The blue suit of Superman is already quite worn out. Actors like Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, and Henry Cavill have already worn it. Now it’s David Corenswet’s turn. How does he view the great responsibility of the iconic role?
“Superman will always be at the top of my IMDb page,” Corenswet tells Time Magazine. “He will open my Wikipedia and he will be mentioned in my obituary. Would it be worth it if this is the only thing I do as an actor for the rest of my life? I think the answer is yes.”
The 31-year-old American plays Superman in the new eponymous DC Studios film. The production studio has had a difficult time in recent years, because its superhero films are much less popular with the public than before. DC is now putting everything on the reboot of Superman, written and directed by studio boss James Gunn. The expectations are sky-high, not only for the film, but also for the actor who wears the red cape.
Corenswet takes over the role from Cavill, who played the superhero in films like Justice League, Man of Steel, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Gunn did not find Cavill suitable for his new plans. The director became head of DC Studios in 2022, after previously making films for superhero competitor Marvel. With Superman, Gunn is starting a completely new universe within the DC world, with new (younger) faces.
Watch the trailer for Superman here.
‘Superman is out of balance in this film’
Superman also has to believe in that rebrand. Instead of the invincible, tough, and perhaps sometimes somewhat boring hero, in the new film we see a Superman who is also criticized and begins to doubt himself.
“Superman falters in this film,” Gunn tells Time Magazine. “He’s starting to be successful as a superhero and as a journalist. He’s madly in love with a woman who isn’t sure what she thinks of him. And he’s made a few superhuman friends who think he’s nice but naive. All these new elements in his life throw him off balance.”
The director, of course, does not reveal any real plot details. “We’ll see where he ultimately ends up in terms of values and choices,” says Gunn. Corenswet admits that he doesn’t even know which scenes have ended up in the final version, and he’s not worried about that either. “I don’t direct the film. I give James pieces of the puzzle and he can choose which piece fits where.”
Physically, Corenswet had to put the puzzle together himself. “I wanted to get as big as possible, within reasonable limits,” he says. For months, the actor had to follow an intensive schedule with a personal trainer. “I went to the gym for 2.5 hours, came home and fell asleep for two hours, and then slept another nine hours a night.” Ultimately, the actor gained almost 40 pounds.
Corenswet received letters from former Supermen
Corenswet previously starred in films and series such as Twisters, Hollywood, The Politician, and Pearl. The actor tries not to worry about any criticism he receives from Superman fans if he doesn’t play the role well in their eyes.
“I’m not concerned in my head with the pressure to be like other Supermen,” he tells CBS Sunday Morning. “It’s impossible to imitate Christopher Reeve. But it’s inevitable that you look at him. After all, he was the first Superman on the big screen and very successful. I have also drawn inspiration from the comic books.”
Corenswet can at least count on the support of his predecessors. “I have exchanged letters with two former Supermen,” he tells Heart. “Henry Cavill and Tyler Hoechlin (Superman & Lois, ed.) said in their own words: ‘I’m not going to give you any tips.’ But they did give me a sense of encouragement. I think that’s typical of Superman. He’s not someone who gives advice or dictates how others should behave.”
Superman will be released in cinemas from July 10.