Worried Superman Will Be Confusing With So Many Superheroes and Villains Already Established? Don't Be, James Gunn Says: 'Oppenheimer Has 3 Times as Many Speaking Roles as We Do' News - Latest Updates and Information

Superman has a lot to pack into its runtime. Following multiple trailer reveals, fans have been curious about how Superman will balance its growing ensemble cast. As the launchpad for the rebooted DC Universe, the film centers on a core trio—Clark Kent / Superman, Lois Lane, and the primary antagonist Lex Luthor—but it also introduces a wide array of heroes and villains set to appear in this summer’s highly anticipated blockbuster.

The story unfolds in a world where superheroes and supervillains already exist. By the time we meet him, Superman has been active for several years, meaning there's no need for origin stories for characters like Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho. Their presence is woven naturally into the fabric of this universe.

So, was writer and director James Gunn concerned about overwhelming audiences by dropping them into a fully realized world teeming with established characters?

In an interview with Esquire Philippines, Gunn revealed that early test screenings showed no signs of confusion among viewers.

“No, not really—because I've screened the movie for so many people and seen that people aren't confused,” he said. “So I know from fact that it's not confusing.”

Gunn explained that the supporting cast can be viewed through a simple lens: Superman has two circles of friends—his work friends and his play friends. Whether the Justice Gang counts as leisure or professional connections remains open to interpretation, but the idea is that these characters function just like any supporting players in a traditional film.

“We're used to seeing movies with protagonists, and Superman is definitely the protagonist of Superman. He has his work friends and he has his play friends,” Gunn said. “Now, I don't know if the Justice Gang are his play friends or if his colleagues at the Daily Planet are work friends or play friends—but that's the two groups of his friends from different places. And just because they have insignias on their costumes or superpowers doesn't mean they're not like any other supporting character in any movie.”

He even compared Superman to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, pointing out that the Oscar-winning biopic features far more speaking roles: “I think Oppenheimer has three times as many speaking roles as we do,” Gunn noted. “So I think people are fine.”

As for runtime, Superman—set to premiere in theaters on July 11—runs for 2 hours and 9 minutes, including credits and a post-credits scene. That makes it 15 minutes shorter than Henry Cavill’s 2013 Man of Steel.