“It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. It’s more complicated than that but that’s a big part of it. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie. I loved working with Nicholas Hoult. I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them. I Just love the script so much.”
‘Lanterns’ actor Aaron Pierre is headed to ‘Man of Tomorrow’.
He’ll cross over as his Green Lantern Corps character John Stewart.
James Gunn is writing and will direct the movie.
Looks like ‘Man of Tomorrow’ will truly live up to both connectivity between the big and small screen DC Studios universe and adding in more characters for the ‘Superman’ follow-up.
As first reported by Jeff Sneider and since confirmed by Deadline, Aaron Pierre, who plays Green-Lantern-in-training John Stewart in HBO series ‘Lanterns’ will bring the character to the big screen for the movie.
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Filmmaker/DC Studios boss James Gunn is once again writing and directing the new movie, which is scheduled to start shooting next month.
“It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. It’s more complicated than that but that’s a big part of it. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie. I loved working with Nicholas Hoult. I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them. I Just love the script so much.”
The opponents will be unlikely allies in this follow-up to the superhero adventure, and now we know the cause of their unity: nefarious villain Brainiac.
“It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. It’s more complicated than that but that’s a big part of it. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie. I loved working with Nicholas Hoult. I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them. I Just love the script so much.”
He certainly makes it sound more like a direct sequel to ‘Superman’ than had been previously thought, and fans are already speculating that Brainiac could be the big villain this time around.
Gunn also mentioned he’s looking to start production in April next year.
The ‘Superman: The Man of Tomorrow’ DC Comics series ran for 16 issues from 1995 to 1999, and there is an animated adaptation already.
But like ‘Superman’ before it, don’t expect this to be a straight adaptation, instead we know that Gunn will be picking and choosing what he wants to use, and once more bringing his own sensibilities to bear on the story.
Who is Brainiac?
The character of Brainiac in DC Comics’ ‘Superman: Brainiac,’ written by Geoff Johns. Photo: DC Comics.
Brainiac was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, and made his debut in Action Comics #242.
He’s an incredibly smart android who comes from the planet of Colu and is hellbent on collecting all the knowledge in the universe. Among his powers is the ability to shrink cities and destroy planets, and he has a history of shrinking Superman’s home planet of Krypton; and in some storylines even destroyed the place (we don’t yet know if he’ll have been the cause of the planet’s destruction in Gunn’s ‘Superman’ timeline).
“It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. It’s more complicated than that but that’s a big part of it. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie. I loved working with Nicholas Hoult. I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them. I Just love the script so much.”
He certainly makes it sound more like a direct sequel to this summer’s ‘Superman’ than had been previously thought, and fans are already speculating that Brainiac could be the big villain this time around.
Gunn also mentioned he’s looking to start production in April next year.
The ‘Superman: The Man of Tomorrow’ DC Comics series ran for 16 issues from 1995 to 1999, and there is an animated adaptation already.
But like ‘Superman’ before it, don’t expect this to be a straight adaptation, instead we know that Gunn will be picking and choosing what he wants to use, and once more bringing his own sensibilities to bear on the story.
What else is going on with the rebooted DC movie universe?
Milly Alcock on the set of ‘Supergirl’. Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
Next up in movie terms is ‘Supergirl’, starring Milly Alcock, who –– spoiler alert in case you still haven’t seen ‘Superman’ –– showed up for a quick seen at the end of that movie to pick up Krypto. That film is due out on June 26th next year.
Following that we have a dip into horror with ‘Clayface’, the tale of the Batman antagonist, which has James Watkins directing and Tom Rhys Harries starring. It’ll head to theaters on September 11th, 2026.
And finally on the actually confirmed front there is ‘Lanterns’ featuring two of the Green Lantern characters, with the show headed to HBO Max next year (but with no official date announced yet).
When will ‘Man of Tomorrow’ be on screens?
The movie is set for a July 9th, 2027 release date.
‘Superman’ follow-up ‘Man of Tomorrow’ is due in 2027.
David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult are expected to return.
James Gunn is writing and directing.
