As James Gunn reboots the DC Universe with his highly anticipated Superman film, the pressure of wearing the cape rests squarely on the shoulders of David Corenswet. However, as we discovered during our set visit to Cleveland, Corenswet isn’t trying to outdo past Supermen. Instead, he’s crafting a grounded, emotionally layered portrayal of the character, one that leans into humility, self-doubt, and discovery.
Corenswet spoke with us and a group of journalists about the importance of the role, the challenge of redefining Clark Kent, and what it’s like to step into a character whose symbol represents hope.
A New Era Begins
Superman is the first feature under the newly restructured DC Studios. Directed by James Gunn from his original screenplay, the film reintroduces the Man of Steel with a fresh mix of action, humor, and heart. David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent/Superman, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The film also features Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen.
Check out the full discussion with David Corenswet below
Redefining the Cape
When asked how his younger self would react to seeing him play Superman, Corenswet smiled as he recalled his early days as a child actor in Philadelphia. “I was already acting professionally at 10 years old, playing Young Macduff in Macbeth,” he said. “I think 10-year-old me would say, ‘Yeah, I think I turned out pretty okay.'”
But taking on Superman isn’t just about nostalgia. Corenswet acknowledged the enormous legacy that comes with the role, especially after watching the Christopher Reeve documentary Super/Man.
“We all got lucky that the first big-screen Superman lived the part on and off-screen,” he said. “Everything that came after just has to honor that original spirit.”
Still, he doesn’t see his job as reinventing the character from the ground up. “It’s like Shakespeare,” he explained. “There are so many versions already. You’re just trying to do your part well and maybe add one little new thing.”
Superman Under Pressure
The movie begins with a massive action sequence, thrusting the audience into a chaotic moment for Superman with little exposition. “You’re meeting him mid-fight, in the middle of a personal crisis,” Corenswet said. “He’s throwing everything he’s got at it, and nothing’s working.”
The goal, he explained, is to push past the invincible image that audiences often associate with the character. “This Superman fails. He stumbles. He struggles. And that’s what makes his journey more interesting.”
Exploring Clark Kent
One of the most exciting aspects of this iteration is the way it handles Clark Kent. For Corenswet, it’s a role that allowed him to bring a different type of energy. “Clark was more fun to play than Superman,” he said. “There’s more you get to do. You always have a secret, and there’s something compelling in that.”
He leaned into physicality for the performance, drawing inspiration from his brother-in-law. “He’s this big guy who tries to stay out of the way but ends up being in the way all the time,” he explained. “That was Clark to me — trying to disappear while always sticking out.”
He also drew heavily from All-Star Superman, the comic Gunn recommended during the audition process. “It showed me Superman’s gentle nerdiness, his loneliness, and his longing to share his world with others,” Corenswet said. “But he can’t, and that sense of restraint really shaped how I approached the performance.”
Superhuman Transformation
During the SAG-AFTRA strike, with no active communication from the production team, Corenswet began transforming his body for the role. “I gained 40 pounds from July to November,” he revealed. “I wasn’t told to. I just wanted to be ready. It was all in. Two and a half hours at the gym, two naps a day, and a ridiculous amount of shakes.”
Once the strike ended, the physical demands continued with wire training for flight scenes and intense stunt choreography. “It’s not intuitive,” he said of the flying. “But once you learn the balance, it becomes its own art form.”
Lois Lane & Legacy
Corenswet described Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane, as an intellectual actor and a dynamic scene partner. Their screen test was fast and improvisational, but it clicked immediately. “It was chaos, but something just worked,” he recalled. The two spent time analyzing every Clark and Lois scene with Gunn, building chemistry through collaboration and trust.
Corenswet knows the eyes of the world are on him, but he’s not aiming to become the next pop culture icon. He’s focused on doing the work. “This wasn’t a no-brainer decision,” he admitted. “It took conversations, self-reflection, and a lot of thinking.
But ultimately, it felt like an adventure worth taking.” Whether he’s flying over Metropolis or lurking behind a desk at the Daily Planet, David Corenswet is bringing a new kind of Superman to the big screen, one who might just remind us that hope doesn’t come from perfection, but persistence and love.
Stay tuned for more exclusive coverage from our Superman set visit, and don’t miss the film when it hits theaters on July 11.