Spoilers Superman (2025) Grade and Discussion

[theenglish]

Superman’s Dark Legacy – When Jor-El Wanted His Son to Rule Earth - Superman Homepage

James Gunn's 2025 "Superman" film has sparked controversy with its revelation that Jor-El and Lara believed their son should conquer Earth, calling its people "simple and profoundly confused; weak of mind, spirit, and body." While this twist has shocked many fans, it's far from the first time...

www.supermanhomepage.com

Here is a nice list of previous versions of Jor- El who wanted his son to rule Earth. I think there are more but it’s a good start.

I was only aware of the two comic book stories. The biggest difference with Byrne's Jor-El and Lara is that they don't order their son to take over the planet--they just don't seem bothered if it were a thing to happen. That leans into the cold and calculating scientist angle.

 

[Tuskin38]

Superman: DC Studios Clarifies Whether Jor-El’s Message To Clark Was Real or Fake

James Gunn has put his foot down on this particular viral DCU fan theory.

thedirect.com

(It's real)

 

[thribs]

I saw the movie again today and noticed a mistake at the beginning. The text scroll says that Superman is the strongest metahuman but Superman isn't one. He's a Kryptonian.
I do think they made Superman a tad too weak in this movie. I get Ultraman is said to be stronger but the others should have been easy for him.

 

[The Realist]

It’s not a mistake. “Metahuman” is whatever Gunn says it is.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I saw the movie again today and noticed a mistake at the beginning. The text scroll says that Superman is the strongest metahuman but Superman isn't one. He's a Kryptonian.
I do think they made Superman a tad too weak in this movie. I get Ultraman is said to be stronger but the others should have been easy for him.

Remember that Klingon bird from the undiscovered country?

CHEKOV: We do believe all planets have a sovereign claim to inalienable human rights.
AZETBUR: Inalien... If only you could hear yourselves? 'Human rights.' Why the very name is racist. The Federation is no more than a 'homo sapiens' only club.
CHANG: Present company excepted, of course.

 

[theenglish]

I saw the movie again today and noticed a mistake at the beginning. The text scroll says that Superman is the strongest metahuman but Superman isn't one. He's a Kryptonian.
I do think they made Superman a tad too weak in this movie. I get Ultraman is said to be stronger but the others should have been easy for him.

His power levels are in line with the Byrne era Superman.

 

[The Realist]

I always find it really exciting when everything is easy for the hero.

 

[JoeZhang]

I can get not liking the change to Jor-El and Lara but "let's just ignore what is on screen and invent a different version with characters who do not exist yet" is certainly a choice...

 

[CorporalCaptain]

As for your second point, you're right, but Superman only interfered in history to save one person, Lois Lane. But, yes, it was a transgression of what Jor-El requested him to do.

I don't want to hijack this thread to discuss the 1978 film, but, after acknowledging that, yes, you're absolutely correct, let me also say that my take was that Superman did additional subterranean repairs to the Earth that stopped Lois's car from getting swallowed up (I mean, at a minimum, he had to that, right?), and those repairs (as well as any others that he also had time to do) might have saved additional lives.

 

[Mudd]

 

[F. King Daniel]

I just realised, we never saw the mutant toes

 

[Dick Whitman]

It’s not a mistake. “Metahuman” is whatever Gunn says it is.

Exactly. Let’s not forget what the term Metahuman came from - it’s just a variation on the term Superhuman. Where did that come from - Superman himself. The whole genre sprung from one specific character.

I would have said this 30 years ago but it’s very fitting to this specific movie too. Superman is a man. He is a man who can do extraordinary, GOOD things in theatrical costume. The alien backstory was in place from 1938. But if you read the original comics it was just a backstory that had no influence on the character or stories. It was just an explanation of how he could do super things. It would stay that way until at least 1949 when he first encountered Kryptonite and learned he was an alien. Think about that! The character lasted over a decade Before that was explored at all. That is the character that became a world wide phenomenon. A good guy in a circus suit who could perform magic like feats. I think if the character had debuted as Superalien, which some versions put too much emphasis on, it never would have been as popular.