It might not have been a completely soaraway success at the box office this summer, but ‘Superman’, DC Studios co-chief James Gunn’s cinematic kick off to his new take on the comic book universe certainly performed well enough that a follow-up is now in the works.
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Gunn himself had already said that he was in the writing phase for a new movie, and he has now taken to social media to tease that it’ll be flying into theaters on July 9th, 2027.
While there are few clear details on the movie so far, Gunn’s choice of image for the post (see below) does seem to indicate that at least David Corenswet will be back as Superman, alongside Nicholas Hoult as the scheming Lex Luthor.
Gunn is keeping this one close to his chest for now. The filmmaker has previously clarified that it won’t be a direct sequel to ‘Superman’, but the image of Supes and Lex certainly does point to a return for the hero and villain of the movie.
The ‘Superman: The Man of Tomorrow’ DC Comics series ran for 16 issues from 1995 to 1999, and there is an animated adaptation already.
But like ‘Superman’ before it, don’t expect this to be a straight adaptation, instead we know that Gunn will be picking and choosing what he wants to use, and once more bringing his own sensibilities to bear on the story.
We’d be surprised if the likes of Rachel Brosnahan and Skyler Gisondo didn’t return as Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen respectively, but we’ll have to wait and see whether the likes of the Justice Gang or any of the other supporting characters show up.
And what of breakout star Krypto, though we know we’re getting more of the chaotic canine when ‘Supergirl’ lands next year (more on that in a moment? Even if he doesn’t crash the follow-up movie, we can perhaps hope for a limited series run of him and ‘Peacemaker’s Eagly teaming up?
What else is going on with the rebooted DC movie universe?
Milly Alcock on the set of ‘Supergirl’. Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
Next up in movie terms is ‘Supergirl’, starring Milly Alcock, who –– spoiler alert in case you still haven’t seen ‘Superman’ –– showed up for a quick seen at the end of that movie to pick up Krypto. That film is due out on June 26th next year.
Following that we have a dip into horror with ‘Clayface’, the tale of the Batman antagonist, which has James Watkins directing and Tom Rhys Harries starring. It’ll head to theaters on September 11th, 2026.
And finally on the actually confirmed front there is ‘Lanterns’ featuring two of the Green Lantern characters, with the show headed to HBO Max next year (but with no official date announced yet).
‘Superman’ stayed top of the box office for a second weekend.
James Gunn’s movie dropped 54% following its successful launch.
The new ‘Smurfs’ movie and an ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ reboot failed to have much impact.
As a comic book hero, Superman can famously leap tall buildings in a single bound. From the looks of the performance by the latest cinematic take on the character –– James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ –– he can also hold off the competition, as the movie stayed top of the box office this weekend.
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With a relatively light 54% drop, the movie took in $57.3 million from 4,774 venues. That was enough to secure the top spot once more, with strong weekday business also helping.
Here’s what Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian had to say about the performance:
“A 54% second weekend drop is indicative of a marketplace that’s embracing the film”
It’s good news for Warner Bros. and DC Studios, which is hoping the movie, starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult, will spark interest in the new, interconnected DC Universe.
Domestically, the movie has now made $236 million, and its global haul is now $406 million.
Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ settled for second place once more place with $23 million from 3,854 venues, a 42% drop from last week.
After three weekends of release, the dinosaur movie has earned $276 million domestically.
Yet it’s on the global marketplace where the latest ‘Jurassic World’ outing is really excelling, making more than $647 million. That’s a solid result, if still behind the billion-dollar plus earnings of the previous three franchise entries.
What about the rest of the box office?
Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James in 2025’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
The strongest start among a clutch of misfiring newcomers was Sony’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, opening with $13 million from 3,206 theaters.
‘Last Summer’ added $11.6 million overseas from 58 markets, bringing its worldwide total to $24.6 million. That suggests the nostalgia factor for the horror reboot (which featured roles for the original’s Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt) wasn’t as strong as the studio hoped. Still, with a thrifty $18 million budget to make back (plus marketing costs), there’s less pressure to perform.
Fourth place was Paramount’s Rihanna-led animated outing ‘Smurfs’, which made $11 million from 3,504 venues, a disappointing result for the $58 million-budgeted musical.
