What ‘Superman’ Can Teach Screenwriters or: The Importance of Being Earnest
This is exactly what we’re supposed to be doing as screenwriters—immersing ourselves in the feelings of others, perhaps feeling them too much, and reacting to those feelings.
There will be spoilers for Superman (2025) in this piece.
James Gunn, writer and director of the newest film to star the Man of Steel, is also the new architect of the future of the DC cinematic universe. He had a lot riding on his shoulders with the success of this film, and the opening weekend box office didn’t disappoint. The film wasn’t without its flaws, but at the core of it was a winner.
What was in that recipe for success in the screenplay that we can learn from as we’re tossing ingredients into our own stories? What are the vegetables we can cut up and put into the pot and the spices we can add dashes of?
First off, we don’t have to be working with one of the single most recognizable characters on the planet, though that certainly helped James Gunn. There have been films starring Superman that have completely tanked critically or at the box office or both—The Quest for Peace and Batman v. Superman: The Dawn of Justice anyone? There have been stories starring the character that have flat-out not worked at all.
What we’re talking about transcends the character and universe itself, which is probably not what studio executives looking for a sure bet want to hear, since they want everything to have a brand attached.
This film, unlike other first installments for the character, forgoes the character's origin and lands right into the action. Not only does it land us right into the action, it lands us right into the aftermath of Superman’s first loss.
What does it look like for the most powerful being on Earth to lose? Battered and beaten, he’s saved by a pretty cool support system: a mangy Kryptonian dog named Krypto and a bunch of robots in the Fortress of Solitude, and we’re introduced to Superman’s status quo and the dilemma he’s currently dealing with. It’s pretty standard Superman situation. Billionaire misanthropist Lex Luthor is a jealous bigot who wants to get rid of Superman and has hatched a new scheme that will allow him to get rid of him once and for all and make him even more rich in the process, all while helping a tyrannical dictator somewhere vaguely overseas commit genocide.
For his part, Superman struggles with the fact that people online are turning against him and his actions to stop a war have drawn ire from all quarters. He is truly a super being and his actions have consequences and the film truly grapples with that.
The thing the film does better than anything, though—and the thing I would recommend screenwriters take to heart—is in its earnestness. It’s a movie that wears its heart on its sleeve. For too long it seems that DC Superhero movies and quite a wide swath of popular movies in general have been typified by their edgy cynicism and ability to show just how much they don’t care. That’s where Superman shines. It cares deeply and it reads as a breath of fresh air. Movies didn’t always have that cynical edge to them, in fact, that edge only seemed to ever cut in waves and I think that wave might be cresting.
It’s time to be absolutely kind and joyful as you write again. Wear your feelings on your sleeve. If you need to channel anger, do it through your antagonists. Lex Luthor was a perfect example of how this worked, spitting fury at every turn. It was always perfectly framed, however, and never aimed in the wrong place. In fact, the impotence and pettiness of the rage felt like it met the moment of our time that was both a time capsule of the sort we see as a result of toxic masculinity oozing from every pore of popular culture from the last fifty years. Seeing it written with earnest honesty rather than held up as some sort of heroic device felt fresh.
As for healthy emotions, Superman himself has no qualms about opening up emotionally. Neither do his parents. Pa Kent is not a victim of toxic masculinity. When his son is hurt and he’s powerless to help, he has no qualms crying and asking what he can do to help and asking if his son will be OK. When Superman realizes Krypto is missing and he finally breaks into Lex Luthor’s secret chamber, he’s angry and overwhelmed with emotion. He doesn’t try to beat up Lex Luthor, but he screams, “Where’s the dog!”
And even to his greatest enemy, he opens up with his empathy. He couldn’t imagine how scared the innocent little dog must have felt, wounded and alone there after his home had been destroyed because of Luthor’s actions. Superman cares deeply and isn’t afraid to show it. This is exactly what we’re supposed to be doing as screenwriters—immersing ourselves in the feelings of others, perhaps feeling them too much, and reacting to those feelings.
Characters like this iteration of Superman are only possible when screenwriters aren’t afraid to mine those depths from themselves. As writers, we have to create that honesty. We have to be able to find that empathy for others—even those that we don’t like—and make sure that it makes its way onto the page for the actors to perform. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor has a beautiful moment where he’s finally being honest about his motives that almost brings him to tears—almost brings the audience to tears. And it’s because the screenplay treats him with honesty and respect—despite his villainy. As much as the film might play like a cartoon, it’s deeply respectful and earnest with the emotions and motives of every character.
And that’s what you need to find for your work. Find that place inside yourself.
This is why folks who can’t empathize with others don’t tend to make good writers. If you can’t understand why someone else might feel differently than you, you might be in the wrong business.
James Gunn proves once more he’s really good at it.
Superman (2025) is in wide release now.
You can learn more about Bryan Young at his website.
Bryan Young is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, and author. He's written and produced documentary and narrative feature films and has published multiple novels and a non-fiction book. He's written for Huffington Post, Syfy, /Film, and others. He's also done work in the Star Wars and Robotech universes. You can reach him on Twitter @Swankmotron or by visiting his website: swankmotron.com.