It seems as though James Gunn is deliberately intent on proving all is fair in love and war. On the one hand, there is no hating the golden-shrined, all-time-classic Christopher Reeve and Richard Donner’s Superman saga. On the other hand, DC’s fandom is at war over its own Superman. And while the two creations do exist in the same era as we do, the question that immediately rises in the aftermath – can they co-exist? – becomes one that is more imperative and needs introspection.
The love for Henry Cavill is not extinguished or overshadowed by the mention of Christopher Reeve and vice-versa. The love for Man of Steel (2013) is not extinguished or overshadowed by the existence of Superman (1978) and vice-versa. And even though the fandom knows this much is true, the authority, i.e. James Gunn making it so obvious by treating himself to Superman II at a time when Cavill has been eradicated from the face of DC feels a little too personal.
James Gunn Travels Down Memory Lane With Superman II
The sequel to Superman (1978) has had its fair share of controversies and heated debates in the years since its release. For one, the movie showed a ruthlessly cruel and merciless side to the Kryptonian hero where he hurls General Zod after stripping him of his powers (and essentially making him human) into a bottomless chasm at the Fortress of Solitude. Zod’s army follows suit. The moment, inhuman at its core goes against what Superman stands for – and has become a point of contention for many in the fandom.
33 years later, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel did the same with its Zod-death scene and brought back a moment that was polarizing to so many in stark recollection. However, the Donner Cut which James Gunn has suddenly found an urge to go visit does not include the cruelty and violence originally depicted in the Lester theatrical release. Despite this fact, Gunn’s tweet has triggered the fandom to find some cryptic meaning behind the post. Sadly, however, not all tweets from the DC chief have an ulterior motive attached to them. Or so it seems, for now.
Fans Fire Back at James Gunn For His Superman II Post
The Richard Lester-directed Christopher Reeve-starring, Superman II (1980) was a great sequel to an already great origin film, and one that came with a Richard Donner cut, a quaint 26 years later. As limited as the ’80s were in terms of graphics and visual effects, there is no denying the greatness embodied within the DC film. And even through the hazy fog of realization, the supporters of Henry Cavill find it a bit too hard to accept what’s what in their still-ongoing period of mourning mixed with a healthy splash of denial.
#NowWatching pic.twitter.com/reDh8EXOBr
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 12, 2023
Love your work but can't, for the life of me, understand your decision to change who plays Superman. Please don't tarnish a great comic book character.
— Gary Ainsworth (@RealAinsworth) March 13, 2023
Now do Man of Steel.
— Richie Castaldo (@richiecastaldo) March 12, 2023
Watch man of steel to see what you ruined
— TB (@TBAKATHEBEST) March 12, 2023
The Donner Cut 👍🏾 and after that watch #ManOfSteel
— Prime The Godfather (@Prime_76) March 12, 2023
Henry Cavill is simply one partisan in the talented roster of actors who have donned the red and blue tights since the advent of cinema and by the order of things, he will be succeeded by many more in the time to come. And even though the mass sentiments and nostalgia attached to the dark, grim, and humanely erring adaptation is hard to let go of, it is still better to recognize when an actor has served his turn and as such, should be allowed to rest in the past.
Source: Twitter | James Gunn
