For James Gunn’s Superman movie, David Corenswet avoided the typical shredded physique often seen in superhero movies, and it’s an important step forward for the genre that will hopefully continue in the DC Universe sequel Man of Tomorrow. In the last few decades, superhero movies have become known for the ripped physiques of their male stars in particular, but that seems to be changing, with help from Superman.
The decision for Corenswet’s Superman physique to be different from the typical superhero was a deliberate one. Earlier this year, Corenswet’s personal trainer Paolo Mascitti told Business Insider they were aiming for the actor to look “more like a farm boy than a complete bodybuilder.” Corenswet later told Geek Culture that he and Gunn “were looking more for the approachable, farm boy, big guy, big presence.”
Ultimately, the actor achieved what he set out to do. The version of the Man of Steel who appears in Superman has the build of a farm boy. This works to fix the problem that has plagued superhero movies for many years, as they’ve depicted extremely unrealistic physiques. It’s also an important step toward more realistic bodies appearing onscreen in superhero movies.
How Superman Fixes A Superhero Movie Problem
Chris Pratt Shirtless As Star-Lord In Prison Intake In Guardians of the Galaxy
In the last two decades, as superhero movies have grown in popularity, Hollywood has seen a shift toward more unrealistic physiques appearing on-screen. Early MCU movies seemed to always include a shot of its star shirtless, with their shredded chests and abs on display. And when Chris Pratt revealed a first look at his superhero physique to play Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy, it nearly broke the internet.
However, those scenes are largely unrealistic, with those physiques obtained through strict regimens of diet and exercise and, often on the day of filming, dehydration to ensure the actors’ muscles stand out in sharp relief. While these appearances seemed to feed into the overall fantasy of superhero movies, they didn’t necessarily make sense. Chris Evans’ shirtless scene in Captain America: The First Avenger highlighted Steve Rogers’ transformation, but it never made sense for Star-Lord to have a six-pack.
In the case of Superman, there’s clear intentionality behind Corenswet’s training regimen and physique. He bulked up with the goal of achieving a look that made sense for the character. Since Clark Kent grew up on his parents’ farm, it’s reasonable for him to have the build of someone used to doing that kind of labor — even if the work would be relatively easy for the Kryptonian. Still, it was much more realistic and logical.
Why Superman’s Physique Bucking The Superhero Movie Trend Is So Important
David Corenswet’s Superman smiling while looking at Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane in Superman (2025) with Metropolis partly destroyed in the background
Hollywood has long been criticized for setting unrealistic expectations for all kinds of things, but particularly appearances for men and women. This has only gotten worse in recent years as plastic surgery has been on the rise, but it’s been contrasted with a desire for more realism onscreen. By and large, audiences don’t want a fantasy, they want to see their reality reflected on screen.
Interestingly, superhero movies and shows used to have much more realistic portrayals of body types on screen. Smallville’s Tom Welling and even Hugh Jackman’s earliest appearances as Wolverine in the X-Men movies didn’t have unrealistic physiques. They appeared to be strong, but not in any spectacular fashion, and that made complete sense for both the characters. It also didn’t detract from the films or show.
In the end, ridiculously shredded abs and chests aren’t necessary in superhero movies, and it’s a good thing that Superman is taking a step toward leaving that problematic trend behind. Hopefully, Gunn and Corenswet will continue to stay true to that decision in the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, especially since it would be a betrayal of the character they introduced.
Release Date
July 11, 2025
Runtime
130 minutes