We haven’t really heard much from Superman star David Corenswet since director James Gunn’s film has been in development. But, in a recent interview with Collider, the actor opens up about taking on the roles of Superman and Clark Kent and how he prepared for them.
The actor reflected on how he approached not just Superman, but the equally as important role of Clark Kent, and while he wasn’t well-versed in comics when cast in the movie, he dove into them to help him figure out how he wanted to bring this version of the hero to life.
Corenswet explained: “James suggested All-Star Superman to read for Clark, specifically, because there are interesting challenges with Clark. It was interesting having a silent version to look at.
“I hadn’t read so many Superman comics that I had since all the different Clarks that have appeared in the comics. I knew the ones that appeared in television and films, but it was great having a silent one and getting the impression from that.
“So, I drew a lot from that, specifically, for Clark. I also loosely stole some stuff from my brother-in-law, who’s 6’8” and 270 pounds, and has the deepest voice, and is always in the way and always trying not to be.”
Corenswet then went on to talk about how he found his characters while performing with Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult.
He explained: “Mostly, I draw inspiration from the other actors and from James. I feel like I want to be living in the world that we’re living in, and so it was when I started working with Rachel that I got clear about who Clark and who Superman was.
“Especially for Superman, a hero is only as interesting or cool as the nemesis that they’re up against, and so, standing eye-to-eye with Nick for the first time, I started to get clear about who I was. That’s where I started to get clear about who I am, because I see so clearly who they are.”
Gunn has confirmed Superman and Lex Luthor haven’t crossed paths when this movie begins, but Corenswet’s comments teases that changes during the events of the movie as the story plays out.
Gunn has created an interesting world here for Superman, unlike anything we’ve seen before in the movies, and his versions of these characters are going to be really interesting.
Gunn talked about Lex, saying: “Lex is really a sort of sorcerer in a way. He’s a scientist, but he’s so good at science and I think of him as like a sorcerer.”
Hoult said of the character: “The thing about this Lex, I think that was most exciting to me was being in a James Gunn universe. Like you said, so emotionally raw and powerful, but huge in the scope of the world and what he’s creating.”
“And I think with this Lex, I mean, obviously he’s smart and ruthless and he has to outmaneuver Superman on certain levels because he can’t match him in others.
“But there’s also something about this character, hopefully from my standpoint, where even though you perhaps don’t agree with his process, there’s an element where you can understand on some levels where he’s coming from and why perhaps what he’s pushing as his ideology is perhaps better for humanity.”
Superman 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.”
“It’s set in a world very different from ours and far removed from the DCEU. Heroes have been around for ages, and we’ll see how it affected this world’s history and has shaped the DCU.”
Superman fliies into theaters on July 11, 2025.