Superman director James Gunn has defended his decision to include the titular superhero's iconic red trunks.
The upcoming film will mark the first to be released as part of the new extended DC Universe, starring David Corenswet in the role of Clark Kent/Superman opposite Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.
While Superman's red trunks have long been a signature element of his costume, Zack Snyder famously strayed from tradition and got rid of them for Henry Cavill's tenure as the character.
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However, the garment will return in Gunn's Superman, which was a decision influenced by the new Man of Steel himself.
"We were trying on all these different versions, and we screen-tested with trunks and no trunks. And one of the things David said is that Superman wants kids to not be afraid of him," Gunn explained to Gizmodo.
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"He’s an alien. He’s got these incredible powers. He shoots beams out of his eyes… He’s this incredibly powerful, could be considered scary, individual and he wants people to like him."
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The filmmaker and DC Studios co-CEO continued: "He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity. So he dresses like a professional wrestler.
"He dresses in a way that makes people unafraid of him, that shows that hope that shows that positivity. And that really clicked in for me.
"And I think trying to pretend that Superman’s costume doesn’t have some frivolity to it at its base, trying to make it look serious, is silly because he is a superhero. He’s the first one, brightly coloured and that’s who he is!"
The cast of Superman also includes Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, Wendell Pierce as Perry White and Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent.
Superman will be released in cinemas on July 11, 2025.
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
