NEED TO KNOW
Superman star David Corenswet and Wicked star Jonathan Bailey interviewed each other for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series
Corenswet reflected on his climactic kissing scene opposite Rachel Brosnahan in the DC Comics superhero film, revealing he had a disagreement with director James Gunn
The actor said he had to fight for Superman’s amused reaction to Lois Lane saying, “I love you, too”
David Corenswet knows how to deliver a cinematic smooch.
The Superman star, 32, reflected on his climactic, mid-air kiss with costar Rachel Brosnahan in James Gunn’s superhero movie, revealing he disagreed with the director about its tone.
Gunn, 59, “came up to me and said, ‘It’s not working. It needs to be solemn,’” recalled Corenswet while speaking to Wicked: For Good star Jonathan Bailey for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series.
Corenswet’s Clark Kent a.k.a. Superman confesses his love for Brosnahan’s Lois Lane at the end of the blockbuster reboot, to which she replies, “I love you, too.” When Bailey, 37, called the chuckle and grin Superman gives in response his “favorite moment of chemistry,” Corenswet revealed that he had to fight with Gunn to keep that suave moment in the film.
DC Studios/ Warner Bros.
Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet in ‘Superman’
“I was like, ‘No! The whole point is, ‘I f—ing know that you love me,’” the actor recalled telling his director. Gunn eventually relented and went with Corenswet’s reaction, according to the star. “Credit to James. He was right on 90% of everything, but on that one, he saw that chuckle was a very truthful thing.”
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The steamy smooch that concludes Superman made headlines following the movie’s July 11 release. India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly removed two kissing scenes from the film, calling them “overly sensual.”
Bailey also noted that he and Corenswet “both kiss levitating” in their respective movies, with Bailey starring as Fiyero in Wicked: For Good (in theaters now) opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba a.k.a. Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West.
Calling Bailey by his rightful title as People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Corenswet said he and Erivo had “the bigger challenge” in terms of mid-air lip-locking. “She’s levitating you,” he said. “Every man out there would think there’s no way you can look masculine and powerful and in control when you’re being levitated by a woman. And you, in that moment when she’s lifting you by your f—ing massive arms, maintained your masculinity. Well done, mate.”
“I mean, listen, I’d be carried by both Cynthia and [Ariana Grande] for the rest of my life if I could be,” responded Bailey.
Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage
David Corenswet at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Superman’ on July 7
Variety’s “Actors on Actors” conversation series this season has so far included Grande with Jay Kelly star Adam Sandler; After the Hunt star Julia Roberts with One Battle After Another star Sean Penn; and The Smashing Machine star Dwayne Johnson with Rental Family star Brendan Fraser.
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