James Gunn Posts Emotional On-Set Debate with David Corenswet Over Superman Speech

In a rare and fascinating glimpse into the filmmaking process, director James Gunn recently posted a clip from the making-of documentary for his film Superman. The video, which has since gone viral, reveals an intense but ultimately emotional on-set debate between Gunn and his star, David Corenswet.

The revealing clip offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative tension between a director’s vision and an actor’s craft, culminating in a powerful and tear-jerking performance.

The Creative Clash: Passion vs. Vulnerability

The scene in question is Superman’s climactic monologue to Lex Luthor, after the villain calls him a “piece of shit alien!” While directing, James Gunn kept pushing Corenswet to deliver a more intense and emotional performance. However, Corenswet, who has a background in theater, was struggling with the motivation behind the raw emotion.

“I need it to make sense. I need to know what I’m trying to do,” Corenswet explained in the documentary, expressing his confusion over why Superman would still be so hurt by Lex’s words after an earlier conversation with his adopted father, Pa Kent, provided him with a new sense of identity. Corenswet felt that yelling at Lex would make him seem weak and as if he was still “trying to prove” his humanity.

Why Superman’s Vulnerability Matters to James Gunn

From his position behind the monitors, James Gunn passionately defended his directorial choice. He explained that Superman’s vulnerability in that moment was precisely the point.

“It’s the moment of you acknowledging your own weakness, your own hurt feelings, so that everyone that hears Superman knows that that’s OK for all of us to feel that way,” Gunn replied. “And it’s not OK for the Lex Luthors of the world to be telling us we shouldn’t feel this way.”

This emphasis on a hero’s humanity and emotional core is a hallmark of James Gunn‘s directorial style, which has earned him critical acclaim for his work on projects like Guardians of the Galaxy. In those films, he consistently brought a relatable, emotional depth to his characters, and he was determined to do the same with the iconic Man of Steel.

The Emotional Breakthrough

After a few minutes of respectful but direct back-and-forth, Corenswet walked off-set to speak with Gunn directly. The director listened intently before physically and verbally driving his point home, jabbing his fingers into Corenswet’s chest as he explained, “It’s not wrong for you to feel that way… for you to talk about how it’s OK to be vulnerable, you have to be vulnerable, which means showing Lex that your fucking feelings are hurt.”

The message finally clicked for Corenswet. He charged back to the set and delivered the speech with all the hurt and vulnerability James Gunn was pushing for, delivering a performance so powerful it brought Gunn and DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran to tears.

“There’s no anger in any of this at all,” Gunn said later, reflecting on the exchange. “There’s a reason why he’s asking all these questions. Because it makes it better.” The emotional clip provides a rare glimpse into the collaborative yet challenging process of bringing a superhero to life, all under the passionate leadership of James Gunn.