James Gunn Tells Superman Fans They’re ‘Sh*t Out of Luck’ on Jor-El

by

It’s fair to say that opinions about James Gunn‘s Superman film have varied greatly, yet there appears to be a strong consensus among fans regarding one particular aspect – the alteration of Jor-El. Many viewers, including Kevin Smith, have expressed their dislike for this change.

I’ve been uncertain about it, as I had hoped that the decision to alter Jor-El wasn’t final. Some fans speculate that perhaps Brainiac was the one who made the changes instead.

What does James Gunn’ say about Jor-El in Superman?

In a recent chat with Rolling Stone regarding Superman, James Gunn reiterated his stance on the film’s message, even stating emphatically to fans that they may be disappointed: “I’m afraid they’ll find themselves at a loss!

Gunn additionally argues that the comics could be a reason, but there’s more than a century’s worth of comic books, and simply because something might appear in them doesn’t make it acceptable. There’s certainly a lot of poor-quality content in those comics. Therefore, the argument “it’s from the comics” isn’t very convincing (the last decade or so of comics has been subpar).

Additionally, Gunn argues that excluding the Jor-El element from the film might have impeded Superman’s emotional development, since it wouldn’t have portrayed the David Corenset version of Superman as relatable or human.

In a surprising twist, it’s quite amusing to witness this portrayal of Superman, as he seemingly struggles throughout the film, even when compared to a canine. Remarkably, this Superman displays emotions more human than superhuman, shedding tears and pouting like an infant. It seems that Gunn has successfully humanized him in a way we never thought possible. And let’s not forget, this Superman was nurtured by the Kents for three decades. One can’t help but wonder if their influence on him had no part to play in his superhero abilities, only for those to surface when Superman came to terms with Jor-El and Lara being less than admirable characters?

Indeed, it was that garbled, 30-second message from his Kryptonian parents that ultimately transformed Clark Kent into the mighty Superman, as Gunn suggests.

In the heart of every movie enthusiast, this film resonates deeply. The essence lies in Superman’s belief that his actions are ordained by destiny, a mission instilled in him by his Kryptonian parents. Yet, as the story unfolds, he uncovers an unexpected truth: his motivations aren’t driven by someone else, but by himself, through the profound love shown by the people who become his earthly family. It’s a poignant exploration of self-accountability, where Superman realizes that his moral compass isn’t guided by an external entity, but by his own decisions. Truly, this aspect of the story is captivating in its depth and authenticity. I wouldn’t dream of altering it.

Additionally, Gunn expresses that he doesn’t believe Jor-El is wicked. Essentially, Jor-El advised his son to take whatever actions are necessary in order to prosper and increase in number.

I wouldn’t categorize Jor-El and Lara as completely wicked. Instead, they view humans as inferior to themselves, much like sea turtles might be viewed by us. Essentially, their actions are driven by a desire to preserve Kryptonian genetics.

What about Supergirl?

It’s not over yet since the end of “Superman” features a cameo from Supergirl. So, what does this mean for Superman’s cousin who was brought up by Kryptonians instead? Well, according to Gunn, Supergirl is clueless about it all, chuckle!

It seems you’re suggesting everyone from Krypton is identical, which might not be accurate since he could have unique characteristics. Moreover, given her youth, she likely hasn’t had the opportunity to meet or learn about his family.

Supergirl’s parents are already cast for the Supergirl movie.

Gunn mentioned that Supergirl spent the initial fourteen years of her life on a fragment of Krypton which separated from the main planet.

In other words, it’s possible that she was brought up in a challenging environment (similar to the “awful situation” mentioned) and left on Earth after her parents died, or they perished when Krypton was destroyed. Regardless of the circumstances, she grew up with Kryptonian heritage, correct? Additionally, according to Silver Age comic book lore, her father arranged for her to be raised by Superman on Earth.

Gunn stated, “She witnessed everyone nearby perish.” He continued, “This makes her a tougher and significantly more disturbed version of Supergirl than what you’re accustomed to so far.

Gunn’s interpretation of Supergirl is based on Tom King’s “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”. Unlike the traditional origin, Zor-El, Supergirl’s father in this version, has a complex relationship with his brother Jor-El, viewing him as a fool (which might be where Gunn derived this idea). Despite this, Zor-El recalls Jor-El’s concept of the spaceship, since they were both scientists. He then constructs a ship for Kara and sends her off into space.

It seems, based on Gunn’s account, that the Kryptonians Supergirl was raised with didn’t hold the same values as Jor-El. This means that if Jor-El had sent her off with instructions to reproduce and populate wherever she went, he likely wouldn’t have emphasized this, given the differences in their upbringing. If Zor-El was present during these times, it appears he never spoke of his brother or his powerful nephew who escaped Krypton, possibly because he wasn’t aware of their existence. As for Supergirl and Krypto, since Krypto belongs to Superman in the comics (which may not be relevant now), it’s unclear how they came to know about Superman.

Tom King (and possibly Gunn) suggest that the meeting between Supergirl and Superman is merely a coincidence. Instead of Zor-El sending his daughter to Earth for adoption by Superman, it’s implied that it was sheer chance that led Supergirl’s spaceship to land on Earth as well. This explanation suggests that among the countless stars in the universe, it just so happened that Supergirl’s ship landed on Earth too.

DCU already sounds like a big mess

I don’t even know what to make of it all.

It seems everything here is quite disorganized! Touching on Jor-El was unnecessary, and omitting that plot twist doesn’t affect the film’s storyline at all. I can only hope this topic isn’t discussed further in the future.

Read More

2025-07-21 14:31