In the lead-up to James Gunn’s Superman, I’m writing a series of short essays about what I think are the important things I feel ought to be in a Superman movie. Or at least, this one. Not every Supe movie needs Luthor, but he’s in this one so I’m going to write about Lex.
I will be informed by what we’ve already seen pre-release, by past Superman depictions on film, and my knowledge (decent, but not extensive) of Superman in the comics. I post these here for your reading entertainment (Avocado can be thin for content I find sometimes) and invite anyone interested to add their thoughts. All predictions are just that: I could be wrong about any or all things, and my opinion is solely mine, though I’m going to try and keep my thoughts in third person.
My hope is to have these up every weekend, with the following topics:
- Lois and Clark
- Lex Luthor
- The Kents
- The Justice League Gang
- “Look Up”
So, without further ado: Up, up and away!
It would be very hard to exaggerate the importance of the relationship of Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane, to a Superman story. It is THE comic book romance and partnership. Okay: Jean and Scott; Pete and MJ; Steve and Peggy? Sure, all great. But Lois and Supe’s history goes back 87 years, all the way to Action Comics 1.
On screens both large and small the chemistry and relationship between these two has been critical to the emotional resonance of the movies. This has been just one of the factors led to the disappointments that were Superman Returns and Man of Steel. In neither case was there a proper connection, either romantic or professional, between the two leads, despite the acting talents of those involved.
The 1978 Superman, in contrast, has electric chemistry between Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, and it’s one of the real strengths of Donner’s film.
Wish I had a gif of that second one. Send me one and I’ll be a grateful man.
The details of the relationship in Gunn’s Superman have slowly come to light: The first teaser showed Lois kissing Clark both in his civvies and superhero outfit, suggesting both that she knows his dual identity and that the movie has their romantic relationship established.
The May teaser, however, suggests some very hopeful things about how the film is going to treat Clark, Lois, and their relationship. James Gunn has stated that they have filmed a 12 minute interview between Lois Lane and Superman. That’s nuts, in the best possible way, and really seems to show that Gunn gets it. He gets how central their relationship should be to the film. And the initial chemistry between David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan looks like it’s going to try and rival Reeve and Kidder.
But real quick let’s talk about the transformation shot.
For Reeve, it was a small change in posture and the removal of an accessory. For Corenswet, leaning forward and dropping the pitch of his voice. For both, a subtle beat to convey how each can be playing both Clark Kent and Superman, and how it might just be plausible that people wouldn’t immediately put two and two together. This almost certainly was a conscious parallel on the part of Gunn and Corenswet, and considering that Christopher Reeve remains the gold standard for live-action Supermen (Supermans?), And all in all, aiming for parallels without trying to copy beat for beat, as Superman Returns stumbled doing, seems a smart way to go when looking to recapture the magic of Donner’s Superman.
In the framing device of Gunn’s new trailer, Lois asks Clark Kent, boyfriend, if he’s seriously offering to be interviewed as Superman. Clark cockily says “sure…. ready when you are, Cronkite.” But the recorder goes on, and Lois Lane, girlfriend, becomes Lois Lane, ace reporter for the Daily Planet.
The scene as shown, demonstrates the wonderful way in which Lois and Superman complement each other. Superman, (who freely offered the interview, mind) gets more and more flustered by Lane’s incisive questions. At one point he tries to snap back to “relationship mode” by asking “so that’s how you’re going to be?”
Ace reporter Lois Lane having none of that: “I’m not the one being interviewed, Superman.”
A (very pertinent) concern going into this movie was that it would not sufficiently rebuke the Zack Snyder/David Goyer, cynical view of Superman’s goodness and kindness as boring or lame. But this scene shows the right way to question Superman and challenge his methods, in a non-cynical fashion: By having those questions, that challenge made by Lois Lane. Clark’s an idealist, Lois is the one who keeps him grounded, no pun intended. And if Spider-Man’s uncle/aunt is right that “with great power there must also come great responsibility,” Lois Lane is the perfect person to put this in front of Clark. Because she loves him. And, no doubt, she agrees with him that yes, of course he did the right thing to go and save those lives.
But it’s the job of a reporter to represent the public, to ask the questions of her subject that the public would have answered. To point out that yes, there are always unintended consequences, and did Superman consider them? Is he prepared to face them, to take the great responsibility? And finally (that we saw) to draw from him the moral core at the heart of this Superman: “People were going to die.”
Superman is a character defined by his strength. In order for their relationship to be believable, Lois Lane has to be equally strong, if in a different manner. Showing her as a tireless, impartial crusader for the Truth is one way to establish the ways in which she is actually fighting the same battles that Superman is, just with different weapons. She can’t punch through solid rock, but she can uncover corruption. Too often in movies Lois has served as a damsel in distress, someone whose well-being force Superman into an impossible Trolley Problem (1978’s Superman) or as a trigger for Supes to GO EVIL (the plan for the Snyderverse) One can hope that 2025’s Superman will, in contrast, allow Miss Lane to be an effective partner to the Man of Steel.
So that’s my little take on Lois, Clark, and what I hope we’re going to see in a month and a half. Have a great weekend, and include your thoughts below!