James Gunn’s DC Universe has finally accomplished what Zack Snyder’s Snyderverse never could: deploying Superman as a secondary character without letting him dominate the narrative. The problem was most glaring in both cuts of Justice League, where Henry Cavill’s Superman, despite being resurrected late in the story, immediately commanded every scene he was in. His god-like presence, amplified by Snyder’s mythic visual style, made it nearly impossible for the ensemble to feel balanced. Even when Batman and Wonder Woman were supposed to lead, Superman’s sheer power and iconic status reduced them to supporting players.
David Corenswet’s Superman, introduced in 2025’s Superman and then featured in Supergirl, has been handled with far more restraint. In Supergirl, Corenswet appears only in short bursts, always tied organically to his cousin Kara’s emotional journey. This careful use proves that Gunn’s DCU understands how to treat Superman as a part of a larger ensemble rather than its undisputed center. Below, we explore how the Snyderverse failed to solve this problem and how Gunn’s approach succeeds by redefining Superman’s role within the franchise.
The Snyderverse’s Superman Problem
Zack Snyder’s take on Superman, beginning with Man of Steel (2013), portrayed the character as a reluctant god struggling with his power and place in the world. While this interpretation had its fans, it inadvertently created a narrative imbalance whenever Superman shared the screen with other heroes. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Superman was a co-lead alongside Batman, but the story still revolved around his threat level and eventual sacrifice. The movie’s climactic battle against Doomsday required Superman’s death to motivate the formation of the Justice League—a clear sign that the narrative could not function without him at its core.
The problem peaked in Justice League. Both the 2017 theatrical cut and the 2021 Zack Snyder’s Justice League attempted to make Batman the central figure, but Superman’s resurrection and subsequent battle sequence rendered that effort moot. When Superman returned, he effortlessly defeated the entire League and then fought Steppenwolf with minimal help. His power level overwhelmed the climax, making the other heroes feel redundant. Snyder’s four-hour version gave more screen time to Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg, yet Superman still cast the longest shadow. The story could not sideline him because he was written as the ultimate trump card.
Beyond Justice League, Snyder’s planned arc for Superman would have further elevated his mythological stature. The original five-film plan included a Man of Steel sequel where Superman embraced his Kryptonian heritage and became even more powerful. This approach made Superman a character who could only be used in two modes: either as the protagonist or as an absent force. There was no middle ground where he could appear without claiming the spotlight, which is why cameos in other characters’ movies (like Black Adam) were either minimal or nonexistent until Gunn’s regime.
How Gunn’s DCU Redefines Superman
James Gunn took over the DC film franchise in 2023 with a mandate to reboot the universe. Superman (2025), starring David Corenswet, introduced a more collaborative and emotionally accessible Man of Steel. Unlike Cavill’s brooding loner, Corenswet’s Superman is a team player who values human connection and works alongside other heroes. The movie deliberately dialed back his god-like invulnerability; he could be defeated by non-Kryptonite means, such as clever tactics or emotional manipulation. This made him feel more relatable and, crucially, easier to integrate into ensemble stories without unbalancing them.
When it was announced that Superman would appear in Supergirl, directed by Ana Nogueira and Craig Gillespie, fans worried that his presence would overshadow Milly Alcock’s title character. However, the film wisely limited Superman to key scenes where his relationship with Kara drove her emotional arc. He appears only a handful of times, always in brief, focused moments: checking in on Kara after a mission, offering advice during a crisis, and finally welcoming her back to Earth. Each appearance serves to highlight Kara’s trauma and her need for independence, not to showcase Superman’s power. This restraint allows Alcock to carry the movie while Corenswet provides meaningful support without stealing the show.
The key difference lies in characterization. Gunn’s Superman is not defined by his power but by his empathy and optimism. In Supergirl, we see that optimism through Kara’s eyes as both a blessing and a burden. Clark grew up sheltered by the loving Kents on a peaceful Kansas farm; he never experienced the horrifying destruction of Krypton or the loss of his parents. Kara, by contrast, watched her homeworld crumble and her family die, then drifted through space for years before crash-landing on Earth. When Clark tries to “fix” her grief by urging her to move on, it feels dismissive to her. This reframes Superman not as a flawless hero but as a well-meaning cousin who is still learning to understand others’ pain.
Why ‘Supergirl’ Succeeds Where ‘Justice League’ Failed
Supergirl succeeds because it treats Superman as a supporting character in someone else’s story. The film respects Kara’s agency, giving her a full arc that does not rely on her famous cousin to resolve. Her powers are comparable to his, but the narrative focuses on her internal struggle to process grief and find her own identity. Superman’s brief appearances serve as emotional touchpoints that deepen her journey rather than diverting it.
In contrast, Justice League could never commit to sidelining Superman. The 2017 version edited heavily to reduce his role, but test audiences demanded more Superman, so producer Joss Whedon added scenes that still made him the focus. Snyder’s cut, although more balanced in its treatment of the other Leaguers, still ended with Superman essentially saving the day alone. The narrative structure made it impossible to use him as a secondary figure because the whole premise of the League was to bring him back from the dead. He was the MacGuffin and the hero, leaving no room for subtlety.
Gunn’s DCU, by contrast, established Superman’s role early. In Superman (2025), the character works with other heroes like Hawkgirl and Mister Terrific, sharing screen time and even losing a battle. This foundation allows subsequent films to treat him as one part of a larger universe, not its anchor. The casting of Corenswet, with his warm demeanor and less imposing physique compared to Cavill, also helps. He looks like a strong man but not a demigod, which makes it easier for audiences to accept him as a team player rather than an all-powerful being.
A New Perspective on Superman’s Character
Supergirl also adds depth to Superman by showing him through a critical lens. For decades, Superman has been portrayed as the ultimate moral compass, unwavering in his goodness. This can make him feel one-dimensional, especially when compared to flawed heroes like Batman. However, seeing Clark through Kara’s eyes exposes a blind spot in his optimism: he sometimes fails to understand the weight of trauma he has never experienced. This does not make him a bad hero—it makes him human. Gunn and the writers use this moment to humanize Superman without diminishing his heroism.
Corenswet’s performance in Supergirl reflects this nuance. He plays Clark as kind but slightly oblivious, genuinely wanting to help but not realizing that his help can feel like pressure. His scenes with Alcock crackle with unspoken tension, as Kara politely endures his pep talks while holding back her frustration. This dynamic enriches both characters: Kara grows stronger by asserting her boundaries, and Clark learns that being a hero sometimes means knowing when to step back.
The DCU’s ability to reframe Superman like this is a direct result of Gunn’s storytelling philosophy. Gunn has a track record of handling ensembles, as seen in Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, where even the most powerful characters (like Drax or King Shark) fit into team dynamics without dominating. He applies the same logic to Superman, treating his power as just one attribute among many, not the defining feature of the universe. This makes the DCU feel more organic and less hierarchical than the Snyderverse, where Superman inevitably sat at the top of the power pyramid.
Looking ahead, Superman’s next major appearance will be in Man of Tomorrow (2027), which promises to explore his relationship with the Green Lantern Corps and further integrate him into the cosmic side of the DCU. But his brief, effective use in Supergirl already signals a fundamental shift: Superman is no longer the franchise’s unmanageable centerpiece. He is a beloved character who can step into the spotlight when needed and graciously step aside for others. That is a problem Zack Snyder never solved, but James Gunn’s DCU has finally cracked the code.
Source:MSN News