The debate between the eras of DC cinema has often been contentious. However, as the new DC Universe takes flight with Superman (2025) and other projects arriving in 2026 and beyond, director James Gunn is bridging the gap between the past and the future.
In the newly released book Superman: The Art and Making of the Film, Gunn penned an introduction that sheds light on exactly what influenced his take on the Man of Steel. While he pulls heavily from comic book lore, he also credits the directors who paved the way. Most notably, Gunn explicitly lists Zack Snyder’s 2013 film Man of Steel as a key inspiration, admitting he "adored" the film. Writing in the introduction for Superman: The Art and Making of the Film, Gunn offered a comprehensive list of creators he feels indebted to.
Gunn explained that when he first approached the project, he looked back at the character's legacy on screen. He thanked the "television creators that came before me," citing the original Fleischer cartoons, Richard Donner’s 1978 classic, and the seminal Superman: The Animated Series.
However, he made sure to highlight the director who launched the previous cinematic universe and even went a step further to describe his personal feelings toward these specific iterations, including Snyder's work. He noted that these were "all stories I adored" and confirmed that Snyder's work "added to the look and feel of Superman (2025):"
"And, yes, thanks to the Superman film and television creators that came before me—especially the original Superman cartoon creators, Max and Dave Fleischer, the original Superman: The Movie director Richard Donner, Superman: The Animated Series creators Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett, Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, Man of Steel director Zack Snyder, and Superman and Lois’s Todd Helbing and Greg Berlanti. These are all stories I adored and added to the look and feel of Superman (2025)."
While Snyder’s Man of Steel provided cinematic grounding, Gunn’s introduction reveals that the "coalescing" of his vision came from the page. Gunn admitted that when he first took the job, he had "no idea" what he was going to do. That changed when he revisited the critically acclaimed All-Star Superman. James Gunn described the influence of the Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely masterpiece:
"When I first took on Superman, I had no idea what I was going to do. Not visually, not in terms of story, not anything. But, as I pored over all my old Superman comics, I know things really started to coalesce when I reread one of my favorite comic book series*—All-Star Superman. I loved it as much as I did when the comics were first released—a lot of that was Grant Morrison’s wonderful writing, but also Frank Quitely’s pencils and the inks and colors of Jamie Grant."
Gunn admitted that this comic run dictated the "brash Silver Age science-fiction fantasy" vibe of the 2025 film. It also helped him lock in the "chest-forward, overconfident, and unstoppable" personality of Kal-El. He also credited a massive list of comic creators, calling them his "guiding lights.":
"It was brash Silver Age science-fiction fantasy, with over-the-top-yet-simultaneously grounded machines and costumes, and a bright yet restricted color palette. I also loved the chest-forward, overconfident, and unstoppable Superman, the always curious Lois Lane, the narcissistic Lex Luthor, and, dare I say, arrogant Jimmy Olsen. I didn’t take much from the story but in terms of the feel and the look of our Superman, and some basics about the characters, we owe Grant, Frank, and Jamie more than anyone. And the All-Star Superman team were only the tip of the iceberg—because our Superman owes nearly everything to comic books. First and foremost, his creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, but also Otto Binder, Curt Swan, Edmond Hamilton, Wayne Boring, Elliot S. Maggin, Cary Bates, Neal Adams, José Luis García-López, George Pérez, John Byrne, Dan Jurgens, Roger Stern, Jerry Ordway, Mark Waid, Jeph Loeb, Geoff Johns, Ed McGuinness, Tim Sale, Jorge Jiménez, and so many more—those were our guiding lights."
How Different Is James Gunn’s Superman From Zack Snyder’s Take?
While James Gunn openly expressed his admiration for Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, the two directors approach the character of Superman from fundamentally different creative philosophies. With Superman now establishing the new baseline for the DC Universe, the contrast between the Snyderverse era and Gunn’s new vision has become the central talking point for audiences.
The biggest structural difference lies in the world Superman inhabits. Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel was a "First Contact" story. It was set in the terrifying reality of how our modern world would react if an alien god were to appear suddenly. In that timeline, Superman was the first public superhero, and his existence was a geopolitical crisis.
Gunn flipped this dynamic entirely. In the 2025 film, Superman enters a world where superheroes already exist. Characters like Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Guy Gardner are already active. Superman isn’t feared because he is new but is distinguished because of how he acts.
Where Snyder explored the isolation of being the only one, Gunn explores the challenge of being the best moral example in a crowded room. Snyder’s iteration, played by Henry Cavill, was often defined by the burden of his powers. His arc was about the struggle to accept his destiny as a savior. Gunn’s Clark Kent embraces a more classic Boy Scout energy.
Geraldo Amartey is a writer at The Direct. He joined the team in 2025, bringing with him four years of experience covering entertainment news, pop culture, and fan-favorite franchises for sites like YEN, Briefly and Tuko.
