Summary
James Gunn is knee-deep in production on the newSupermanmovie, slated to release in July 2025. This new movie is set to kick-off the all newDC cinematic universe, which really needs an official name, not just with a new cast of actors. With this new slate of interconnected movies, James Gunn has a real chance to do something the MCU has ultimately shied away from since Tony Stark uttered the words, “I am Iron Man” in 2008. Alter egos.
Alter egos are the bedrock of comic books. While they might seem kind of silly to general audiences today, it was difficult to find a comic book character who didn’t have a secret identity back in the ’30s and onward. There have been set photos that showCorenswet’s Superman walking around Metropolis as Clark Kent, meaning his Clark will likely have more screen time than Henry Cavill’s Clark did. It’s a minor detail, but this could be the very thing that can set DC’s new cinematic universe apart from the MCU.
MCU Doesn’t Concern Itself With Alter Egos
Other than Peter Parker and Matt Murdock, nobody else in the MCU concerns themselves with hiding their true identity while fighting crime. This is a common plotline in comic books that some could argue is exhausting and repetitive, but it definitely makes for some good stories. Even Tony Stark didn’t let the general public know he was Iron Man in his earliest comics.
Granted, it would be difficult for many of the MCU heroes to keep their super-identities under wraps. The Avengers, for example, are a public team who people followed before they were on the team. Captain America was a scientific breakthrough for the military with his origins highly publcized. The Hulk was a freak accident who the military hunted down, warning American citizens that Banner was a dangerous individual. The only real team members who could have and should have kept their identities a secret were Clint and Natasha,being covert operatives for S.H.I.E.L.D.
After the MCU’s first phase, and until Spider-Man joined, the filmmakers just did away with the idea of alter egos. Yes, there was Daredevil, but untilSpider-Man: No Way Home, he wasn’t really a part of the MCU. Not keeping their true identities a secret has worked well for the MCU. But James Gunn has a chance to do something different with his DCU cinematic universe.
Alter Egos Could Set the DCU Apart From DCEU and MCU
Fans watching Superman struggle to balance his crime fighting from his personal life where he’s, presumably, kindling a relationship with Lois Lane and progressing his career as an investigative journalist will be a refreshing contrast to the MCU. It will give the DCU a slew of new storylines to tackle. It could also serve to really show what makes the DC characters different their Marvel counterparts.
Yes, Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne kept their alter egos a secret from therest of the world in the DCEU, but there wasn’t an emphasis on it in any way. Cavill’s portrayal of Clark wasn’t much different than the way he played Superman. Afleck didn’t have enough of a chance to show what he could do with Bruce Wayne besides a relatively short scene at a party inBatman v Superman.
More intriguingly, seeing a character as powerful as Superman not take the easy route by always using his powers or snap like Homelander fromThe Boyscan be inspiring. Ultimately, the audience needs to see that these characters can’t always be superheroes.
Why the Alter Ego is Important
Alter egos aren’t only meant to protect the superheroes themselves from surprise attacks at their home–asaudiences saw inIron Man 3. The original idea behind alter egos was to protect a hero’s family and friends. The comics have done an excellent job showing what happens when a villain knows a superhero’s true identity. Gwen Stacy or Mary Jane end up dangling from a roof or the hero’s secret lair is assaulted by their arch-nemesis. More importantly, the alter ego shows a different side of the character.
Take Tony Stark, for example. There’s no distinction between him and Iron Man in the MCU. The same can be said about Steven Rogers/Captain America. They behave the same in and out of costume. Meanwhile, Superman and Clark Kent are completely separate characters entirely along with Batman and Bruce Wayne. Their demeanors are drastically different from their public persona.
Seeing Clark set the cape aside or Bruce strip off the cowl makes these characters human for the audience. They relax and have downtime just like real people. They can’t be all business all the time.Peter Parker living his lifeas a high school student trying to get into a good college makes him relatable, which is what audiences need. Yes, they want to see these god-like characters perform fantastical feats, but they also want to see that these characters aren’t too different from them, that the audience is also capable of being real life superhero.
Superman
Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.' rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill’s departure from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.”
