David Corenswet Talks About Getting Ready to Play Superman & Answers the Age-Old Question: Did He Use PEDs?

When David Corenswet got cast as Superman in James Gunn’s new DC Universe movie, he knew he had to get in shape to look the part. The 31-year-old actor worked hard to build his body, but he also wanted to clear up any confusion about how he did it.

During a visit to the movie set in Cleveland last June, Corenswet opened up to reporters, including TheWrap, about his fitness routine. He made it clear that he didn’t gain 40 pounds of pure muscle like some might think.

“I would appreciate anybody who wants to clarify in their writing that nobody is suggesting that I gained 40 pounds of muscle,” he said.

Corenswet was honest about how he built his physique. He said he did it “without performance enhancing drugs and without killing myself.” Instead, he followed a tough but manageable workout plan that pushed him to “the edge of my physical capabilities.”

The question about whether actors use performance-enhancing drugs, often called “natty or not,” is common on social media. When actors change their bodies quickly, people often wonder if they’re using something extra. Corenswet wanted to set the record straight about his weight gain.

He explained that the 40 pounds he gained from July to November wasn’t all muscle. It was a mix of muscle, water weight, and some body fat — a normal part of bulking. “Over the course of shooting, I have been somewhere between about 25 and 30 pounds up from where I was initially,” he added. He also mentioned how his weight changed with filming. “When you shoot a week of fight sequences in the suit, you just lose weight.”

Corenswet began training during the 2023 actors’ strike. He found a trainer and told them, “I want to get as big as possible within reason.” His daily routine was intense — about two and a half hours in the gym, followed by naps and plenty of sleep at night.

Since Corenswet is naturally on the slimmer side, he had to eat a lot more calories than usual. He said he mostly drank shakes to meet his daily nutrition needs.

After the strike ended, Corenswet moved on to wire training for Superman’s flying scenes. He called it “a very cool art in itself” but said it’s “not intuitive at all.” Flying with wires takes balance because “if you try to fly in the way that you think you will, you won’t look right at all.”

The fight training was simpler since Superman isn’t a martial artist. The focus was on throwing punches and big haymakers. Judging by the latest trailer, where Superman’s punch sends a villain flying, Corenswet’s preparation really paid off.

If you want to share your thoughts on Corenswet’s transformation or the movie, leave a comment below.