‘Smurfs’ earned $25 million at the international box office to date for a global tally of $36 million, hardly a reason for Smurfing it up, but likely one that will earn more through merchandising than ticket sales.
Fifth was Apple/Warner Bros.’ Brad Pitt-starring racing pic ‘F1’, which took in $9.6 million in its fourth weekend for a $153.6 million domestic tally and $460.8 million globally.
Finally, ‘Hereditary’ director Ari Aster’s Western satire ‘Eddington’ failed to generate much interested, flopping to seventh place and $4.2 million from 2,111 venues.
What’s to come next weekend?
Given the tracking and early buzz, it appears that ‘Superman’ won’t be flying quite so high this coming weekend as Marvel’s own latest superhero behemoth, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is on the launch pad.
The movie is projected to opening above $100 million, possibly as high as $140 million, so the big battle of the heroes is about to heat up.
‘Superman’ is off to a strong start at the domestic box office.
James Gunn’s movie earned $122 million, the third biggest launch of the year to date.
But ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ took a chunk out of its earnings overseas.
One of the catchy taglines for Richard Donner’s 1978 movie ‘Superman’ was, “you’ll believe a man can fly.” For writer/director James Gunn and the latest cinematic iteration of the famous comic book character, also titled ‘Superman’, a new one might be “you’ll believe a man can fly to the top of the box office charts.”
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It appears that the big bet by Gunn –– who also runs Warner Bros.’ DC Studios arm overseeing the various properties spawned by the comic book behemoth, and intended ‘Superman’ as his theatrical calling card –– is paying off.
Reviews for the movie were mixed to generally positive and audiences gave the movie a solid grade, which bodes well for this one to keep on flying, even with Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ a couple of weeks away from launch.
The global market might be where ‘Superman’ faltered slightly, not because of any Kryptonite, but because of ‘Jurassic World Rebirth.’
Universal’s latest iteration of its successful dinosaur franchise held on to screens and audience interest, and ‘Superman’ had to make do with a softer-than-expected $95 million global launch.
Top-earning territories for the superhero were the United Kingdom with $9.8 million, Mexico with $8.8 million, Brazil with $5.9 million and Australia with $5.3 million. The movie bombed in China, earning just $6.6 million in its opening weekend. By comparison, ‘Rebirth’ opened last weekend in China with $25 million.
‘Superman’ needs to keep performing to offset its $225 million budget and the roughly $100 million spent to promote it.
Here’s what FranchiseRe movie consulting firm’s David A. Gross said about the movie’s performance so far:
“This is an outstanding domestic opening. If there’s any softness here, it’s overseas. Superman has always been identified as an American character, and in some parts of the world, America is currently not enjoying its greatest popularity.”
Understatement of year, perhaps?
David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, was also enthused by the movie’s performance and praised its overseer:
“Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world. James and Peter’s commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired. This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen. Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Clayface’ in theaters and the series ‘Lanterns’ on HBO Max, all part of a bold 10-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”
What else happened at the box office this weekend?
(L to R) Luna Blaise and the T-Rex in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Even given its success overseas, ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ suffered a considerable reduction domestically this weekend, adding $40 million from 4,324 venues in its second weekend of release, a painful 57% drop from its debut.
Yet Universal won’t be worrying too much just yet, as the movie has so far sunk its teeth into a mighty $232 million domestically and $529 million worldwide.
Third across the finishing line was Apple’s ‘F1’ (distributed theatrical by Warner Bros.) The sports drama anchored by Brad Pitt as a down-on-his-luck racer recruited by a Formula 1 team, earned $13 million from 3,412 theaters in its third lap around the track, marking a 50% decline from the prior weekend.
It has so far earned $136 million in North America and $393 million worldwide, which is solid but it’ll need to keep on making money to offset a hefty $250 million budget (before marketing costs). The movie has, at least, become Apple’s biggest theatrical hit to date by far.
Fourth place went to DreamWorks’ live-action remake of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, which collected $7.8 million from 3,285 theaters. It has so far taken in $239 million domestically and $560 million globally.
