Summary
TheSupermantrailer release date was officially announced with a new motion poster featuring the iconic John Williams theme. Now, James Gunn has confirmed if his first DCU movie will use the WilliamsSupermantheme or a new anthem for the Man Steel.
The newSupermantrailer release date announcement was accompanied by a motion poster thatfeatures a variation of Williams' Superman theme. This caused fans to wonder if this meant Gunn’sSupermanmovie was using Williams' iconic theme or if the score was only used for the motion poster to build hype for the next incarnation of the Man of Steel. According to Gunn, the answer seems to be both.
Is Gunn’s Superman movie using the iconic John Williams theme?
In June 2024, multiple outlets were invited to theSupermanset to discuss the upcoming film with writer and director Gunn (viaGizmodo). During the event, Gunn revealed thatSupermanwill be more orchestral-driven than theGuardians of the Galaxysoundtracks, which featured classic songs from various artists and eras. Gunn added that composer John Murphy’sSupermanscore is largely original with “nods” to Williams' classic theme.
“There’s nods to [John] Williams and then also John Murphy’s created this incredibly beautiful score. But the one thing is it is a score, it’s not a soundtrack. So it’s not about the songs. There’s a few songs in it. And of course, I chose those songs beforehand, but it isn’t like any of my previous movies really in terms of the score is what drives it. It’s a much, much more of a score film.”
Another variation of Williams’Supermantheme can be heard in the above video in which Gunn urges fans to tell their friends about the upcoming trailer. This may give fans a sense of how Gunn plans to use Williams’Supermantheme. It’s Williams' score, but a different take on it. Perhaps Gunn intends to use the classic theme sparingly, similar to how the firstCreedmovie only used the iconicRockytheme at key moments in the film for maximum impact. Of course, this is speculation, but DC fans already have strong feelings.
Some fans were thrilled to hear Williams’Supermantheme in the motion poster and previews for the trailer. They argued the iconicSupermantheme is fitting for any incarnation of the character, similar to howthe James Bond themehas been used for each version of 007. Others wanted Gunn’sSupermanmovie to move on from the Christopher Reeve era and use a new theme.
Of course, some of those critics are SnyderVerse fans, many of whom have openly stated that they intend to boycott Gunn’sSupermanmovie and won’t give it a chance. They’re still upset that Warner Bros. scrapped Snyder’s vision and that Gunn opted to replace Henry Cavill as Superman. Not everyone who wanted a new Superman theme is among those who can’t let go of the SnyderVerse, and there is something to be said about moving forward. Still, there are lessons Gunn’sSupermanmovie can learn from Reeves' 1978 film, and using the classic Williams score doesn’t mean the DCU movie will be beholden to the past.
Supermanis scheduled to be released in theaters on July 27, 2025.
Superman
Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.' rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill departed from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way.”
