New Superman Film Takes a Different Approach

In the upcoming film directed by James Gunn, actor David Corenswet takes on the role of Superman, deciding to omit the classic “American Way” from the character’s slogan. Instead, he has opted for “truth, justice, and good.”

Corenswet, marking his place as the twelfth actor to portray Superman, spoke about the character on CBS Sunday Morning last weekend and didn’t mention “The American Way” at all.

When discussing his role, he noted, “I think that scene really captures the essence of the character we’re seeing. He struggles with his worthiness when he’s not in the Superman mode—the embodiment of calm and justice.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alqeqn0ia0q

The phrase “truth, justice, and the American Way” became iconic in 1952, introduced in the TV series Superman’s Adventures featuring George Reeves. The show’s narrator famously stated that Superman “fights an endless battle for truth, justice, and the American way.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2l4bz1ft8u

Corenswet also described the new portrayal of Superman as a more “complicated” and perhaps more emotionally turbulent figure compared to the steadfast heroes of previous iterations.

He remarked, “Think about firefighters or paramedics. They might feel stressed or panicked when they go home, but during their work, they manage to stay collected. They don’t break down in front of others, even if they wrestle with their feelings.”

This isn’t the first instance of a superhero’s portrayal straying from traditional American themes. For instance, when the first Captain America film was released, the studio quickly reassured viewers that their version was distinctively new. Director Joe Johnston emphasized in 2010 that his Captain America wouldn’t be excessively patriotic.

Later, actor Anthony Mackey, who stepped into the Captain America role, highlighted a shift in focus, suggesting there were darker aspects to consider about America. Notably, he opted for a uniform that dropped the usual red, white, and blue palette.

Similarly, in DC’s 2016 film Wonder Woman, there was a significant alteration to the character’s historical background. Rather than focusing on her World War II origins, the narrative was shifted to World War I, steering clear of overtly pro-American sentiments.