who was the best Lois, but who was the best ‘Clois,’ who was the best together. I do think that David was the best Clark, Rachel was the best Lois, but they also had the most chemistry together.”
While Gunn’s take feels modern, the roots still run deep. The John Williams-style score. The bright optimism. Even Brosnahan’s personal connection brings it full circle. She added:
“My dad was a huge Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Superman fan, and I feel like he showed me that movie when I was about 12. So that was the definitive Superman for me, even though it was long before my time.”
This Superman may not be hiding behind glasses anymore, but he’s still wearing his heart on his sleeve.