Superman: Legacy is less than two years away. Though there’s no exact date for the first James Gunn DCU film, there’s been much buzz and chatter about the first solo Superman film in twelve years. That’s because a good portion of the cast has been revealed; most notably, David Corenswet has been confirmed as Superman and Rachel Brosnahan is the new Lois Lane. However, those aren’t the only big names in the upcoming Superman project.
Nicholas Hoult (as Lex Luthor), Skyler Gisondo (as Jimmy Olsen), Isabela Merced (as Hawkgirl), Edi Gathegi (as Mister Terrific), Nathan Fillion (as Guy Gardner), Anthony Carrigan (as Metamorpho), Maria Gabriela de Faria (as The Engineer), and Sara Sampaio (as Eve Teschmacher). That’s a huge cast of well-known heroes and villains in the upcoming DCU film. James Gunn has proved with Guardians of the Galaxy, Peacemaker, and The Suicide Squad that he knows how to make a superhero film. Still, there’s a concern with Superman: Legacy that it could end up being another disappointment for DC live-action films.
Superman: Legacy Appears Jam Packed With Other Popular DC Names
James Gunn has proven that he knows how to write an ensemble cast. The Suicide Squad was packed to the gills with different heroes and villains, yet it never felt overcrowded. The filmmaker tapped into what made these men and women special and told an excellent story that boosted their characters and personalities. The same thing can be said about Guardians of the Galaxy, in which Gunn made a talking raccoon and tree work! But the difference with Superman: Legacy is that most of the announced characters appearing in the project are reported to play a crucial role in the DCU.
It’s been nearly 20 years since audiences were treated to a live-action Green Lantern, so it feels like a mistake for his return to be as a supporting character in a film that has nothing to do with him. Gunn has confirmed a DC series called Lanterns; it would’ve been much better if that was the first introduction of Guy Gardner. Putting Green Lantern into this film feels reminiscent of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Superman: Legacy seems like a film that’s more focused on the future than on Superman: Legacy. That was TAS2‘s biggest issue. Of course, it would be foolish to make pre-judgments about a film that hasn’t even been shot yet, but the overcrowded Superman: Legacy is quite concerning.
Some names will be short-changed because the film can’t focus on everyone. That could mean lackluster debuts that kill the momentum of future projects like Lanterns or The Authority.
Lex Luther Is The Villain Again?
I understand that Lex Luther is a big name in the Superman universe. However, the DC villain has been featured as the primary villain in two live-action shows (Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Smallville) and five films (Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Superman Returns, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice); Luthor being the primary villain feels like a tired rehash.
Superman has so many great villains; Brainiac, Parasite, and Darkseid are just a few names. Why not focus on a new villain to make the DCU feel fresh? There are only so many stories you can tell about an eccentric businessman looking to destroy the Justice League. There’s so much lore that Gunn can capitalize on with other villains. Plus, Gunn has a knack for tackling more of the weirder villains like Starro, so it’s disappointing that he didn’t opt to try and spin Superman: Legacy in a new direction.
Does this mean that the film is doomed? No. In fact, Gunn’s version of Lex Luther can turn out to be brilliant, but it’s just a shame that he didn’t go for the lesser-known villains who are just as compelling as Luther.
Superman: Legacy May Be Coming Out Too Soon
Superhero fatigue is real and we’re currently in the middle of it. Perhaps the biggest mistake here is that Warner Brothers Discovery didn’t give the film some time to breathe. This is the third reboot of the DCU, and it’s alarming that the last film to make over $500 million was Aquaman. The superhero genre will never disappear, but it’s now been proven that too much has flooded the market.
Granted, the overwhelming content has been mainly mediocre, but it would genuinely do DC some good if they stray away from the superhero stuff for at least five years. It’s not expected that Superman: Legacy will make a billion dollars immediately. But it’s possible that Superman: Legacy can still turn out to be a flop even if it’s an excellent film. The Suicide Squad, Blue Beetle, and Shazam! were all greeted with excellent reviews from critics and fans, yet these films made less than $400 million. Hopefully Superman: Legacy turns out to be the film that kickstarts the brand in a positive direction, even with the concerns listed here.
Follow Us