Finally, in fifth place, Disney/Pixar’s ‘Elio’ continued to be a disappointment. It made $4 million from 2,730 screens in its fourth weekend. The intergalactic tale has grossed just $63 million in North America and finally surpassed the $100 million mark globally after a month of release. With $117 million in worldwide ticket sales, the $150 million-budgeted tentpole will end its theatrical run as a major money loser for the companies.
What’s the future for DC Studios?
As mentioned above, Gunn and Safran already have plans in place for an interconnected series of movies and TV series, with the likes of ‘Supergirl’, ‘Clayface’ and HBO Max series ‘Lanterns’ at different stages of production, and more in the development chute beyond that.
Milly Alcock on the set of ‘Supergirl’. Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
There has been a lot of internet chatter about comic book movie fatigue, but DC Studios is hoping to fix that with reboot of their universe. The DCU is kicking off with one of the most well-known and beloved characters, Superman, which is a brilliant move.
That said, it is hard not to be concerned that perhaps James Gunn was wearing too many hats in the making of ‘Superman’. Despite the massive pressure it must have been, it is completely understandable why he would want to write and direct the first DCU film: ‘Superman’ is going to set the tone for the future and DC Studios needs it to succeed. It would be difficult to hand over the reins and trust someone else to do it.
Well, DC fans everywhere can finally breathe because ‘Superman’ is a fantastic movie, boasting incredible lead performances, epic action sequences, and a story that will leave audiences feeling all the feels. Plus, stick around for that end-credit scene.
One of the main reasons that ‘Superman’ works so well is the reason Tom Holland‘s ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming‘ did: It is not an origin story. Everyone knows how Superman came to Earth, and while this is, of course, addressed in the film, it is not the main focus. We hear about Kal-El’s parents and how they sent him away from a dying planet, and yes, they do have a key involvement in the plot, but we are not forced to sit through another coming of age story abotu a young Clark Kent.
When ‘Superman’ starts, Kent has already been publicly saving the world as Superman for three years. This is all established via a few words on the screen at the very beginning of the movie. He has been dating Lois Lane, who knows his true identity, for three months. The best part is, it doesn’t feel like we are being dropped into the middle of a story. Everything needed to establish the world and the characters are there, and we can now get into the good stuff, Superman’s struggle with simply wanting to do the right thing.
James Gunn knows how to handle an ensemble cast. He has proven this time and time again. He is a brilliant writer, which is evident in the script. The way the characters banter with one another helps to make us feel as if we are in an already established world. They know each other, they have history, all of which adds a believability to the story being told.
The story itself is relatable and strangely relevant in today’s climate. It is slightly political, but never polarizing, as it mostly debates if Superman has the right to protect the people of Earth and dives into what his motives are. Lex Luther hates him and wants to take him down by whatever means necessary. While they meet for the first time in the film, thanks to the writing, this is another believable relationship.
The set pieces are massive and detailed, which makes sense given the reported $225 million budget. These, coupled with James Gunn’s knowledge of DC Comics and the world his movie is in, makes for some truly unforgettable moments.
David Corenswet was born to play Superman, there is no doubt about that. He does such a great job of capturing the struggle and the frustration when he needs to, but also the humanity and strength as well. This version of Clark Kent is one of the best and is sure to go down in history as a fantastic casting choice.
At the same time, Rachel Brosnahan brings something to Lois Lane that is real, raw, and very likable. She is a tough cookie, and a journalist before anything else, but is her relationship with Clark that will warm the hearts of viewers. Chemistry practically oozes through the screen whenever Lois and Clark are together, whether they are arguing or having deep, meaningful conversations. It has been a long time since two actors have brought something like this to the big screen and it is truly a joy to watch.
It should come as no surprise that Nicholas Hoult nails his role as Lex Luther. he does so much of his acting with his eyes, especially in the third act. This character is so consumed with hatred and envy that his blood is practically boiling at all times. Even during the scenes where Lex Luther has the upper hand, Hoult allows that to come through in his performance.
