Highlights
- James Gunn’s Superman movie pays tribute to iconic figures in Superman’s history like Jeff Loeb and Richard Donner through Metropolis map names.
- Despite differences in fan support for Snyder and Gunn, both filmmakers publicly express mutual respect and support for each other’s work.
- The success of Gunn’s Superman movie will influence his future in the DCU, but initial photos have inspired confidence among fans.
A new Superman set photo reveals that James Gunn may have a clever way to pay tribute to several iconic names who have contributed to the Man of Steel’s legacy.
Gunn’s Superman movie is currently in production, with set photos revealing first looks at the DCU’s version of several iconic characters. While there has been a lot of focus on the costumes for characters like Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl or the mysterious Superman villain fans believe to be Ultraman, one photo reveals a map of a Metropolis that contains nods to some of the famous people who have lent their talents to the Man of Tomorrow on the page and screen.
A photo shared by Reddit user DoctorBeatMaker shows a map of Metrpololis not unlike those found in any real metropolitan area. Close inspection of the map reveals that several streets and drives share the last names of prominent people in Superman’s history, including Jeff Loeb, Grant Morrison, and Superman: The Movie director Richard Donner. The map also includes Goyer Dr., undoubtedly a nod to Man of Steel writer David S. Goyer. There’s also Snyder Street, which could be a nod to Justice League director Zack Snyder and comic book writer Scott Snyder, who penned the DC Comics miniseries Superman Unchained.
As most fans know, Zack Snyder led the DCEU until a string of box office disappointments prompted Warner Bros. to abandon his vision for a multi-film story arc. The DC movies that followed were a mixed bag of successes and flops, critically and financially. Warner Bros. then restarted the DC film and TV franchise with Gunn and Peter Safran as co-CEOs of DC Studios, which will now launch a new era of DC projects starting with Creature Commandoes on the TV side and Superman on the feature film side. While some DC fans support Zack Snyder and Gunn, others have criticized one or the other and assume there must be bad blood between the two filmmakers. Despite these assumptions, Gunn and Zack Snyder have publicly expressed support for each other, and the Zack Snyder easter egg in the Metropolis map could be seen as Gunn’s way of giving a nod to Zack Snyder’s contributions to Superman.
While some fans would love to see Zack Snyder return to the DC universe—either to continue his DCEU storyline or direct a standalone Elseworlds project—the director stated that he is not knocking on Gunn’s door to direct a DC project and his priority is original content, like his Rebel Moon franchise for Netflix. This is unlikely to please the DCEU fans who want Warner Bros. to let Zack Snyder continue the Snyderverse story arc. However, Snyder is seemingly content moving on and crafting new projects with the creative freedom Netflix appears to be giving him.
As for Gunn’s future with the DCU? I will almost certainly depend on Superman‘s critical and box office fortunes. While Gunn announced an extensive slate of DCU projects, Snyder’s experience with DC proves Warner Bros. isn’t opposed to changing course if they feel the plan isn’t working. However, Gunn had success with Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and the Superman set photos have inspired confidence in most fans, so there’s reason to be optimistic.
Superman is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Source: DoctorBeatMaker/Reddit
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