James Gunn Admits He Loves 1 of Zack Snyder’s Movies

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There’s been a lot of disagreement about the different phases of DC movies. But with the upcoming new DC Universe, starting with Superman in 2025 and continuing with projects planned for 2026 and beyond, director James Gunn is working to connect the old and the new.

The new book, Superman: The Art and Making of the Film, features an introduction by director James Gunn explaining his vision for the movie. Gunn draws inspiration from classic Superman comics, but also acknowledges the filmmakers who came before him. He specifically credits Zack Snyder’s 2013 film, Man of Steel, as a major influence, stating that he “adored” it. In the book’s introduction, Gunn details the many creators whose work informed his approach to the film.

Gunn said that when he started working on the project, he studied how the character had been portrayed in the past. He expressed gratitude to the creators of previous versions, specifically mentioning the original Fleischer cartoons, Richard Donner’s 1978 film, and Superman: The Animated Series.

He was careful to praise the director who started the previous cinematic universe, and even shared his personal connection to those films, including Zack Snyder’s work. He emphasized that these were stories he truly loved and confirmed Snyder’s contributions helped shape the visual style of Superman (2025).

I have to say, I’m incredibly grateful to all the amazing creators who shaped Superman before me. The original Fleischer Studios cartoons were a huge inspiration, as was Richard Donner’s iconic film. Then there’s Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett’s animated series, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar’s Smallville, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, and more recently, Todd Helbing and Greg Berlanti’s Superman & Lois. I absolutely loved all those stories, and I really tried to honor them and build on what they did with Superman (2025).

Though Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel established a visual foundation, James Gunn explains his creative direction truly began with the story itself. Gunn confessed he initially didn’t have a clear plan when he started, but that shifted after rereading the highly praised All-Star Superman. He described the significant impact of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s work on his approach.

When I started working on Superman, I didn’t have a clear vision for how it would look or what the story would be. But as I revisited my old Superman comics, things began to come together when I reread All-Star Superman. It was just as good as when it first came out, thanks to the brilliant writing by Grant Morrison, the artwork by Frank Quitely, and the colors and inks by Jamie Grant.

Gunn revealed that this particular comic book series heavily influenced the energetic, classic science-fiction feel of the 2025 movie. It also helped him establish the confident and powerful personality of Superman, Kal-El. He expressed his gratitude to many comic book artists and writers, describing them as his key inspirations.

The Superman I grew up with was heavily influenced by the bold, imaginative science fiction of the Silver Age comics. It featured incredible, yet believable, technology and costumes, and a distinctive visual style with bright, but limited, colors. I especially loved the characters – Superman as a confident hero, the inquisitive Lois Lane, the self-absorbed Lex Luthor, and even the somewhat cocky Jimmy Olsen. While the stories themselves weren’t always the focus, the overall look and feel of our Superman, and the core personalities of the characters, were largely shaped by artists Grant, Frank, and Jamie. But the All-Star Superman team was just the beginning. Really, Superman owes almost everything to the history of comic books. It all started with creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, but so many others contributed – 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 countless more. They were the true inspiration for the Superman we know today.

How Different Is James Gunn’s Superman From Zack Snyder’s Take?

James Gunn has publicly praised Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, but the two directors have very different ideas about how to portray Superman. Now that Gunn’s Superman is setting the standard for the future of the DC Universe, the difference between Snyder’s previous films and Gunn’s new approach is what fans are talking about most.

The main difference between versions of Superman is the world he lives in. Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel focused on the chaos and fear that would erupt if an incredibly powerful alien suddenly appeared on Earth. In that story, Superman was the very first publicly known superhero, and his arrival caused a major international crisis.

James Gunn completely changed the usual superhero origin story. In his 2025 Superman movie, Superman arrives in a world that already has established heroes like Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Guy Gardner. Instead of being feared as a newcomer, Superman stands out because of his character and actions.

While Snyder’s Superman focused on the loneliness of being unique, Gunn’s version highlights the difficulty of consistently doing what’s right when surrounded by others. Henry Cavill’s Superman often felt weighed down by his abilities, his story centered on accepting his role as a hero. Gunn’s Clark Kent, however, embodies a more traditional, wholesome ‘Boy Scout’ character.

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2026-01-14 10:09