Movies

Superman: Love and Thunder? Latest DCU Update Flirts With Fans' Worst Fears

Superman: Love and Thunder? Latest DCU Update Flirts With Fans' Worst Fears
Image credit: Warner Bros, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, HBO

The new version of the titular hero will have a humorous side, but fans are worried that it may end up being overused.

Summary:

  • The upcoming Superman: Legacy promises to be much more positive and upbeat than 2013's Man of Steel
  • Rachel Brosnahan, who will portray Lois Lane, revealed that the new iteration of the hero will not be devoid of a sense of humor
  • However, some fans are worried that the movie may fail to maintain the balance between humor and seriousness, turning the hero into a clown

With the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the old DCU is now officially a thing of the past, so fans can only hope that the upcoming reboot of the franchise will avoid the myriad of mistakes that ultimately buried its predecessor.

The first chapter of the updated cinematic universe, Superman: Legacy, directed by James Gunn, already promises to be very different from the previous attempt to bring the iconic hero to the big screen.

Corenswet's Superman Will Be Very Different From Cavill's

Back in 2019, long before the film was even in talks, David Corenswet mentioned that while he enjoys and respects Henry Cavill 's take on Superman, if he were to play the character, he would have made him more "bright and optimistic."

Now that he's been cast as the new iteration of the hero, it's safe to assume that the actor will keep his promise and deliver a more upbeat performance, moving away from the dark and troubled superhuman we saw in 2013's Man of Steel.

Superman: Love and Thunder? Latest DCU Update Flirts With Fans' Worst Fears - image 1

A new update on the film only supports this notion, as Rachel Brosnahan, who will play Lois Lane, recently shed more light on what to expect from Superman: Legacy in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

The actress mentioned how great it is to be working with James Gunn and that everyone involved is familiar with the character, so they are putting a lot of love into the upcoming film.

She also said that while the cast and crew want to honor the source material, they will also add their own unique touch to the film, and that she thinks Corenswet's version of the character will not be without a sense of humor.

The DCU Has Suffered From Overuse Of Humor In The Past

With all of this in mind, it seems that the dark atmosphere of the early DCU films has definitely been left behind, and perhaps that is for the best.

Superman: Love and Thunder? Latest DCU Update Flirts With Fans' Worst Fears - image 2

While many fans loved Henry Cavill's performance, it was often criticized for having little in common with the optimistic "Boy Scout" of the comics, so the attempt to make Superman a more dramatic character wasn't to everyone's taste.

Although the new direction sounds promising, fans are expressing a different concern, with some worrying that James Gunn may get a little too carried away with the humorous aspect of the film.

There is a fine line between giving a character a sense of humor and turning him into a joke machine, and we have seen all too many examples of filmmakers failing to maintain that balance.

Superman: Love and Thunder? Latest DCU Update Flirts With Fans' Worst Fears - image 3
Thor: Love and Thunder

The DCU has already made a huge mistake by trying to mimic Marvel's humorous approach to movies midway through.

Moreover, even the MCU itself has become infamous for turning some of its installments into complete clown shows filled with flat humor, with the most glaring example of it being Thor: Love and Thunder.

Superman: Love and Thunder? Latest DCU Update Flirts With Fans' Worst Fears - image 4
Peacemaker

Sure, James Gunn's previous DCU projects, The Suicide Squad and the Peacemaker TV series, which were full of jokes, were well received by audiences, but Superman is a whole different ballgame, so he will have to be extra careful not to mess it up.

Either way, fans will have to wait quite some time to see the results of his work, as the movie is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2025.

Do you see giving Superman a sense of humor as a positive change?

Sources: Entertainment Tonight, Entertainment Weekly