James Gunn’s Alternative Ending for Superman: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Exciting Developments in the Upcoming Superman Film

The Superman teaser trailer achieves a staggering 250 million views within 24 hours, revealing a vulnerable Man of Steel alongside an array of superheroes.
Director James Gunn hints at a potentially significant character demise and a revised ending, emphasizing the need to “kill darlings”for storytelling integrity.
Gunn’s commitment to a coherent narrative in Superman suggests a more somber tone, distinguishing it from previous installments in the DC Universe.

With the highly anticipated Superman set to debut in under eight months, director James Gunn continues to generate excitement surrounding the film. He has recently shared intriguing details about the movie’s narrative direction, including possible changes to its conclusion and the fates of key characters.

Released on December 19, the film’s teaser trailer quickly broke records, accumulating 250 million views in just one day, a milestone for both DC and Warner Bros. The trailer features a striking image of David Corenswet’s Superman, depicted in a previously unseen state of vulnerability, battered and bleeding—a stark contrast to the classic portrayal of the iconic hero. Alongside Superman, viewers can expect to see a diverse lineup of characters including Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders), Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Nathan Fillion portraying Guy Gardner (Green Lantern), Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific (Michael Holt), and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho. The overarching narrative hints at Superman confronting formidable threats.

During an exclusive Q&A with Screenbrief, Gunn reflected on his editing process and the difficult decisions involved. He firmly believes in prioritizing the film’s overall quality over his personal attachments to certain scenes, stating:

“For me, when it comes to cutting stuff, I don’t have emotions over those things. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I don’t have many emotions about killing my darlings.”

Gunn elaborated on the changes made to the film’s ending, revealing that the conclusion differs significantly from his original draft. He recounted discussing it with his wife and emphasized the emotional challenge of shifting away from a “cool ending” he had envisioned:

“At one point, I had a very different ending that I wrote to the Superman script… That was hard. I had a pretty cool ending that was a little bit different than the ending we get—actually, a lot different.”

Gunn’s insights imply that viewers may witness a less optimistic outcome for Corenswet’s take on Superman. Moreover, his mention of “killing my darlings”could suggest that some supporting characters might face grim fates. This wouldn’t be surprising, given Gunn’s history of bold storytelling. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, for instance, he made the difficult decision to eliminate Yondu Udonta, a character he was reluctant to part with but felt was essential for the narrative. Similarly, The Suicide Squad featured unexpected character deaths, reinforcing Gunn’s willingness to make tough choices.

This isn’t Gunn’s first venture into the new DC Universe. In the third episode of the inaugural season of Creature Commandos, we also witnessed a beloved character meet an untimely end. As for Superman, it remains uncertain how the film’s two-and-a-half-hour runtime will shape character arcs and narrative resolution. Whether Gunn will ever disclose the alternate ending he initially conceived is also an open question, particularly since he is not known for producing director’s cuts. However, his comments clearly indicate a dedication to crafting a compelling and cohesive tale focused on Clark Kent/Kal-El, rather than merely setting the stage for future projects.

Mark your calendars: Superman is scheduled to soar into theaters on July 11, 2025.

Source: Screenbrief

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