Ever since DC Comics writer — and key creative influence on Chapter 1: Gods & Monsters — Tom King claimed that James Gunn was directing Superman: Legacy, fans have been desperate for the DC chief to confirm this intriguing development. While the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker had been announced as penning the script for the DCU reboot all along, it had yet to be revealed who would be behind the camera for the Man of Steel’s next rebirth.
After consistently avoiding the conversation on social media for the past week, Gunn has finally turned to Twitter to clear the air. Yes, the DC Studios co-CEO is officially helming Superman: Legacy himself. Gunn — who’s heading up the relaunched franchise alongside producing partner Peter Safran — almost buried the lede, though, by dropping the bombshell in an emotional thread exploring why the film’s release date has an unexpected emotional underpinning for him.
Read Gunn’s full thread below:
In addition to confirming that he’s directing the movie, and why the release date means a lot to him, Gunn’s thread likewise offers us our first hints at its storyline. In contrast to the title, Gunn reveals that his take on Kal-El will be all about “Superman’s heritage,” in regards to both his Kryptonian biology and the Kansas-born Kents and how the two sides of his nature inform the hero he becomes.
While that’s not necessarily rocking the boat in terms of Superman’s portrayal — that’s essentially the premise of every single adaptation of the character ever made — it certainly proves that James Gunn has a deep understanding of the Big Blue Boy Scout that should appease anyone worried about him directing the picture. It sounds like Superman’s legacy is in very safe hands.