A Creative Clash at the Heart of the DCU
From the outside, it looked like a dream pairing. James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios and creative force behind the new Superman reboot, directing rising star David Corenswet in the role of Clark Kent. But behind the camera, their working relationship had moments of real tension — the kind that only comes when two passionate creatives lock into something bigger than themselves.
Corenswet, in a new GQ profile, revealed that Gunn’s unfiltered directing style caught him off guard at first. “He’ll sit back by the monitors on the God mic and yell directions at you,” he said. “Which is not how directors generally work.” Instead of careful coaching, Gunn made it known when something wasn’t working. And Corenswet, to his credit, welcomed it. “If I’m no good, tell me I’m no good, and then let’s work together to make me good.”
That mindset may have been refreshing, but it didn’t always make for a quiet set. At one point, Gunn snapped at Corenswet for his habit of over-questioning scenes. The director later admitted, “Sometimes I gotta slap you on the wrist and say stop f—ing doing that.” It wasn’t personal — it was the cost of total creative immersion.
Pushing Limits to Elevate the Vision
The friction wasn’t born out of ego but from shared ambition. Gunn acknowledged that Corenswet’s constant questions often improved the film, even if they tested his patience. “He asks questions that make him better,” Gunn told GQ, “and because they make him better, they make the movie better.” Still, even a director known for juggling chaos had his limits. “Every once in a while it’s just one question too many,” Gunn said. “And it’s like, oh my God, David, stop.”
The two eventually found a rhythm, built not on politeness but on blunt honesty. Gunn didn’t need to sugarcoat notes, and Corenswet didn’t need them to be. “When I say, ‘David, shut the f— up,’ David totally gets it and does not take that personally,” Gunn explained. “It’s a beautiful relationship in that way.” In an industry where actors often require delicate handling, their dynamic stood out — raw, direct, and productive.
Corenswet embraced the lack of hand-holding. Instead of withdrawing, he leaned into the role harder, absorbing the pressure and redirecting it into performance. That trust between actor and director became foundational, especially as they worked to redefine Superman for a new era of storytelling in the DC Universe.
A Superman Torn Between Two Worlds
The upcoming film introduces audiences to a Clark Kent already three years into his career as Superman. But this isn’t the unshakable beacon of hope audiences are used to. Gunn’s version explores a man caught in the tension between his alien lineage and his Kansas roots, trying to find balance while facing off against an obsessive Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult.
Rather than easing into the new DC Universe with origin stories, Gunn throws viewers into a fully developed world, filled with heroes, villains, and everything in between. Corenswet, who shares Gunn’s vision of a more emotionally restrained Superman, said the story finds the character at his most vulnerable. “We get to meet him in this moment where those things are least true,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “That’s where he’s a little bit of Superman, a little bit of Clark.”
Corenswet acknowledged the challenges of stepping into such an iconic role, especially in a film that swings from world-saving action to deeply human moments. “It’s harder in some ways to play Superman than to do a great dramatic film,” he said. “There is a unique challenge to playing a guy who wears his underwear on the outside and can fly.” But with Gunn at the helm — yelling from the monitors, testing limits, and demanding the best — he never felt alone in that challenge.
Superman hits theaters July 11.