James Gunn Says New Superman Movie Was Inspired by Tokusatsu and ‘Godzilla Minus One’

James Gunn, the writer and director of the upcoming Superman movie and co-head of DC Studios, shared in a recent online interview that the film was inspired by Japanese special effects, also known as “tokusatsu.”

Gunn has always been a fan of Japanese heroes like Ultraman. He grew up watching the series and even called Ultraman “the father of superhero movies.” At the 2017 Tokyo International Film Festival, he showed his love for the genre by posing with Ultraman and the alien Baltan.

He also once tweeted, “Do I like Kamen Rider? I don’t just like it—I love it!” when the series started trending in the U.S.

The trailer for Superman shows a massive Kaiju attacking the city and breathing fire at Superman. It looks like something straight out of a Japanese monster show. Gunn confirmed that this monster was influenced by tokusatsu. “We were definitely inspired by special effects shows,” he said. “I wanted to mix big monsters, robots, flying dogs, and superheroes together.”

He also talked about Godzilla Minus One, a recent Japanese film that got strong reviews around the world. Gunn said, “Movies like ‘Godzilla Minus One’ have amazing monster scenes, but they also tell deep human stories. That’s what I’m aiming for.” He explained that even though the new Superman movie has wild things like Krypto and other heroes, the real focus is on the people. “It’s about Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor. Their relationships are the heart of the film,” Gunn said.

He doesn’t want to change Superman into something new, though. Instead, he wants to bring back the classic version. “I’m showing the Superman that people have always known—kind, caring, hopeful. Someone who values life,” he explained. But he also pointed out that Superman’s world has changed. “That kind of goodness isn’t always respected anymore. The world he lives in is like ours now,” Gunn said.

Superman will be released in both Japan and the U.S. on Friday, July 11.

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