One of Superman’s most prominent villains, it makes sense that Lex is the featured bad guy in the first DCU film. Nicholas Hoult and David Corenswet are clearly having a lot of fun together in this movie, but not in a goofy or comedic way. When the two come face-to-face, it is impossible not to get chills.
As for the Justice Gang, as they call themselves, Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardener), Isabela Mercad (Hawkgirl), and Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific), they bring just the right amount of comedic relief needed to keep the story fun. Mister Terrific is the clear standout of the group, so much so that fans will be begging for him to get a solo movie after ‘Superman’.
Yes, there are a lot of characters in ‘Superman’, but they all have a role to play in the story and they all do a wonderful job at it. No one feels shoehorned in or like they do not belong. This an already established world with established characters that we are watching, and each person makes sense to be there.
Mid-Credit and End-Credit Scenes
(L to R) David Corenswet and Krypto in ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
‘Superman’ features a quick mid-credit scene and an end-credit scene. While neither of these sets up for the future of the DCU, or offers anything extremely important, they are worth sticking around for. The mid-credit scene is brief, but sweet. Definitely an “awww” moment. As for the end-credit sequence, it is absolutely hilarious.
‘Superman’ gives fans exactly what they are looking for in the first DCU movie. There are incredible action sequences that showcase just how powerful this hero is. At the same time, we get a glimpse into his human side, realizing how similar he is to us despite technically being an alien.
The acting is top-notch with every actor knowing exactly what their character brings to the story. James Gunn proves, once again, that he knows how to write and direct an ensemble cast and that he knows how to adapt a comic book story for the screen.
Krpto may not be the best boy, but he is a fun addition to ‘Superman’. He is not overly silly and he is important to the story being told. While the mid-credit and end-credit scenes are just for fun, the end of the movie does offer a glimpse into what is coming next. Superman fans, get ready to kick your feet and giggle as you fall in love with this character all over again.
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What is the plot of ‘Superman’?
In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.
Fans are worried that James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ has too many characters in it.
James Gunn is known for large ensemble casts and knows how to write for them.
No one has ever complained about the numerous characters in ‘The Godfather’.
Every time a new trailer or TV spot for ‘Superman‘ is released, the internet is abuzz with people saying that there are too many characters. The concerns are that if there are too many characters, the story would be difficult to follow, there would be too many side plots to give the core story the time it needs, and the film would end up too oversaturated.
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The thing is, James Gunn is well known for his large ensemble casts. This is his wheelhouse, so there is no reason to be worried. He thrilled Marvel fans with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ trilogy, and his ‘The Suicide Squad‘ success surely had something to do with DC Studios handing him the reins as co-CEO.
On top of that, this feels like just another reason for people to complain about something they aren’t even that passionate about, as no one has ever said the same about ‘The Godfather‘, which has just as many characters.
The Prominent Characters In ‘Superman’ All Make Sense For The Story We Assume Is Being Told
(Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
One of the biggest thing that fans need to remember about ‘Superman’ is that this is technically the introduction into James Gunn’s DCU, as it is the first feature film. Yes, ‘Peacemaker‘ is (mostly) cannon and ‘Creature Commandos‘ is included yet animated, but this is the real start of Gunn’s plans. Because of this, it is necessary to establish the world that these heroes live in. Superman is not the only hero, and opting not to include any others would only hurt the believability of the story.
How many times have people asked where the Eternals or Namor were during the events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ and ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ and why they never came to help? Even if Marvel tries to offer a reason, most viewers do not accept it. James Gunn is avoiding this response to ‘Superman’ by showing where the main characters of the DCU are during these events and establishing that they do exist in this world.
David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luther, can you imagine a story that only involves the three of them? Not only would it likely get very boring, very quickly, it risks being repetative and too closed off.
Adding in nurmerous characters (that are likely to not be a major part of the plot, mind you) such as Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr will bring in subplots and round out the universe, making it more realistic while simultaneously setting up for what is to come in future films and television projects.
