James Gunn Reveals Bollywood and Eastern Cinema as the Heartbeat & Inspiration Behind His New ‘Superman’

James Gunn, the writer and director behind the new Superman movie, shared in an interview with HT City how much Bollywood and Eastern cinema inspired him while making the film.

When asked about the growing popularity of superheroes in India and whether he would like to explore Indian mythology or cinema in future superhero projects, Gunn spoke warmly about his connection to Indian fans and the influence of Indian films on his storytelling.

He said, “Well first of all I am incredibly grateful for Indian fans and I talk to you guys all the time online and there’s so many of you obviously and there’s so many fans of Superman who love Superman and he means so much to them and that wasn’t lost to me when I was making this movie, how much he means to people of India.”

He explained how Superman represents someone who cares deeply about everyone and brings people together, adding, “Every life is sacred and he’s somebody who brings us together and makes us more alike than different in every way.”

Gunn also talked about how he treats Superman as a real person, not just a symbol. He said the film takes apart the mythology and iconography of Superman to show who he really is as a human being. The story is not only about a big world-threatening battle but also focuses on Superman’s personal journey, especially his relationships with Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and most importantly, himself.

When the topic of an Indian actor joining the DC Universe came up, Gunn expressed enthusiasm for including heroes and filmmakers from all over the world. “We at DC Studios think that there are heroes all over this world that we can focus on and filmmakers all over the world that could tell their stories within the DCU. Who’s our Indian superhero, and who are Indian filmmakers that want to be a part of this Universe? That’s important to us,” he said.

He mentioned that they have already started talks about potential future projects in countries like Korea, Japan, and Brazil, and would love to collaborate with Indian talent as well.

Gunn gave special praise to Bollywood and Eastern cinema, saying they inspire him a lot. “Bollywood films and Eastern cinema in general are the most important thing to me when I’m telling stories. The thing that those films give to me is that they aren’t afraid of having a movie that has heart, that has drama, but that’s also funny, has music, all of those things are beautiful, and that is what life is, right? Life is all of those things. Life isn’t one genre, and that’s really where I take my inspiration for Superman—from Bollywood movies.”

Superman is set to be a major new chapter in the DC Universe. The film stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman and also features Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and others. It follows Superman’s journey to balance his alien origins with his human family on Earth. The movie draws inspiration from many famous Superman comic books, including All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.

James Gunn took over as co-CEO of DC Studios in late 2022 and began work on this new Superman movie shortly after. The film is part of DC’s fresh start, known as Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. It aims to show a younger version of Superman and focuses on his life as a reporter and his relationships with key characters like Lois Lane.

Filming took place mostly in Atlanta, Georgia, and some locations in Norway and Ohio. The movie is scheduled for release on July 11, 2025, a date that is special to Gunn because it’s the birthday of his late father.

Overall, Gunn’s approach to Superman is unique because of his respect for Indian audiences and his love for Bollywood-style storytelling. He hopes to bring a mix of heart, humor, and drama to the film and looks forward to more diverse voices and heroes in the DC Universe in the future.

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