Up, up, and . . . crashing back down into the Arctic snow.
Yes, that is how the previous teaser trailer began for the new palette-cleansing “Superman” movie set to hit theaters in July. It is also what happened in the prior origin and universe-forming film, “Man of Steel,” when Superman was first learning how to fly.
This new reboot is directed by James Gunn, most known for directing the successful “Guardians of the Galaxy” films for Marvel, and stars Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and David Corenswet as the title character.
The teaser trailer garnered 58 million views online and played in front of the new “Minecraft” movie that became a box office sensation. It also broke the record for most total views in a 24-hour period with over 250 million, according to Gunn. Looking at those metrics, it would be easy to say this new incarnation of Superman is on its way to becoming a successful reboot of the DC Universe (DCU for short).
The only deterrent: fandom.
Different interpretations
When it comes to fans of the iconic character, who has been around since his debut in Action Comics in 1938, there are inevitably going to be different interpretations from different time periods that resonate with different people of all different backgrounds and demographics.
The past three decades, though, have seen a radical shift in not only the different adaptations in the character in development and on-screen but also with fans of the character. The conflict did not truly come to the forefront until Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan reimagined the character for the big screen in 2013 with “Man of Steel.”
With Snyder’s new take on the character — which, from Snyder’s perspective, was more accurate and faithful to the comics than the older movies — he inspired an entirely new generation of fans. Starring Henry Cavill, “Man of Steel,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” all feature a troubled Superman on a journey to become the character we all know and love. Many new fans felt the Cavill portrayal showcased a more relatable and realistic interpretation that resonated with them.
As you might imagine, traditional fans were not pleased with that version. It went against a lot of the ideals and principles they felt were integral to the character and his world. From their perspective, a Superman movie or show should be fun and kid-friendly instead of being dark and brooding, as they claim the Snyder version endorsed.
As for “Superman,” Gunn has made it quite clear that his version of Superman will take place in a world already full of superheroes and be more in line with the Richard Donner / Christopher Reeve version of the character. After witnessing the teaser trailer, it is clear that his version will be lighter, brighter, and fantastical while still keeping that hint of the darkness. I mean, this new movie features Krypto the Super Dog. It immediately reveals the tone and influence of this new movie and cinematic universe (the “All-Star Superman” graphic novel). Seeing that Will Reeve, the son of Christopher Reeve, is going to have a cameo in the film is exciting.
It’s complicated
At this point, you are probably wondering which camp this Superman fan falls under.
My answer might not please many.
I grew up watching the Christopher Reeve films and “Superman: The Animated Series.” Of course, as I got older, I fell head-over-heels for a TV show about a teenage Clark Kent named “Smallville.” In my adult years, I grew to admire and appreciate the “Snyder-verse” as it is often referred to.
When it comes to this new iteration, some fans are excited and some are a little torn, while others are over-the-moon excited or downright hating it from the origin.
As for me, I’m . . . well . . . I’m not sure yet. But I’m willing to give it a chance.
Why?
Well, it is a complicated situation.
For starters, this movie is supposed to kickstart a new universe yet still has ties to the previous one. The sheer amount of pressure bestowed at the hands of this film to be successful is not fair but inevitable. It also takes place so soon after the Cavill and Snyder era, not to mention the successful “Superman & Lois” TV series that just concluded its run (which some claim to be due to the new movie) and the new animated series, “My Adventures with Superman.”
With little breathing room between adaptations, some viewers might experience burnout in a genre that is seeing that come to fruition head-on.
Every iteration will have its own unique characteristics and bring something new to the table, but there are certain elements that hold me back from experiencing the same kind of excitement that I should feel as a Superman fan. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the suit, particularly the “S” on his chest. I think the movie has a strange look and feel to it, which gives me flashbacks to the 2023 film, “The Flash.”
That brings me to my next point. There is no denying the fact that James Gunn is a talented and successful filmmaker. He has made some great films, including “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the evil-Superman-inspired “Brightburn.” It is also worth mentioning he is friends with Zack Snyder.
Having said all that, I don’t know how much faith I have in him to adapt Superman. After taking the reins of the DC Universe, he claimed on the “Inside of You” podcast (hosted by “Smallville’s” Lex Luthor, Michael Rosenbaum) that “The Flash” was, and I’m paraphrasing, one of the best superhero films ever.
Considering “The Flash” flopped at the box office, garnering a net loss of over $150 million and receiving a less-than-stellar critical response, I’d say that is cause for some concern. Sure, it’s one movie, and we all have different tastes. Maybe his comment was just a PR statement to help promote the film (similar to what Tom Cruise and Stephen King did). But it doesn’t give a reassuring taste, that’s for sure.
Then there is also the issue of the cast of the film. I say that while wholeheartedly endorsing Corenswet, Brosnahan, and Hoult, I truly believe they will deliver top-notch performances.
The issue comes into play with a few members of the supporting cast.
