ALL-STAR SUPERMAN Writer Grant Morrison Unveils Concerns About James Gunn's Superman Reboot and Jor-El Twist
Renowned comic book writer Grant Morrison, known for his work on All-Star Superman, has shared his thoughts on James Gunn's take on the iconic superhero, Superman. While he praised the film's overall approach, Morrison expressed some reservations, particularly regarding the Jor-El twist and the character's perceived fragility.
James Gunn's Superman, released in July 2025, received positive reviews and grossed over $615 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing superhero movie of the year. Gunn's interpretation of the character was heavily influenced by Morrison's work, as well as Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman. Morrison has explored various versions of Superman in his career, including in Action Comics and Superman and The Authority.
Despite giving the film his stamp of approval, Morrison revealed in an interview with Half the Picture that he had some reservations. He mentioned, 'I had a few things I didn't like about it. [James] made specific choices that were understandable for dramatic reasons... to make him more relatable, he had him getting beaten up a lot.'
This version of Superman indeed endured numerous beatings, appearing significantly less powerful than in other interpretations. Gunn's intention was to make the character more relatable by showcasing his vulnerability. However, Morrison expressed a desire to see Superman fight back and stop being consistently victimized.
One of the most controversial aspects of the film was the revelation that Jor-El and Lara sent their son, Kal-El, to Earth with the intention of him conquering the planet and forming a harem. Morrison, a comic book enthusiast, was not a fan of this twist but acknowledged its effectiveness within the narrative. He explained, 'I didn't like it because I prefer the idea that Krypton was a lost utopia. I like the notion that there was something extraordinary, and its destruction was due to their own lack of attention to detail.'
Morrison also found the portrayal of Superman's morality to be somewhat fragile, especially in Kal-El's interpretation of his parents' message before the truth was revealed. He described it as 'wish-fulfilment bullshit.'
Despite his concerns about Clark Kent's fragility in certain scenes, Morrison was pleased to see Superman's strength and resilience during his speech to Lex Luthor after the final battle. He noted, 'They put him in a position where I was concerned that he would break down, lose his compass. The fact that he didn't was just nice to see.'
With the DCU introduction complete, Superman is set to take center stage in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow movie, scheduled for release next summer. However, he will be sharing the spotlight with Lex Luthor, a character Gunn plans to portray in a heroic light for this team-up.
Man of Tomorrow, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag, Sr., is set to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027. Rumors suggest that Aaron Pierre's John Stewart/Green Lantern and John Cena's Peacemaker will also be featured.
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