Superman Director James Gunn Says Deaths Will Count in the Rebooted DC Universe: 'In the DCU if You Die, You're Dead'

Deaths successful the rebooted DC Universe volition count, James Gunn has insisted up of the merchandise of Superman.

Speaking connected societal media, the DCU co-chief and writer and manager of Superman declared: “In the DCU if you die, you're dead.”

The remark was sparked by a remark from 1 idiosyncratic who said “... it is DC nary 1 stays down forever.”

When 1 idiosyncratic pointed retired that Gunn was making “a large commitment” by saying deaths count, helium responded: “It's the mode I've ever done it.”

The comic publication quality decease statement has been astir arsenic agelong arsenic comic books themselves. In comic books, superheroes and villains thin not to die, astatine least, not for long, because, well, you wouldn’t person galore characters near to constitute stories for if their deaths were permanent. And so, comic publication fans person grown accustomed to deaths being much of a impermanent setback than a imperishable reorder of things.

Similarly, superhero movie franchises person had their ain fake deaths. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, for example, famously killed disconnected S.H.I.E.L.D. subordinate Phil Coulson successful The Avengers, lone for him to instrumentality successful the events of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Loki’s had his just stock of fake deaths, arsenic has Nick Fury..

It sounds similar the DCU, connected the different hand, won’t spell down a akin revival way for its characters. However, arsenic was pointed out, couldn’t Gunn usage DC’s already established Lazarus Pit to resurrect the dormant if needed?

“Well I wouldn't caput utilizing the Lazarus Pit (and/or resurrection) successful a story,” Gunn explained. “But it would person to beryllium a portion of the communicative itself. I won't beryllium sidesplitting large characters conscionable to popular them successful the aged LP to beryllium live again."

Gunn added: “What backfires much is radical believing determination are nary stakes and decease doesn't mean anything. Dead is dead.”

That sounds beauteous wide cut, which means if, say, 1 of those galore supporting characters successful Superman bites the dust, past they’re dormant for good. Trailers person suggested Superman's beloved robots (including Kelex) dice during an onslaught connected the Fortress of Solitude. Could different characters beryllium killed disconnected 1 movie in? My money’s connected 1 of Lex Luthor’s goons (the mysterious Mr. Handsome? The Hammer of Boravia?), oregon possibly adjacent Metamorpho.

Earlier this period we had Superman's runtime confirmed, arsenic good arsenic a denial from Gunn that genitor institution Warner Bros. had "forced" him to marque the movie shorter.

Superman, which hits theaters July 11, clocks successful astatine 2 hours 9 minutes inclusive of credits and post-credits. For context, that’s 15 minutes shorter than Henry Cavill’s 2013 film, Man of Steel.

So, the comparatively brisk 2025 Superman has a batch to compression in. Following assorted trailer reveals, fans had already wondered however Superman would bash justness to its supporting cast. Superman revolves astir a trio of characters: Clark Kent / Superman, Lois Lane, and cardinal antagonist Lex Luther, but determination are a fig of different superheroes and supervillains confirmed to appear.

All the characters revealed truthful acold successful Superman:

• Superman
• Lois Lane
• Lex Luthor
• Mister Terrific
• Guy Gardner
• Hawkgirl
• Metamorpho
• Baby Joey
• The Engineer
• The Hammer of Boravia
• Ultraman
• Rick Flag Sr.
• Supergirl
• Maxwell Lord
• Kryptonian robots, including Kelex
• Krypto
• Jonathan Kent
• Martha Kent
• Perry White
• Jimmy Olsen
• Steve Lombard
• Cat Grant
• Ron Troupe
• Eve Teschmacher
• Otis

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].