James Gunn has shared one of the most fascinating moments from the making of Superman, giving fans a front row seat to an intense but constructive debate with star David Corenswet.
The scene, featured in the behind-the-scenes documentary The Adventures in Making Superman, captures the pair clashing over how Superman should deliver his climactic speech to Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult.
The nearly seven-minute exchange isn’t heated for the sake of drama. Instead, it highlights how both director and actor fought to make the moment authentic. Gunn pushed for Superman to show visible hurt when Luthor calls him a “piece of shit alien,” while Corenswet argued that the character had already reached peace with himself after Pa Kent’s pep talk. For Corenswet, with his theater background, every word needed to feel justified. “I need it to make sense,” he explained, wanting Superman’s declaration of humanity to come from certainty, not insecurity.
Gunn countered that the vulnerability itself was the point: Superman had to show that being wounded was not weakness but strength. He even poked Corenswet in the chest to drive it home: “Your feelings about feeling bad are OK. To talk about being vulnerable, you have to be vulnerable.” That unlocked the performance Gunn was chasing, and Corenswet quickly delivered a take that satisfied both of them.
For audiences, the payoff was clear-Superman’s final words carried raw emotion that connected with viewers. Gunn later praised Corenswet for challenging him, saying it only made the film stronger. “There’s a reason why he’s asking all these questions. Because it makes it better,” Gunn explained.
Whether you see the debate as genuine creative passion or clever publicity, it’s a rare reminder that even the biggest blockbusters come down to artists arguing about how best to tell a story. Alongside this feature, the digital release also comes with animated shorts starring Superman’s loyal dog, Krypto, giving fans a mix of heart, drama, and a little fun.