James Gunn Defends Superman’s Controversial Parents Twist, And I Think He’s Right

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James Gunn’s *Superman* is a promising beginning to his vision for the DC movie universe, laying the groundwork for future installments. The film performed well in theaters and was generally well-received by both audiences and critics, though one aspect did draw some criticism.

In the movie *Superman*, Superman’s biological parents, Jor-El (played by Bradley Cooper) and Lara, aren’t portrayed as purely heroic figures. Initially, Superman believes they sent him to Earth to be a helper, but a message accompanying him later reveals their true intention: for him to *rule* over Earth. Director James Gunn, in commentary exclusive to the iTunes version of the film, notes that he isn’t the first to depict Superman’s parents with less-than-noble motives.

The challenge is to introduce something new to the established Superman story without altering the core character. While Clark’s parents are often portrayed as kind and supportive, that hasn’t always been true in the comics. Even within the official storyline, there have been instances where his parents weren’t benevolent, and Jor-El himself hasn’t always been presented as a purely good character.

Many Superman fans strongly disagreed with how the new movie portrayed Superman’s parents. James Gunn is correct that Jor-El isn’t always a perfect hero, but he’s typically presented that way. This is the first time in a major Superman film that Clark’s Kryptonian parents have been depicted like this.

Hear James’s Gunn Superman Director’s Commentary

To check out James Gunn’s commentary you can pick up Superman through iTunes.

The movie centers around whether a message is a fake created by Luthor, but consistently shows it’s actually real. This forms the core of Superman’s struggle throughout the film. Discovering his parents aren’t who he believed them to be forces him to question his own identity.

To be fair, Superman’s parents aren’t villains. James Gunn points out they deeply love their son, but their primary loyalty is to their home world and its people. Their actions, and what they ask of Superman, stem from this strong love and dedication.

What really struck me about these characters is how they love their son, but their view of humanity is… different. It’s a fascinating twist! It’s not some later addition to the story, but a core part of who Superman is. His parents sent him to Earth to *save* him, yes, but also with a hope that he’d carry on their Kryptonian legacy and essentially *rule* Earth. It’s amazing because that’s the last thing Superman wants – he doesn’t see himself as a ruler, and that contrast is just so compelling.

James Gunn made a great decision with this new take on Superman. It doesn’t portray Superman’s parents as villains, just as parents focused on their own son’s success. This creates a fresh and compelling internal struggle for Superman, something we haven’t seen before, and ultimately makes this version of Superman far more layered and captivating than any previous iteration in the DC Universe.

The sequel to *Superman*, titled *Man of Tomorrow*, is scheduled for release, and the script has been finished. James Gunn has confirmed they won’t be reversing a recent storyline, and we’ll see how it affects Superman as the new DC Universe develops.

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2025-09-25 20:40