With “Superman” now out on HBO Max, people have been diving into the extras including director James Gunn’s own commentary track.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Now, a video of a section of that commentary track has gone online, one in which Gunn goes into the film’s most controversial change – that of Superman‘s origin story and the recording involving Kal-El’s parents.
Partway through the film, it’s revealed that the damaged message the character had been listening to his whole life had a back half – one which changes tone drastically from the benevolent first half to one in which they tell him to continue the Kryptonian heritage, by force, and eventually rule the planet.
The change to lore upset some fans, but Gunn has stuck by the move and has previously said there are no plans to retcon or pull back on his decision. In the commentary track, he stands by that:
“Now this is probably the most controversial thing I did with Superman’s origin. I am a big Superman fan. I don’t want to change important, integral things about Superman. His goodness, his goodness of heart, the fact that he won’t kill, the fact that he’s in love with Lois Lane, even the curl on the head, all these things. I want to keep Superman Superman.
So the question is, what can you add to the mythos that’s a little bit different, that doesn’t really, essentially in any way, change who the character is? And although Clark’s parents usually in the comics, are benevolent, that isn’t always the case. There have been stories in which, even in canon . . . Jor-El is not always treated as a benevolent character.
It is not something that is going to be retrofitted in the future. It is the fact of Superman’s life. He was sent by his parents to Earth, primarily, to save, but also they helped he would continue the Kryptonian heritage and take over Earth as its ruler. And that isn’t who Superman thinks of himself as being at all.”
David Corenswet’s version of the character will return in the upcoming “Man of Tomorrow” film which begins shooting in April.
well here it is, james talking about the jor el message twist and doubles down on the fact that he will not retcon this in the future and why this change elevates clark's character.
oh some ppl aren't gonna like this clip pic.twitter.com/pgiDPjjUbd
— juan (@JuanEditzs) September 24, 2025
