James Gunn's Superman vs Zack Snyder's Man of Steel: 5 major differences that redefine the legendary DC hero

Zack Snyder
Zack Snyder's Superman vs James Gunn's Superman

Superman has gotten a reboot. This time, he’s trading existential angst for heart, humor, and a lot of hope. James Gunn’s Superman takes a sharp turn from Zack Snyder’s gritty Man of Steel, offering a fresh vision of the iconic hero that feels more classic yet undeniably modern. From tone and temperament to world-building and character arcs, this isn’t just a new movie, it’s a new era.

Here are five major differences that show how Gunn is reshaping Superman for the next generation.

James Gunn gives Superman and Clark Kent equal importance

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Before he’s a hero, before the cape and the headlines, Superman is just Clark, a Kansas boy with a secret and a pen. But you’d barely know that from Man of Steel. Zack Snyder’s 2013 film treats Clark Kent like a shadow, something Superman wears when he isn’t flying through existential crises. We get moody flashbacks of a child burdened by powers, and the adult Clark mostly drifts through the film like a ghost. It’s only in the final scene that he finally shows up at The Daily Planet, glasses on, his identity hidden, as if to say, “Now the story begins.” But by then, we’ve already missed it.

James Gunn isn’t letting that happen. In his Superman, Clark Kent isn’t an accessory; he’s the main event. This version doesn’t just fight villains; he files stories, navigates messy newsroom politics, shares awkward silences with Lois Lane, and tries to stay soft in a world that keeps asking him to be steel. Gunn’s take brings the man back into Superman. He is a kind, clumsy, quietly powerful reporter who believes truth and justice start with listening. And for the first time in a while, we get to watch Clark live, not just save.

James Gunn's Superman is already in love with Lois Lane

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In Man of Steel, Lois Lane and Superman share more secrets than sparks. Their first meeting is wrapped in high-stakes tension, as she tracks down a mysterious figure at an Arctic outpost and uncovers Clark’s alien identity before he even has a proper press pass. While Amy Adams brings strength and smarts to the role, their romance feels more like a narrative checkpoint than an emotional journey. By the end, they're allies with chemistry, but not quite a couple. The actual relationship, the romance, the shared breakfasts, the real stuff, unfolds offscreen, only surfacing in Batman v Superman, where Clark is already buying engagement rings.

James Gunn isn’t skipping the slow burn. In his Superman, Lois and Clark are already dating when the film begins, just a few weeks in, full of awkward flirtation and unspoken vulnerability. They’re both figuring it out in real time, balancing work deadlines with emotional hesitations. It’s messy. It’s grounded. It’s real. The movie leans into their dynamic as a core part of Clark’s humanity. She’s not just the love interest; she’s his tether to the world. And unlike previous iterations, now we get to watch the love story unfold, not just hear about it secondhand.

James Gunn's Superman is more like a human, whereas Snyder's Superman had more of a Godly presence

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Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel introduced a Superman who descended from the skies like a storm, alien, unknowable, and wrapped in a religious metaphor. Henry Cavill’s Kal-El wasn’t just powerful; he was seismic. This Superman hovered above cities, above people, above emotion. He loved, yes, and he sacrificed, but he never quite belonged. His story was a myth told in grayscale, and normalcy was always just out of reach. His humanity? Present, but faint like a flicker behind the cape. Even his death in Batman v Superman felt like a martyrdom, not a human loss.

James Gunn’s Superman pulls Clark Kent back down to Earth quite literally. David Corenswet’s version doesn’t hover above humanity; he walks beside it. He’s a guy who writes articles, checks in on coworkers, and stops mid-mission to rescue a squirrel. Gunn reminds us that Clark may be from Krypton, but he was raised under Earth’s sun, by human hands. And it shows in every choice he makes.

James Gunn's Superman was sent to Earth for a different purpose

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In Man of Steel, Jor-El sends his newborn son to Earth as Krypton crumbles, believing the planet’s yellow sun will empower Kal-El with strength, not just of body, but of spirit. In a soaring message carved into crystal memory, he urges Clark to stand as a symbol, to “give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards” and “help them accomplish wonders.” To Jor-El, Superman isn’t just a survivor of a dying world; he’s the seed of something better, a guiding light for a fractured humanity.

But in Superman, that light flickers. When Lex Luthor breaches the Fortress of Solitude’s ancient system, a buried truth comes to the surface, one even Kal-El had never heard. The final fragment of Jor-El and Lara’s transmission paints a far darker picture: Earth was chosen for its fragility. The plan wasn’t to protect, it was to conquer. The Els believed their son could subdue humanity, spread Kryptonian blood, and rule as the so-called “Last Son of Krypton.” It’s a gut-punch revelation: one that shakes Clark’s foundations and forces him to question everything, his mission, his parents, and the very world he thought he was meant to save.

James Gunn's Superman is more comic-accurate

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James Gunn’s Superman feels like flipping open a classic comic and watching the panels come to life. David Corenswet’s Clark Kent isn’t a tortured god. He’s a farm-raised journalist with a heart as strong as his fists. Gunn draws from the bright optimism of early Superman lore, blending Silver Age charm with modern nuance. Clark saves animals, tries diplomacy before destruction, and yes, he has Krypto the Superdog by his side. It’s a Superman who smiles, stumbles, and still stands tall. This version doesn’t just wear the cape. He earns it, one small act of kindness at a time.

Compared to this, Snyder's Superman was darker and tried to keep its roots in realism. In doing that, it lost some of the comic touch and became a phenomenon of its own. Gunn's Superman stays loyal to the comics and gives us the Superman we have all imagined when we flipped through the colorful comics.

James Gunn's Superman is now in theaters.

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Edited by Debanjana