Superman is the original Metahuman. Regardless of the origins of his DNA he is very much a man.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I just realised, we never saw the mutant toes

That is for the kinky adult rated HBOMAX Jimmy Olsen series.

 

[Mudd]

Jimmy Olsen and Mr. Terrific would be the perfect DC buddy comedy.

 

[Dick Whitman]

That is for the kinky adult rated HBOMAX Jimmy Olsen series.

How could I have missed this -
directed by Quentin Tarantino.

 

[Noname Given]

Superman’s Dark Legacy – When Jor-El Wanted His Son to Rule Earth - Superman Homepage

James Gunn's 2025 "Superman" film has sparked controversy with its revelation that Jor-El and Lara believed their son should conquer Earth, calling its people "simple and profoundly confused; weak of mind, spirit, and body." While this twist has shocked many fans, it's far from the first time...

www.supermanhomepage.com

Here is a nice list of previous versions of Jor- El who wanted his son to rule Earth. I think there are more but it’s a good start.

Intersting he doesn't mention the Brightburn film, and that James Gunn produced it.
(Yes, I know it's technically not a direct Superman film; but it's a real take on similar material and the film's connection to the Supermanmythos is/was intended and obvious.)

 

[matthunter]

Too right. I don't understand how such a pure and hopeful character like Superman could have such vitriolic supporters.

Next up: Jesus and the Christians!!

 

[rocketscientist]

Superman: DC Studios Clarifies Whether Jor-El’s Message To Clark Was Real or Fake

James Gunn has put his foot down on this particular viral DCU fan theory.

thedirect.com

(It's real)

Oh, well, I guess that's the last word on that. : (

With that lack of humanity shown, maybe this version of Jor-El and Lara are more in line with, or inspired, by Byrne's post-Crisis Man of Steel version. That was a culture that had largely lost its humanity and was stagnating. Jor-El thought that they'd lost something and felt protective of their son and wanted him to live and keep the Kryptonian culture alive. Lara, IIRC, showed disgust and alarm at the decision to send him to earth, but Jor-El persuaded her that that was Kal-El's best chance to survive. They also included a holographic AI of Jor-El to pass along Kryptonian knowledge, values, etc., to Kal-El.

The central idea of Byrne's redefinition was always that Superman's values and spirit were shaped by his foster parents and not his Kryptonian ones, which just gave him the power. Krypton is a cold, advanced, and stagnant place, while earth is human, both good and bad, and living. That's in-line with what Gunn has in his film and I get it. It worked well for the movie.

 

[Riley]

As a reader and fan of Superman comics for decades, I was ultimately disappointed by this film. The best thing it has going for it is the cast, which I felt did a great job with a very weak script and not the best director.

That brings me to my biggest issue. I believe that a filmmaker has a responsibility to faithfully adapt a character or story that is considered modern myth. For the bulk of 87 years, one of the core elements of Superman's character has been that he is a man of two worlds, the product of the best of Krypton and the best of Earth. Because a film will be seen by millions more people than a comic book will, a film should be faithful to the core elements of a character, especially a new take for a new generation. Gunn said in an interview that he made the change because he need to give Superman a "personal crisis." Anyone with an ounce of imagination and half an ounce of knowledge of Superman and his mythos could have found a dozen different ways to do the same thing. Gunn just wanted to deconstruct Superman and, like Snyder, he did it by altering one set of parents.

I feel bad for the cast but also for people who are new to Superman, because what they're getting is a caricature devoid of the richness that his Kryptonian heritage provides. It's fine for an animated series that relatively few will see, but not for a major film reintroducing the character after over a decade. Even John Byrne kept Jor-El a noble and good man and Superman later developed more appreciation for his Kryptonian heritage in later comics.

 

[fireproof78]

Could not audiences watch other films or read comics?

Like, I know humans are lazy but damn if I don't see people watching more of things after watching a film, not less. So they can see multiple versions and it's odd to me to lament something that may not happen.

I feel bad for the cast but also for people who are new to Superman, because what they're getting is a caricature devoid of the richness that his Kryptonian heritage provides.