While some are skeptical about James Gunn making a new Superman film, 2019’s Brightburn offers some clues as to how the director will handle the Man of Steel.
James Gunn has received a lot of backlash as the new co-head of DC Films for canceling many highly anticipated superhero projects, including a Man of Steel sequel with Henry Cavill. However, he has also sparked intrigue from many fans for announcing an upcoming reboot of Superman that he wrote himself. For those who haven’t heard the news, Gunn will produce a movie following a new version of Clark Kent during his first years working at the Daily Planet and protecting the people of Earth as Superman.
While some may be skeptical about Gunn writing and making a Superman film, it is worth pointing out that he has already made such a film not so long ago: 2019’s Brightburn. In looking at Brightburn, we can catch a glimpse of Gunn’s potential vision for the Man of Steel, which has more in common with Zach Snyder’s interpretation than fans, and even Gunn, would care to admit.
Note: This article includes a recap and spoilers for the film Brightburn.
Basically Superman meets The Omen, Brightburn follows a couple who adopts an alien baby that crash lands near their farm in the titular town. On his 12th birthday, the child, now named Brandon, discovers he has many of Superman’s signature powers, including super strength, the ability to fly, and laser heat vision.
But at the same time, Brandon becomes more violent and sadistic, which is only exacerbated by the bullying he endures at school. He is eventually compelled to “take the world” by the spaceship that brought him to Earth, making it clear that he hails from a race of evil world conquerors, a far cry from the more benevolent Kryptonians that birthed Superman.
