Watch James Gunn and David Corenswet’s Intense On-Set Debate That Changed Superman’s Climactic Moment
Warner Bros. has released an hour-long making-of feature for James Gunn’s Superman, and one on-set exchange between Gunn and star David Corenswet stands out. The clip shows the pair working through an intense scene during the film’s climactic confrontation, and it offers a clear example of how director and actor can debate performance until they reach the same goal.
- What the documentary covers, including production footage and questions like “Why trunks?”
- The notable moment at around the 48-minute mark where Corenswet and Gunn hash out an emotional scene
- Where to watch the making-of and the film’s home release dates
The making-of and a standout set moment
The documentary, titled Adventures in the Making of Superman, runs about one hour and was published by Warner Bros. ahead of the film’s home video release. It includes behind-the-scenes footage and answers several creative questions such as “Why trunks?”, “Why so much Krypto?”, and “Why does Superman need to be ‘huggable’?”.
The scene at the 48-minute mark
At roughly the 48-minute mark, the feature shows David Corenswet filming the climactic confrontation between Superman and Lex Luthor. In that moment, Corenswet struggles with the dialogue while delivering an emotional monologue about how Luthor’s attacks on him being an alien affect Superman. Director James Gunn and Corenswet then step off set and have a very animated discussion about how Superman should feel there.
Gunn calls it his “favorite moment on set”. During the exchange, Gunn pokes Corenswet in the chest as he explains his interpretation. After a short back-and-forth, Gunn says something that visibly clicks for the actor, and Corenswet’s body language changes to show he understands the new approach. The conversation is a clear example of two collaborators pushing toward the same artistic result.
Where to watch and release details
The making-of feature is available for free on YouTube. The full film, Superman, will hit digital services in North America on Aug. 15. Physical releases — 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD — are scheduled for Sept. 23.
Why it matters
For fans of the film or of Superman generally, the feature gives a detailed look at how a big superhero scene is shaped in real time. Additionally, it exposes the often-necessary creative friction between director and actor, showing that debate on set can be constructive and lead to stronger performances.
