No matter your affiliation, we all likely agree that we need a bit of hopeful inspiration in today’s polarized society.
Politics, religion, super suits — the world is constantly shown to be on the brink of some sort of breaking point.
Yesterday’s shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, PA, showed just how violent division can become.
The former president and current 2024 presidential candidate was whisked from the stage by the Secret Service as blood dripped from his right-hand side’s ear.
What is now being investigated as an assassination attempt resulted in the death of one bystander, injuries to others, and authorities shooting and killing the 20-year-old would-be assassin.
I have my political affiliations, as does my neighbor across the hall. Our differences make us who we are, but our hatred for one another can often run deep and destroy us. We mustn’t let it.
We should all be having conversations. Constructive ones. Arguments, even. Not where we tear each other down… but where we build each other up.
“There is a right and a wrong in this universe. And that distinction is not hard to make.”
Superman’s words from the comic “Kingdom Come” echo such relevance today. I think we can all agree that violence and hatred are all part of the wrong in this universe.
Violence is the enemy of civilization.
Let’s not spew cruel rhetoric toward one another. After all, what would Superman and Lois Lane do?
We, as a species, have such capacity for greatness. We also have the capability for destruction. In a world full of hatred we need hope. We need Superman.
A symbol of hope
Superman, for me, has always been a source of inspiration in many ways. Before Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” popularized the notion of Superman’s crest representing hope, the Metropolis Marvel stood for it without commentary. But not in the way you might expect.
Growing up gay in Hibbing, Minnesota, was turbulent. Some people were supportive, and others were not. I didn’t come out until my mid-20s, but I had known I was romantically interested in men since puberty.
Afraid of isolation, I hid that part of myself away. What I didn’t realize then was that hiding away just isolated me from my peers anyway. It turned into a lose/lose scenario, and I nearly took my own life because of it.
I found solace in Superman, specifically in Superman and Lois Lane. These two very different characters—a farm boy from Kansas and a city girl from the army base—were my saving grace.
But together, they weren’t my symbol of hope. The place where they met and interacted was.
The Daily Planet—where heroes are born, and the story continues. I came up with that tagline because, in comic continuity, the Daily Planet broke the story of Superman, thus giving birth to an American Hero for the entire world.
The Daily Planet was also a melting pot of ideas and ideals. Everyone who worked under that famed ringed rooftop globe was different from the person next to them.
The Daily Planet was factual, straight to the point, and assertive. It was also graceful, open to outside opinions, and a hub for journalism.
I’m sure it is no surprise that the Daily Planet is my primary source of inspiration. When I looked at that newsroom of differences, I couldn’t help but be moved. Here was this community of starkly diverse people, all cohabitating to share important information for the good of society. It was a noble endeavor, and I wanted it to be real. I wanted Metropolis to be real.
So, I decided to make it real. I created this Daily Planet that welcomes all sorts of folks worldwide. We don’t breed hatred; we share information and ideas like our comic book counterparts. Our differences make us stronger.
Photos from James Gunn’s “Superman” set featuring Metropolis and the supporting characters suggest that the sense of hope will physically burn brighter than previous iterations. We need to feel United, but even in the fandom of such an iconic character we are not.
I admit that the previous films ended abruptly and unjustly. The stories had potential, and the casting was phenomenal. However, let’s celebrate the chance for new iterations rather than blame and bully those who are just excited to see Superman again.
In a world that seems to be tearing itself apart, we still need a “Superman” to unite us. It’s time Big Blue saves cats from a tree. It’s time for bright colors in the sky. Its time for people asking “why?”
Why can’t we be more like him? Why Can’t we be more like Lois? Why can’t we be more like Metropolis? Why… can’t we love one another?
“Superman” stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as star-studded Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as photographer Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Nicholas Hoult as classic antagonist Lex Luthor, Neva Howell as Marhta Kent, Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan “Pa” Kent, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe.
The cast also includes Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Terence Rosemore as Otis, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner and María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer.
“Superman” is slated to open in theaters on July 11, 2025, exactly one year from today.
Share your Superman thoughts
For the next year, leading up to “Superman,” I hope to capture the excitement and anxieties surrounding the film. People’s voices matter, and I want everyone to be heard.
For example, if you’re unhappy with concepts, set designs, the fact that we have a reboot in the first place, well.. I want to hear from you.
My hopes for this project are to immortalize the voices of people who love Superman. In a world that can often feel pretty divisive, I want the Planet to shine out as a place of unification through shared differences.
Consider contributing because I can’t wait to hear what you say!
Email us at dailyplanetdc@gmail.com or reach out on any of our socials!
