James Gunn has released a behind-the-scenes clip showing a candid on-set exchange with David Corenswet over the climactic monologue in Superman, revealing how director and star worked through competing readings of the scene before landing on an approach centered on vulnerability. The footage, drawn from a new making-of documentary and posted by Gunn on Aug. 15, captures the discussion that shaped the finale’s tone.
In the video, Corenswet questions whether his Clark has already “healed” earlier in the film, while Gunn argues the speech must still expose raw emotion in front of Lex Luthor and the world. “There are feelings, and there are thoughts,” Gunn tells him, pushing for a performance that admits “your f—ing feelings are hurt” so the character can demonstrate strength through openness. Corenswet later says a single clarifying line from Gunn “perfectly” framed the moment and unlocked the take used in the film.
This was one of my favorite moments on the set of #Superman and was freaked out (and so happy) to find out it had been filmed.
This and many other moments were captured in
"Adventures in Making Superman,” a 60-minute making-of feature showcasing intimate behind-the-scenes of… pic.twitter.com/5bkFCRDZkO— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 15, 2025
The monologue, delivered during the final confrontation, includes Superman’s assertion that he is “as human as anyone else,” a direct rebuttal to taunts that he does not belong. The newly surfaced footage also shows how the pair debated where that realization occurs in the narrative and how explicitly the character should voice it, with their collaboration ultimately producing a version that left crew members emotional off-camera. The sequence underlines the film’s interest in empathy and identity as much as spectacle.
The clip arrives alongside the film’s home rollout. The digital release became available Aug. 15, with 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD set for Sept. 23. The package features a 60-minute documentary, Adventures in Making Superman, and additional extras; coverage this week also highlighted a new Krypto short among the bonuses. The exchange between Gunn and Corenswet is presented as a case study in the production’s actor-director process, offering audiences a rare, unvarnished look at how a tentpole’s cornerstone scene comes together.
