Vlad Bunoan

Article (news)

Superman

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751678904857SPMN-25159rv1_proxy.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Warner Bros. Pictures</div>When David Corenswet got the call that would change his life, it wasn’t from a studio executive or an agent — at least not one whose number he had saved. It came from a 310 Los Angeles number he didn’t recognize. Still, he had a feeling.“I thought, ‘I should probably take this. I feel like I&#x27;m expecting a call. Good news or bad news, I&#x27;m expecting a call,’” Corenswet recalled in an interview provided to ABS-CBN News.The voice on the other end belonged to &quot;Superman&quot; director James Gunn.“David, it’s James Gunn,” he said.For a moment, Corenswet wasn’t entirely sure. “For some reason I said, ‘Can you prove that?’” he admitted, laughing. “And he sort of laughed, appreciatively, I would say. He sort of got it and he went, ‘Well, huh, that’s a good point. Well, I’m calling to offer you the role of Superman.’ And I said, ‘Well, you’re the only person who could do that, so it must be you.’”In that surreal moment, the Philadelphia-born actor joined a lineage of screen legends — Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill — who have donned the red cape and iconic &quot;S.&quot;“There’s a certain level of disbelief,” Corenswet said. “You might let your mind wander to the possibility once or twice, but you don’t dare to hope.”After a brief conversation with Gunn about his vision for the film, Corenswet was left with a sensation that was less about triumph and more about mission.“It kind of felt like an astronaut being told he is going to the moon,” he said. “It’s like, this is what I’ve always wanted to do, but the work is all to come. Now, getting the role is this amazing win, but the win is really that you get to do the work now.”That work — two years of it, possibly more — will culminate in 2025’s &quot;Superman,&quot; a fresh chapter in the storied franchise that’s expected to launch the DC Universe under Gunn&#x27;s leadership.Despite being cast as the most iconic superhero in pop culture, Corenswet said he didn’t grow up immersed in Superman lore.“I was never inundated with a particular iteration of Superman,” he said. “I definitely caught episodes of &#x27;Smallville&#x27; after school before my parents got home (we weren&#x27;t allowed to watch TV growing up), and I remember seeing &#x27;Superman Returns&#x27; in the theaters and really loving it.”It wasn’t until he read Gunn’s script that the vastness and versatility of the character’s mythology hit him.“I was sort of surprised at all of these elements that were in it. I knew of Christopher Reeve and his film... and I knew Lex Luthor and Lois Lane, but when I saw James’s script, I was astonished at all of these elements that were in there that didn’t feel like they belonged in Superman’s world.”To better understand the unexpected directions the new film would take, Gunn pointed Corenswet to two specific comic book touchstones: &quot;All-Star Superman&quot; and &quot;Superman for All Seasons.&quot;“I read those, and I thought, ‘Oh, well, all of this has been here for years and years and years. It just hasn’t been put up on the big screen yet,’” he said.Among the surprises in the script were deep-cut characters and concepts unfamiliar to casual fans.“Krypto and... all of these other metahumans, this world that isn’t our own,” Corenswet noted. “The Superman robots, I thought, ‘I wasn’t expecting these. I didn’t know these were a thing.’”While details about the film’s plot remain tightly guarded, Corenswet&#x27;s journey into Superman’s world is already reshaping how he sees the character — not as a distant icon, but as part of a much larger, long-evolving legacy.“Superman’s origin is not forgotten in the movie, it’s just not the subject of the movie,” he said. “And I think we get a lot of mileage out of jumping right into the action... we get to dive right into it.”<div> </div><div>&quot;Superman&quot; opens in Philippine cinemas on July 9. </div>

David Corenswet opens up about landing the role of Superman, diving into James Gunn’s surprising script, and stepping into the legacy of one of pop culture’s most iconic heroes.

David Corenswet opens up about landing the role of Superman, diving into James Gunn’s surprising script, and stepping into the legacy of one of pop culture’s most iconic heroes.

David Corenswet on becoming Superman: 'It's like being told you’re going to the moon'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Movies & Series

David Corenswet on becoming Superman: 'It's like being told you’re going to the moon'

ABS-CBN News

Published July 05, 2025 09:38 AM PHT

Read More:

Superman

David Corenswet

James Gunn

DC Studios

ABSnews

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.