James Gunnreveals why he decided to giveSupermanhis signature red trunks after nearly a decade of depictions that eschewed the accessory. Ever since Superman debuted in 1938, his costume has remained iconic. While the details have changed over the years, the core pieces tend to be a red cape, a blue jumpsuit with a big ‘S’ on the chest, and a pair of red trunks. Despite the outlandish nature of the character, the red trunks are seemingly a bridge too far for some, and with The New 52 in 2011, DC Comics ditched the iconic red trunks on Superman to make him feel more modern.
One of the questions many had about James Gunn’s upcomingSupermanwhen the movie was announced was whether it would include trunks or not, with the first official image of the character showcasing the classic piece of the costume. Ahead of the release of the new trailer for Superman, Gunn spoke with members of the press about the upcoming DC film. Regarding the trunks, viaiO9, Gunn said it was star David Corenswet who said the red trunks were essential to Superman’s character as a way to show children that they don’t need to be afraid:
“We were trying on all these different versions, and we screened tested with trunks and no trunks and one of the things David said is that Superman wants kids to not be afraid of him. He’s an alien. He’s got these incredible powers. He shoots beams out of his eyes… He’s this incredibly powerful, could be considered scary, individual and he wants people to like him. He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity. So he dresses like a professional wrestler. He dresses in a way that makes people unafraid of him, that shows that hope that shows that positivity. And that really clicked in for me. And I think trying to pretend that Superman’s costume doesn’t have some frivolity to it at its base, trying to make it look serious, is silly because he is a superhero. He’s the first one, brightly colored and that’s who he is.”
Corenswet’s depiction of Superman in the red trunks will be a major moment for the character. Zack Snyder’sMan of Steel, in production at the time the New 52 was being launched, opted to synergize with the comics and ditch the red trunks on Superman’s costume to make him seem more grounded. Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman in both the Arrowverse andSuperman & Loisalso didn’t feature the red trunks on his costume, despite his version of the character looking to return to the classic image of Superman. The last time Superman sported red trunks in live action was “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” whenBrandon Routh, reprising his role fromSuperman Returns, wore an outfit inspired by theKingdom ComeSuperman. The red trunks have started to come back, though, as the animated seriesMy Adventures with Supermanfeatures them as part of the hero’s outfit.
Superman Needs His Red Trunks
The decision to give Superman the red trunks might not seem like a big deal, but it is asignificant signal of intention for James Gunn’s DCU. The previous DCEU decision to ditch the red trunks in an attempt to make Superman feel more “real” or “cool” stemmed from a misunderstanding of the character, one that felt embarrassed about who Superman is and what his character means. This character is meant to embody a specific flight of fancy, speak to the imagination, and embrace the fantastical, so the idea of getting rid of the red trunks feels like an attempt to shake off that fundamental element of the character. James Gunn’s DCU is embracing these fantastical elements.
Why Superman’s Red Trunks Are More Important Than You Realize
Will Superman’s iconic red trunks be in James Gunn’s DCU? The debate is hot, and here’s why they should be included.
Speaking from a design standpoint, the red trunks are an essential part of Superman’s costume. They help break up the color scheme because there is a big swath of blue without them until one gets to the boots. While fans mocked Jon Peters’s plans to ditch the classicSuperman costume for a black suit in his plannedSuperman Livesmovie, it felt like some fans echoed the sentiment that Superman’s costume needed to change. Instead of making Superman change, James Gunn has decided to let the audience meet Superman on his terms and see if they can accept him for who he is, both within the realm of the film and the meta-narrative that questions whether Superman can still appeal to a 21st-century audience by being himself.
