Lindsey Bahr, AP film writer, published an article on ABC News in which David Corenswet sets the record straight about a previous comment he made about playing Superman.
David Corenswet is set to soar as cinema’s newest Superman in James Gunn’s upcoming film, transforming what he once called a “pie in the sky ambition” into reality.
From Wishful Thinking to Reality
In a 2019 Entertainment Weekly interview, Corenswet mentioned playing Superman was his “pie in the sky ambition.” Looking back now, he clarifies: “I meant to mean that there was no #@$%ing way it was ever going to happen.”
The 31-year-old Philadelphia native and Juilliard graduate previously appeared in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series “The Politician” and “Hollywood,” but Superman represents his biggest role yet.
The Casting Journey
Director James Gunn discovered Corenswet after watching Ti West’s horror film “Pearl.” Impressed by qualities not evident in that performance, Gunn made him one of the first to audition.
“He had a playful charm about him,” Gunn noted. “He had a sense of humor. That made me go, ‘Ooh, this might be a really good match.'”
Gunn observed that Corenswet naturally embodies Superman’s character: “Superman is a square and David is a square. He listens to American Songbook. Like Dean Martin and Cole Porter. That’s weird. But oh, so Superman.”
Stepping Into the Suit
Corenswet described his first fitting with his own Superman costume as “wonderfully mundane,” but watching the crew’s reaction changed his perspective: “I saw their faces sort of light up and I went, ‘Wait a minute, these people aren’t that fond of me,'” he laughed. “That’s when it hits you.”
To prepare for the role, Corenswet approached Superman’s character as three distinct personas, drawing inspiration for Clark Kent from his gentle giant brother-in-law: “He’s this big presence, but he’s desperately trying to be as small as possible and as quiet as possible.”
A Fresh Take
The film promises “a personal journey for Superman that’s entirely new”.
Corenswet hints at the film’s tone, describing it as having a “Preston Sturges quality” with “longing romance and witty comedy,” comparing Clark and Lois’s dynamic to the classic “His Girl Friday.”
As for how playing Superman will change his life, Corenswet remains grounded: “I expect some things will change when the film comes out. But you know, one still has to wake up and eat breakfast.”
Read the entire article at the ABC News website.
“Superman” will be in theaters and IMAX nationwide on July 11, 2025, and internationally beginning 9 July 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
