According to recent reveals about the casting process for Superman, the first movie in the new DC Universe could be bringing an impactful comic book moment to life. The Man of Tomorrow had a rough go in his last shared DC universe. The DCEU did not do right by Henry Cavill’s Superman, with the character only getting one solo movie, never being written as he should have been, and going missing for several years. However, it seems like the same will not be true for David Corenswet’s Superman, with the DCU reboot bringing the hero back to basics.
The cast of the DCU’s Superman shows that a lot of love is going into making the movie. Both sides of Corenswet’s character will be given the chance to shine. Other DCU heroes like Green Lantern will be part of Superman’s heroic life, while Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen will be by Clark Kent’s side at the Daily Planet. Gunn previously commented on how the DCU would be more in line with the comics than the DCEU ever was, and a new casting call for Superman teases that the film might recreate a deeply emotional Superman comic book moment.
A new casting call for Gunn’s Superman shared by Central Casting Georgia (via @DCU_Updates/Twitter) brings along an interesting description of extras that the production is looking for.
According to the casting call, Superman is looking for men in the 18-25 age range to portray PUNK ROCK MALES for a day of filming. It is also stated that the production is specifically going after people who have piercings. While that might not amount to much in itself, the casting call does share an interesting connection to a very special moment in one of the best Superman comics of all time.
In “All-Star Superman,” there is an emotional scene where the Man of Steel shows why he is the best superhero. By using his heart and compassion, Superman was able to save a young girl’s life. One of the most beautiful moments in Superman comics is how Clark, simply by showing he cares and that not everything is as bad as it seems, manages to save the life of a young girl who was contemplating suicide. The punk rock description matches the girl’s style, teasing a prior group scene that could lead to the iconic comic book moment down the line.
During the reveal of the DCU’s Superman reboot, a cover image from “All-Star Superman” was used. Recently, Gunn shared on Threads a few of the comic book inspirations behind his version of the Man of Steel. Among many incredible panels was the moment where Superman saves the young girl from suicide. “All-Star Superman” is an Elseworlds story whose setup consists of the DC hero finding out that he has one year left to live, with Superman attempting to do all the good he can before his time is up.
Since the comic book was used for the announcement of the film, “All-Star Superman” should be one of the biggest inspirations for the upcoming DCU reboot of the character. Gunn posting the specific panels where Superman saves the young girl just by talking to her and showing she was not alone, as well as the latest casting call for punk rock extras for the film point to that emotional moment from the comics being part of Corenswet’s journey as Superman. Based on the actor’s previous Superman comments, this could not fit any better.
While Corenswet was only cast as Superman in 2023, the actor has had his sights set on the role for years. In a 2019 interview, the new Superman actor commented on how he would like the hero to be portrayed. Corenswet talked about what he liked in Cavill’s Man of Steel, though the DCU actor made it clear that his wish was that the next iteration of Superman was “an upbeat, throwback [take on Superman]… very bright and optimistic.”
After Cavill’s Superman was shrouded in darkness in the DCU, the hero needs to come back to the more optimistic lease on life that Superman is known for. Corenswet’s comments are encouraging for a potential adaptation of the “All-Star Superman” scene. Both the actor and Gunn have expressed their interest in bringing a classic Superman tale to the big screen, and saving someone who is at their lowest by showing them that everything is not so bad is the most on-brand thing the DCU’s Superman could do.