James Gunn Explains Why He Made Superman Weaker in the New DC Universe
James Gunn has explained why he didn’t want Superman to be “all-powerful” in his new DC Universe film. This idea has made fans wonder if Green Arrow might be joining the DCU soon.
Right now, Superman is showing in theaters across the U.S. Directed and written by Gunn himself, the movie stars David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. It’s an important film for the new DCU, which Gunn and producer Peter Safran are working hard to build.
Their new version of the DC Universe actually started last year, in December 2024, when the animated series Creature Commandos was released. Superman is the first big movie in this reboot.
Fans won’t have to wait too long for more stories, though, as Peacemaker Season 2 is next in line. Other projects like Lanterns, Supergirl, and Clayface are planned for 2026.
Speaking to CBS Mornings, Gunn talked about why he decided to make Superman less powerful. He said he didn’t want Superman to feel like a hero who could solve every problem easily. For Gunn, giving Superman too much strength would make other characters feel useless.
In his own words, “There are some writers in the comics, like Grant Morrison, who took the idea of the all-powerful Superman and told great stories with it,” Gunn said. “But, for me, yes. As a child, the reason I liked Batman better than Superman was because Superman was just too strong at times. We’re building a whole universe of characters. I didn’t want to have one guy who was so much stronger than anybody else that a guy with a bow and arrow didn’t matter.”
This quote has led to even more speculation among fans. Many people now believe that Green Arrow, also known as Oliver Queen, will show up in Gunn’s DCU sooner rather than later. Gunn didn’t confirm that Green Arrow is coming, but mentioning “a guy with a bow and arrow” felt like a big hint.
Gunn has explained before why he wanted Superman to have clear limits in his film. This is a big change from past Superman movies. Henry Cavill’s Superman in the DCEU, for example, seemed nearly unstoppable.
Going even further back, Christopher Reeve’s version in the classic films was powerful enough to reverse time by spinning the Earth backwards. Gunn clearly doesn’t want to tell that kind of story.
Instead, he said that making Superman a bit weaker was his plan from the start. It’s not just about telling a better Superman story. Gunn wants to build a world where all the heroes matter.
“We’re creating a whole universe now, so what’s a girl with wings gonna do in the face of that? So he’s a little less powerful. Guy Gardner’s pretty f**** powerful. They’re all pretty powerful,”* he explained in the interview.
With Superman doing well in theaters, fans are now turning their attention to what comes next. Whether Green Arrow will appear in a future project is still unknown, but Gunn’s latest comments suggest that every hero, no matter how small their powers, will have a place in his DC Universe.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