If Anyone Can Handle An Ensemble Cast, It Is James Gunn
It is hard not to laugh at the idea that ‘Superman’ has too many characters when you look at who is behind it all. James Gunn is writing and directing, and if anyone knows his way around an ensemble cast, it is that man. He is a genuis when it comes to plucking characters out of obscurity and telling an emotional, exciting, and action-packed story around them.
While Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luther are undoubtedly household names, several other characters in ‘Superman’ are not. Those who do not read DC Comics and don’t immerse themselves in these worlds, probably have never heard of Mister Terrific or Steve Lombard. James Gunn excels at bringing these types of characters to life.
If you look at character list for ‘The Suicide Squad’, it has just as many, if not more, than ‘Superman’ does. There were two complete rosters in that movie and fans still soaked it all in and loved nearly every moment of it. James Gunn is brilliant when it comes to giving every character, big or small, their time to shine and justifying their reason to exist in that universe. There is no reason to believe he will not do the same with ‘Superman’.
No One Has Ever Said ‘The Godfather’ Has Too Many Characters
(L to R) James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale in ‘The Godfather’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
The final point to make in this arguement is that no one has ever said ‘The Godfather’ had too many characters – and there are at least fifteen prominent characters in that movie. They do not all need a backstory for it to make sense that they exist in the world. Viewers don’t complain that the plot gets lost because there are so many of them, and ‘The Godfather’ certainly is not considered a bad movie (not even remotely).
This is just one example of a beloved film having multiple characters, each with a job to do to drive the plot forward even if you don’t know about their upbringing or their deep dark secrets. A movie can have one hundred main characters and still be good if the writing and the story being told is good.
James Gunn himself pointed out that ‘Oppenheimer‘ has three times as many speaking roles as ‘Superman’ does and promises that the film will not confuse anyone in an interview with IGN. Plus, ‘Superman’ isn’t even out yet, so can we please normalize saving the criticism of a movie until after you watch it?
(L to R) David Corenswet and Krypto in ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
Opening in theaters on December 25th is ‘Nosferatu’, which is a remake of the classic 1922 German film, which itself was loosely based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel ‘Dracula’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker Robert Eggers in an extended interview about his work on ‘Nosferatu’, why he wanted to make the movie, his love for the original, the look of the new film, visual vs. practical effects, Bill Skarsgård and Lily-Rose Depp’s performances, why he loves working with Willem Dafoe, why he will never make a modern movie, and what he learned from making this project.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your fascination with the source material, why you wanted to remake this film, and how you wanted to do it differently than what we’ve seen before from this genre?
Robert Eggers: I mean, I saw F. W. Murnau‘s ‘Nosferatu’ that was made in 1922 when I was nine years old, and I watched on a VHS that was made from a degraded 16-millimeter print and there was a way in which the world and the vampire played by Max Schreck just seemed real and unearthed from the past and I was just totally transported to that world. I also loved that it turned Bram Stoker’s novel into a very simple fairy tale. So, I’ve been obsessed with ‘Nosferatu’ most of my life, but it’s not enough to be obsessed and love something there. You must have a reason to do it again. I thought that if I could tell the story through the eyes of the female protagonist, through Lily-Rose Depp’s character, that there would be a greater chance for the film to have more emotional and psychological depth because yes, it is a scary horror movie with a lot of dread and even some jump scares. But more than that, it is a tale of love and obsession and a Gothic romance. The other central thing that is very different from other versions is that over the years, vampires have become less and less and less scary, climaxing with Edward Cullen (‘Twilight’) and in order to make the vampire in the film scary again, I turned to folklore that was written about and by people who believe that vampires were real and were terrified of them and these folk vampires are walking undead, putrid corpses. So, then I asked myself, “What would a dead Transylvanian nobleman actually look like” and thus we created what Bill Skarsgård’s vampire is in this film.
MF: Did you only take inspiration from the original ‘Nosferatu’, or did you also draw from the ‘Dracula’ novel and other interpretations of the character?
RE: I mean, it’s everything. It’s very much the history of vampire films in general, but I’m inspired by all kinds of Gothic literature and Edgar Allan Poe, black and white Gothic movies from the 1930s to the 1960s, and art house Polish movies from the ’70s. I mean, the influences are massive. Even Mel Brooks‘ ‘Dracula: Dead and Loving’. It was helpful to see what are the mistakes that every Dracula movie has. That parody points them out, so you know not to make those mistakes.
