Summary
WithSupermanset to kick off theDCUwith a version of the hero that wears trunks over his costume, Zack Snyder’s 11-year-old explanation for omitting them inMan of Steeljustifies the move.Supermanwill be released on July11, 2025, and features David Corenswet in the eponymous role, taking over fromHenry Cavill’s celebrated depiction of Supermanthree years after he was last seen in the DCEU inBlack Adam. Principal photography forSupermanwrapped in July, leaving an entire year of post-production to get underway before the DCU launches in earnest.
DespiteSuperman’s official costume revealconsisting of an image that obscured his mid-region, set photos exposed the production’s decision to include a pair of red trunks as part of Superman’s costume. As was the case before Henry Cavill’s iteration was unveiled, these images were released amid spirited debates over whether Superman’s trunks are necessary. Wherever fans land, however, Zack Snyder’s comments around the time ofMan of Steel’s release make the DCU’s decision completely justified.
Who Is David Corenswet? James Gunn’s Superman Actor Explained
David Corenswet has officially been cast as Clark Kent in the DCU’s Superman: Legacy, leading many to wonder about his career up to this point.
Zack Snyder’s DCEU Superman Costume Explanation Justifies The DCU’s Changes
Superman’s DCEU Suit Was Kryptonian
Zack Snyder had a decent justification for omitting Superman’s external trunks from his suit beyond the notion that they look kind of silly. In a featurette for the movie from The Feed (viaYouTube),Snyder stated that making Superman’s suit part of Kryptonian fashion made a tradition of wearing external trunks much harder to justify. Thankfully,Snyder’s version of Superman’s costumeis largely celebrated by fans, vindicating his decision. Zack Snyder states the following:
We knew were were gonna make the suit cultural to Krypton, right - it’s going to be a Kryptonian invention - and not the Martha Kent sewn from a blanket version. So once we did that, we knew that we were going to have a whole culture then of people wearing skinsuits that were similar to Superman - and I thought ‘yeah, I don’t think a whole country or whole world/planet of people wearing their underwear outside of their pants is gonna be cool’”.
Superman’s suit being a Kryptonian invention is a departure from the original Superman lore. In contrast, it seems as thoughSupermanwill hone in on a more classic comic-accurate renditionof the character with a suit that is made on Earth - though whether it will be Martha specifically that sews it remains to be seen. Without the excuse of Superman’s suit being an alien custom,Supermancould never have justified removing the trunks beyond it being a conscious fashion choice and departure from the comic book standard.
Why The DCEU & DCU Superman Suits Make Sense For Their Respective Franchises
The Suits Strike Distinct Tones
The DCEU’s Superman was created as part of a grittier interpretation of the DC universe, with the character even breaking his “no killing” rule in his debut movie. This made the original brightly colored, sewn-together suit much harder to incorporate, as it would undermine the more austere tone struck by the DCEU. The otherworldly design also gels with Superman’s alien identity, which the DCEU makes sure to focus on throughout his big screen appearances.
Superman, meanwhile, seems to be striking a brighter tone altogether in both its color palette and narrative, for which Superman’s more classical costume makes sense. Short of story details forSupermanemerging soon, both Corenswet’s costume and those of the characters pictured around him on set help indicate the spirit that can be expected from the DCU.James Gunn’s reported inspirations forSupermanalso hone in on the more human element of Superman as opposed to his alien heritage, which warrants a homemade suit.
The DC Universe Superman Suit Always Needed To Be Different To The DCEU
The DCU Needs To Distance Itself From The DCEU
Given there will only have been three years between the last appearance of Henry Cavill’s Superman and the debut of David Corenswet’s,the DCU needs to differentiate the two as much as is reasonablegiven that they are the same character. Ensuring there is a marked difference between their costumes is one way of achieving this. These superficial differences also help to illustrate how the two versions of Superman will differ on a deeper level - especially as it pertains to the DCU reboot.
Seven years separated the release dates forSuperman ReturnsandMan of Steel, which were released in 2006 and 2013, respectively.
A series of poorly received installments includingBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeandJustice Leaguehas made it prudent for the DCU to distance itself from the previous franchise. While Superman’s suit was low on the list ofcriticisms leveled at the DCEU, ensuring both iterations of Superman look different is a useful way of doing this. In that regard, simply adding a pair of trunks to the eponymous hero ofSupermanis practically all it takes.
Superman
Cast
Superman (2025): Superman follows the dual life of Clark Kent, a journalist in Metropolis, as he endeavors to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Set against a backdrop of personal discovery, the film explores his journey of identity as he navigates his existence in a complex world.
