The new Superman movie is at its most epic when we see Clark Kent’s endless compassion – but filmmaker James Gunn has revealed he almost cut out the very moment that shows this best.
After the immense pressure to bring one of the most beloved superheroes of all time back to the big screen it would have been easy for the new Superman to crash and burn.
Especially in a cultural landscape saturated with superhero content from the likes of rival studio, Marvel (who have their own summer blockbuster, Fantastic Four, about to come out) – retelling Superman’s story for old and new audiences is no easy task.
Heck, it’s only been three years since Henry Cavill last appeared as an iteration of Superman in a movie (Black Adam) so cementing David Corenswet as the newly-baptised Daily Planet reporter was already a tall order.
Yet, if the glowing reviews and mightily impressive box office figures are anything to go by, Gunn’s vision and the standout cast to go with it (also starring Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor) has been an undeniable smash hit.
When scrolling through people’s takes on social media, discussing it with my friends, or even pondering it at 2am while staring at my ceiling – one reason jumps out above all others.
Unlike so much of the superhero content of recent years that prioritises mammoth displays of strength and overly-involved action scenes that forget their characters’ human alter egos – in Superman we see the opposite.
Yes, it’s about battling the enemy, but it’s more about preserving the world you love in the big and small ways.
We may not all be capable of shooting lasers from our eyes and flying from disaster to disaster but we are all capable of small acts of kindness, no matter how unexpected.
It’s hardly a new perspective, plenty of people have been praising the movie’s human first approach, making Superman’s greatest strength his non-super qualities (whether the love he learnt from Ma and Pa Kent or the fierce protectiveness he feels for all living creatures).
It harks back to the Clark we know and love from the prequel series, Smallville (coincidentally David’s favourite version) who, during one episode, declares his greatest powers are his parents.
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No scene proves this better than the small, blink-and-you-miss-it moment when Superman dives to save a squirrel while battling the mid-movie Big Bad.
Even in the cinema it elicited a delighted response from the audience with a fond chuckle escaping nearly everyone’s lips.
It’s miniscule moments like this that made the movie, and Superman’s characterisation, so fleshed out, grounded and realistic.
In many ways, it is just as important as the grand speeches about what it means to be human and the sequences of Superman single-handedly holding up crumbling buildings.
Which is why it was so shocking to learn that Gunn almost cut it out of the final version.
He told Rolling Stone: ‘We showed it to test audiences and some people did not like the squirrel. They’re like, “Why the f**k is he saving a squirrel? Why is he taking time out, saving a squirrel?”‘
Not sure who they chose to participate in the test audience but they may have missed the point of the movie entirely?
Luckily, Gunn stayed strong with his vision, adding: ‘There was a cut where I cut it out and I’m like, “I really miss the squirrel. He’s gotta save the squirrel.”‘
Thank goodness he did, as many fans have reiterated.
‘The whole point behind him saving the squirrel was to show his kind heart & willingness to go out of his way for everyone – even the most innocent & tiny of creatures,’ X user miss_mjoy shared.
‘I liked that no creature no matter how small is seen as insignificant to Superman The squirrel was peak,’ the blue elite agreed.
‘It’s VERY clear some people don’t understand Superman in the slightest. “Why would Superman save a squirrel” BECAUSE ALL LIFE IS PRECIOUS!! BECAUSE ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!’ gooberboober42 echoed.
‘People that show no sympathy for the squirrel don’t understand anything about Superman,’ Spideyloui added.
You get the point.
The moment may seem insignificant to some – after all if Gunn had gone ahead with the cut it wouldn’t have been a notable plot omission – but there would have been something missing.
It’s a small but mighty part of the beating heart of this movie that has made it so special to people so quickly – and that lack of soul certainly would have been noticed, and perhaps even detrimental.
It’s more clear than ever that superhero fans are yearning for less carbon cutout powerhouses and for more fallible heroes with the best intentions – and that’s what makes scenes like this so important.
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