ThisSupermancostume choice was one of the biggest topics of discussion before the film’s release, and now I can’t believe there was ever a debate. When the trailer for theDCU’s first movie dropped, fans were quick to notice justhow different David Corenswet’s Supermansuit was going to be from the last live-action iteration.
BeforeSuperman, most fans had Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent fresh in their minds. The DCEU’s Superman films went for a grittier tone that translated to the visuals, including the costumes.Cavill’s Superman suit omitted the classic belt and trunks, so it was jarring for some to see Corenswet donning them. However, it absolutely ended up being the right choice forthis live-action adaptation.
The Superman Costume Without Trunks Looks So Weird
A recent behind-the-scenesSupermanfeaturette included footage of Corenswet and director James Gunn discussing Superman’s revamped suit. Part of the creation process is shown as the two go back and forth with the costume department, and one of the big points of discussion was whether Superman’s suit should include his iconic trunks.
In one shot,Corenswet is shown wearing the Superman suit without the trunks, and it just confirms that the team ultimately made the best decision. The costume looks incredibly strange without the trunks. With nothing below the hero’s emblem on his chest, the bottom half of the costume is too empty.
Without the trunks,the costume also looks boxy and ill-fitting. Of course, if the team had ultimately decided on omitting the trunks, that likely wouldn’t have been the case for the final costume. They would’ve altered the suit to fit properly without the trunks, but it’s a relief that they didn’t have to go down that route.
The Superman Costume Having Trunks Was Definitely The Right Decision
The main argument that fans bring up about Superman’s trunks is how silly it can make him look. Cavill’s Superman had a clean suit that showed off his muscles, and the seriousness of it was what made his iteration so intimidating. Fans didn’t want Corenswet’s Superman to look like a joke, butthe actor understood why the hero’s trunks were integral to the character.
During an exclusive set visit for publications, includingScreen Rant,Gunn said that Corenswet’s reasoning persuaded him to include the classic trunks. Superman is supposed to be a beacon of hope, but he can be quite scary with his alien powers. To make up for that,Superman dresses frivolously in bright colors so that people will be unafraid of him.
At the end of the day, the DCU is a franchise based on comic books. There’s a certain ridiculousness associated with comics, and it’s not a bad thing if these live-action characters look like they’ve come straight out of a page. Seeing Corenswet’sSupermansuit without the trunks will hopefully put the costume debate to rest, as including them was absolutely the right decision.
