James Gunn, director of the upcoming Superman film and co-head of DC Studios, recently revealed he consulted Zack Snyder while deciding whether to include the iconic red trunks in Superman’s new costume. Snyder, who famously removed the trunks in Man of Steel, shared with Gunn that he had “tried a billion different versions” of the suit with trunks, but ultimately couldn’t make it work.
“One of the biggest questions was, ‘Were we gonna have trunks, or were we gonna not have trunks?’” Gunn said in an interview with Fandango. “I talked to Zack Snyder, who was like, ‘I tried a billion different versions with the trunks, and at the end of the day, I tried it, but I just couldn’t get there.’ And I was feeling the same way.”
Despite Gunn’s initial hesitation, the deciding factor came during costume screen tests with lead actor David Corenswet. According to Gunn, Corenswet offered an insightful take: Superman should look approachable to kids and the public, despite his intimidating powers. 
“One of the things David said is that Superman wants kids not to be afraid of him. He’s an alien. He shoots beams out of his eyes… He’s incredibly powerful and could be considered scary. He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity. So he dresses like a professional wrestler. He dresses in a way that makes people unafraid of him.”
That perspective convinced Gunn that the red trunks weren’t just a nostalgic design choice — they served a character purpose. Gunn added, “Trying to make Superman look serious is silly because he is a superhero. He’s the first one, brightly colored, and that’s who he is.”
James Gunn and Peter Safran are now leading DC Studios into a new era, with Superman serving as the first official film in their revamped DC Universe. While Zack Snyder’s DC Universe has come to a close, Gunn confirmed he spoke with Snyder after taking over and that there are no hard feelings between them.
Superman, starring David Corenswet, will debut in theaters on July 11, 2025.
