James Gunn, who directs Superman, has shared some interesting insights about the history of metahumans within the DC Universe. During a recent interview, he suggested that these extraordinary beings have been around for hundreds of years, implying their significant and long-standing presence in the world depicted in the upcoming movie.
Here’s how long metahumans have been in DCU before Superman
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, James Gunn stated that within the DC Universe, it’s been known for three centuries that there are beings with extraordinary abilities, or metahumans, among us. He further explained that in this universe, coming across a metahuman is as commonplace as running into a well-known celebrity.
The director pointed out that people are now used to the idea of characters with extraordinary powers, as seen in movies. He humorously compared this to how seeing a shark-man on the street would be shocking and frightening, but if you saw someone like Paul McCartney casually walking down a city street, it wouldn’t seem unusual. This acceptance of super-powered characters is reflected in the setting of the upcoming Superman movie.
Gunn elaborated on the general concept of metahumans in DC Comics by explaining on Threads. Essentially, a metahuman is a being similar to a human, but with extraordinary and sometimes supernatural abilities. These powers can stem from various origins such as scientific experiments, magic, extraterrestrial influences, genetic mutations, divine gifts, skill development, or technological advancements. He pointed out that figures like Mister Terrific might fit the description, whereas robots like Superman’s mechanical friend “4” may not meet the criteria.
In the very same Entertainment Weekly article, Gunn shared insights about his method for constructing the universe: he chose to present an existing DC Universe filled with metahumans instead of creating a new one from the ground up. He expressed, “We don’t need to erase everyone and start over.
He further elaborated, “There’s a hint of enchantment woven into reality. There are mysteries science can’t yet explain. This is the sort of realm where an island teeming with dinosaurs might just be concealed.” His method of storytelling aimed to plunge viewers straight into a well-established superhero universe from the get-go.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
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2025-06-11 08:10