James Gunn, writer and director of the off-kilter "Guardians of the Galaxy" films, tussled with various ideas on how to deliver a new take on Superman to the big screen. The challenge was to deliver something fresh that would appeal to a new generation of moviegoers and reinvigorate Warner Bros. Discovery's DC Studios.

The filmmaker said the David Corenswet-led film also comes at a "particular time when people are feeling a loss of hope in other people’s goodness."