James Gunn reveals simple reason he opted not to tell Superman's origin story

James Gunn is in the process of launching a new superhero universe and while the DC Universe’s origin story is currently being plotted, Gunn has made the decision not to tell the origin stories of two of DC’s biggest heroes when bringing them into the DCU. 

We’re referring to Batman and Superman, who will be entering the DCU in new projects that won’t revisit the origins of the characters but rather will introduce audiences to versions of the iconic heroes that are already quite established in their universe. It’s a decision that has puzzled some fans, but there’s a simple reason why Gunn has made this choice: origin stories just aren’t needed. 

“I’m not telling Batman and Superman’s origin stories again because everyone knows them,” Gunn explained to a fan on Threads when asked why he was opting not to introduce new iterations of the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight via origin films in his DCU. 

It’s a simple explanation, but it honestly says it all because he’s totally correct. We don’t need another pair of origins movies telling us the backstory for two of the most iconic superheroes ever.

James Gunn is right to skip the origin stories for Superman & Batman

While some might criticize James Gunn’s decision not to tell origin stories for Superman and Batman in launching the new DC Universe, it’s honestly a brilliant decision and one that has us excited for the shared universe set to be created under his and Peter Safran’s leadership. 

Sure origin stories are great, but let’s be totally real, Superman and Batman’s origin stories are two of the most iconic and well-known origin stories to ever be told. We’ve seen so many tellings of the two characters’ origin stories over the years across both TV and movies, and the simple truth is that we don’t need another revisiting of the two characters’ origin stories in this new shared universe.

We know how these characters become the heroes they eventually become so we don’t need to watch this unfold in origin movies to help set the characters up in the new DCU. What’s more interesting and exciting is getting to go into these movies and meet the characters in an already-established universe, and to peel back the layers as their stories unfold sort of like what we’ve seen in The CW’s Superman & Lois. 

Superman & Lois did a fantastic job of jumping into the heart of a story that was already unfolding, giving fans glimpses into key moments from the past while intertwining them into the storylines unfolding across the show. But even if the new DCU films don’t work in subtle flashbacks, that’s okay because again, we know these characters’ stories and don’t have a fear of being lost when we meet these new iterations of the characters on the big screen. 

Honestly, after his past record, we have full faith in Gunn and are excited to see how he builds this new universe filled with the heroes and villains we know and love – as well as the ones who haven’t quite gotten their time in the spotlight in the past!