If you remember back during COVID, “Justice League” actor Ray Fisher publicly called out fill-in director Joss Whedon on Twitter (now X) for his treatment of the cast and crew during the film’s extensive reshoots. After an investigation, the matter was handled internally and Whedon has not worked since.
Alan Tudyk, an actor who had previously worked with Whedon, initially pushed back against the idea, defending Whedon and reminiscing about the good times he had working with him in the past.
Do you know who liked Tudyk’s tweet? James Gunn.
Do you know who is set to appear in Gunn’s “Superman” in a supporting role? Alan Tudyk.
Let’s not also forget that Nathan Fillion also defended Whedon’s reputation, stating he would love to work with Whedon again.
Do you know who is going to appear as a Green Lantern in “Superman?” Nathan Fillion.
Gunn also gets a bad rap by some people for his previous antics, for which he has been labeled as allegedly endorsing pedophilia and exerting inappropriate and unprofessional behavior online. Those same detractors would likely claim that problem is an issue with most of Hollywood and not just Gunn, so I digress.
I’m not trying to make it seem like the entire cast and crew are fans of Whedon and disagree with Fisher’s passionate assessment. I’m not even saying that Tudyk and Fillion are bad people and don’t deserve the opportunities they have been given.
I just can’t help but notice the coincidence. And maybe that is all it is.
Fandom
Now let’s talk a bit more in depth about fandom and how it could impact more than we believe.
We have already established that there are traditional fans that prefer a lighthearted take akin to the Christopher Reeve films and there are modern fans that prefer a darker and more serious take, such as the Snyder films. And then there is the general audience that doesn’t follow any of this stuff.
When “Man of Steel” debuted back in June 2013, there was a ton of debate stirring online about some of the film’s more controversial moments, such as the tornado scene near Smallville, the astronomical level of destruction, and how General Zod was ultimately defeated by Kal-El. Traditional fans took issue with the newer take and still claim to this day that Snyder doesn’t seem to understand how to properly adapt the IP (intellectual property). That topic became an even bigger talking point when its sequel, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” was released in March 2016. All I have to say is “Martha” and you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Modern fans loved the new version while traditional fans despised it.
Fast forward to the present day and here we are living the flip side of that coin. A new Superman movie is set to hit theaters and the tides have shifted. Traditional fans are excited for a new take (lighthearted) while modern fans are attempting to convince other people to boycott the film and criticize every aspect of it because it has stripped away the aspects they enjoyed about the darker films.
To be transparent, I can understand why some Snyder fans feel the way they do. Henry Cavill was told he was going to return to the role after his cameo in “Black Adam” teased a showdown between Superman and Black Adam. Shortly after, he was told otherwise. Fans also felt letdown because his standalone “Man of Steel” sequel was in development numerous times and it never materialized (same for Ben Affleck’s highly anticipated solo Batman film).
Plus, what the modernist Snyder fans are saying online about the upcoming film is not much different than what the traditionalist Donner fans were saying about the Snyder films when they were released. See, Snyder fans get a bad rap that I believe is somewhat unjustified. They get unfairly lumped into one conglomerated group – the term “Snyder Cult” as it is often referred to online – while a large portion of them are not “toxic” and either praise what they love or simply state their honest opinion.
Every film director has their passionate fans, including James Gunn. Just look at the overwhelming support he received after he was initially fired by Marvel for tweets made a decade earlier only to be rehired to conclude the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy. But Zack Snyder fans are on a different level. When “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was released (both theatrically and the Ultimate Edition on home video), fans defended their director’s daring vision with the same level of vitriol that professional movie critics and YouTube personalities displayed.
After the disaster that was the theatrical version of “Justice League,” Snyder fans again fought back against the Hollywood machine. Throughout 2018 and 2019, they got the famous #ReleaseTheSnyderCut hashtag trending online, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for suicide prevention, and, with the help of the cast and crew (not to mention numerous celebrities), “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” was greenlit and released on HBO Max, their streaming service at the time (now it’s just titled Max).
Naturally, the announcement broke the internet. But some critics still wouldn’t budge, claiming that WB caved to a toxic fandom.
To be fair, there were a number of Snyder fans that took drastic measures to combat the narrative that Snyder’s films were subpar. Every new WB video or post online would get flooded with the famous hashtag, which I do not see as toxic or negative, but there were some pretty harsh comments made.
If we super-speed like “Smallville’s” “The Blur” up to the present day again, traditionalist fans see the comments being made and, with that previous experience of modernist fans in the back of their minds, feel like a toxic force is attempting to prevent people from enjoying a film about their favorite character.
Personally, I find that point to be a valid one. It is also the very same defense that modernist fans use to defend the Snyder films. Both can be true.
The path forward
So where do we go from here? How do we move forward as Superman fans? Do we continue to live amongst two polar-opposite camps and fight back and forth in the void that is the internet about which version is the right one? Is it even possible to find a middle ground?
I honestly don’t have an answer. But it’s not up to me to decide that. It’s up to us. Remember, we’re all part of the same team. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that evolution always wins.
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