Superman’s Authentic Physique Breaks Superhero Movie Mold

The DCU bucked the trend with Superman, as the titular hero was devoid of any fake sculpted muscles or shredded abs, and the results speak for themselves. Superman has been a huge success, triumphantly launching the DCU and setting the nascent franchise in good standing as Supergirl now looks to carry the torch.

Superman certainly took some bold risks. Following the demise of the DCEU, it was under immense pressure to lead the charge as DC Studios ventured down a new path, leaving beloved contributors to the erstwhile franchise, like Henry Cavill, in its wake. It became swiftly apparent that the franchise would strike a decidedly different tone.

Superman’s ever-anticipated costume reveal then stoked a firestorm online as fans debated its merits and shortfalls. David Corenswet, who was fresher-faced than Henry Cavill, was depicted wearing a far more vibrant costume than his Man of Steel predecessor. The costume’s shape was also entirely distinct, as visible creases and folds flew in the face of Cavill’s skin-tight getup.

Needless to say, this was a stark departure from established precedent, but it also telegraphed in one image what audiences could expect from the upcoming Superman movie. Now that Superman has landed with such a flourish, I think it is safe to say that the costume situation was expertly handled for several reasons.

James Gunn’s Superman Movie Costume Rejected A Sculpted Muscle Suit

Superman’s costume designer, Judianna Makovsky, worked closely with James Gunn to deliver on their vision for the DCU’s Superman. When speaking about David Corenswet’s costume, Makovsky stressed (via Grazia) that the two had resolved to steer clear of past precedent where Superman’s muscles, like many superheroes, are practically fighting to break free of his suit. She stated:

“We didn’t want the fake, molded muscles…James [Gunn] said from day one — it’s a uniform. Clark puts it on like someone going to work.”

Part of the aim was to ensure that Superman feels as approachable as possible, leaning into the humanity that comes to define one of Superman’s main throughlines. A similar justification was used for Superman’s trunks in the movie, which David Corenswet insisted would make him less intimidating to children.

The move challenges a long-established paradigm in the superhero movie genre. While many superhero movie actors get shredded for their roles, they are often still bedecked in full-body suits that accentuate their physiques, making them contrast with the average, non-superpowered human as starkly as possible.

Henry Cavill is no different. Although he was famously well-built enough to appear in shirtless scenes in Man of Steel and beyond, his very real physique required extra padding to allow him to both move freely and appear as muscular as possible. Nevertheless, James Gunn and David Corenswet had deeper reasons to shy away from a ripped physique.

David Corenswet’s Physical Superman Transformation Didn’t Include Shredded Abs

It isn’t as if David Coresnwet didn’t undergo a similar physical transformation to his predecessor. Like most superhero movie actors, he also bulked up significantly ahead of his debut in Superman. The results of his training were posted to social media by his personal trainer, Paolo Mascitti, around the same time as his costume was revealed.

Nevertheless, it is accurate to say that Corenswet’s newfound physique is difficult to discern beneath his Superman costume. When asked in an interview with Geek Culture whether this disappointed him, however, Corenswet rejected the notion, stating that his muscle gain was always intended to make him more approachable and easier to hug, stating:

“I’m so glad you asked this because I’ve been told that there are people who are upset about that. I love my suit. I mean, we grew together. I grew into it…and it sort of grew around me as it came together.

“My point with my physical transformation, which was essentially just gaining about 35 pounds…of muscle but also some other things… James and I both agreed for this version of Superman, we didn’t want to do the classic superhero shredded abs, veins, just that really harsh, hard look for a superhero, which is an amazing look and really difficult to achieve.

“We were looking more for the approachable, farm boy, big guy, big presence. You know when he walks in the room. But when you give him a hug, it’s very comfortable. You’re not getting grated on or, you know, feeling like you’re hugging a steel shipping crate. You’re, like, hugging…it’s the best kind of hug from a big guy.

“My brother-in-law is 6’8″ and 275 pounds, and, boy, does he just give the best hugs. So that’s what we were focused on and I think that suit matches with that priority really, really well.”

This approach directly contrasts with most other modern superhero movies. A recent example includes Deadpool & Wolverine, where the titular Wolverine’s physique became a central focus (quite literally, at one point) of Wolverine’s characterization.

In fact, most MCU movies see their stars gearing up for a shirtless scene in which their shredded physiques can be flaunted. This is even the case for characters that aren’t necessarily synonymous with their athleticism, like Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. Instead, Superman feels like a breath of fresh air.

Superman Is Forging A New And Important Path For Superhero Movies

In the same way that Wolverine’s physique reflects his hard and unapproachable persona, Superman’s conveys the opposite. As Corenswet insists, the intention was for Superman to feel approachable and human, and his physique (or, at least, the suit it’s behind) became the literal embodiment of that characterization.

Superman hinges on the notion that Superman is a human at heart, despite hailing from another planet. This is encapsulated in his monologue when confronting Lex Luthor, where he argues against his arch-rival’s xenophobic accusations by insisting that he, too, makes mistakes and strives to do the best he can.

In terms of characterization, it feels as though Superman is treading new ground. Superman’s physicality reflects his personality more closely and adds a layer to the character that is overlooked when most superhero physiques are essentially homogeneous.

It would therefore make more sense for the DCU’s rendition of Batman, a distinctly human character who obsessively strives for peak potential at the expense of approachability, to be the most musclebound of the DCU’s Justice League. With Superman’s costume, Superman has now set a precedent that I hope future DCU installments follow.