MF: Can you talk about Bill Skarsgård’s performance and the specific way you wanted Count Orlok to look in the film?
RE: I mean, Bill’s incredibly transformative as Count Orlok. There’s no trace of Bill Skarsgård in the movie. He worked with an opera singer to lower his voice an octave. He has this incredibly low, powerful voice that if you’ve heard Bill speak, Bill speaks in a tenor voice like mine, and you would assume that we digitally manipulated it. But no, Bill trained and that is his performance and the prosthetics that took six hours to apply and then his utter transformation for Bill to disappear and the darkness to take over and him to become Count Orlok is quite impressive.
MF: Can you talk about your use of practical vs. visual effect in the film?
RE: There are certainly plenty of visual effects in the movie, but I try to do as many things practically as possible and, the things that you might expect to be visual effects, those are the things that I particularly would like to do practically. All of Bill’s makeup is done practically. There are thousands and thousands of rats in the film and the thousands of rats that would be in the foreground of the shot are real. The wolves are real. We built over 60 sets, including a massive backlog set of a northern German town.
MF: Can you also talk about the production design and the specific look of the film?
RE: Yeah, I mean, the reality of these sets is quite shocking. We talk about the finishes in the movie industry and when you’re in the middle of Orlok’s Great Hall in the castle, even without the lighting, it looks completely real. It’s wild.
MF: What was it like working with Lily-Rose Depp, and can you talk about her performance and her character’s descent into madness?
RE: Lily-Rose Depp’s performance is quite jaw-dropping, and so amazing. When I first met with her, I felt that she just understood the character so well and then she did this incredibly powerful audition that left me and the casting director and even the videographer who didn’t have anything invested in it in tears. But Ellen’s character has a sort of knowledge, a sort of insight into the dark realm, another realm, and she’s dealing with the demons that are inside of her and this vampire that’s after her. She does this incredible body work where she sometimes is having seizures and sometimes having, going through these wild acts of possession. She worked tirelessly with a movement coach on doing all these incredible body movements that also help these shocking emotions to arise. But again, the stuff that she does with her body, you would think would be CG manipulated or we would be using wire work, but it’s all her. She gives a tremendous performance.
MF: This is the third movie in a row you’ve made with Willem Dafoe. What do you like about working with him and is he your lucky charm at this point?
RE: I mean, Willem Dafoe is a legend. He’s one of the greatest actors of all time and I feel so joyful and thankful and humbled that Willem likes to work with me and keeps coming back. But obviously, he has this power and a sense of humor and a fire about him that makes all his roles so compelling. Here, as a slightly crazed vampire hunter occultist, it’s particularly enjoyable.
MF: All your films are period pieces. What do you like about making those types of movies and do you ever see yourself making a modern set film?
RE: Well, it’s more fun for me to do the research and to create these worlds. I live in a world of cell phones and toilets and dishwashers. I don’t need to make movies about it. It’s boring. How cool is it that I am dreaming about a castle for 10 years and then I get to stand inside the castle of my imagination? That is so much cooler than shooting a scene in a men’s room with someone looking at their cell phone.
MF: Finally, this is a movie you’ve wanted to make for a while, how does it feel now that you’ve accomplished that and what have you learned from this experience?
RE: I’m proud of what me and all my collaborators were able to accomplish. I’ve been working with the same creative heads of department for years and we’ve become further extensions of each, and we challenge each other, and we grow together. After so long, it’s not just my vision that we’ve articulated, but a collective vision and that is wonderful. But you also feel a little vulnerable because when it’s something that is this important to you, that’s kind of a strange feeling. But I’m eager for audiences to come to movie theaters and get transported into this world and enjoy ‘Nosferatu’, hopefully.
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What is the plot of ‘Nosferatu’?
Set in 1838 in Germany, Nosferatu follows the obsession between a haunted young woman, Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rise Depp), and the ancient Transylvanian vampire stalking her, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), leading to untold horror.
