Imagine discovering that your parents, the ones you've idolized your whole life, actually sent you to a new world with instructions to conquer it—literally. That's the shocking twist in James Gunn's Superman film that's got fans buzzing.
Ever since the buzz around the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, started heating up, fans have been speculating about who might reprise their roles from the original movie. But there's one actor who dodged the question entirely when pressed about it recently—and it all ties back to one of the most controversial plot points in superhero cinema history. Let's dive in and unpack this, step by step, so even if you're new to the DC Universe, you'll get why this matters.
To set the scene, as Superman's 2025 release approached, director James Gunn kept things under wraps when it came to casting the Man of Steel's biological parents. He didn't announce who would play Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, Superman's Kryptonian mom and dad. But spoilers from early screenings spilled the beans: Bradley Cooper and Angela Sarafyan were cast in those roles. What made this casting even more intriguing was the twist revealed in the film itself—a curveball that left many fans reeling.
But here's where it gets controversial—and it's the part most people miss if they haven't seen the movie yet. In a pivotal scene, when Lex Luthor hacks into the Fortress of Solitude, we learn that Jor-El and Lara didn't send their baby son, Kal-El (who becomes Clark Kent on Earth), with heroic intentions. Instead, they dispatched him as a conqueror, targeting our planet specifically because they viewed humans as weak and easy to dominate. To make matters even more unsettling, the message implies that Kal-El should impregnate as many Earth women as possible to create a 'harem' and rebuild the Kryptonian race. It's dark stuff, right? Luthor weaponizes this info to sway public opinion against Superman, who at first assumes the hologram must be a fake. But nope—it's real in this DC Universe.
This portrayal flips the script on Jor-El and Lara, who in comics and past adaptations are usually noble heroes guiding their son from the stars. It raises big questions about destiny versus choice. James Gunn, the mastermind behind it all, doubled down on this in an interview with Rolling Stone, insisting there won't be any retcons or reversals. He explained that the core of the movie is Superman realizing his true morality comes from within, not from external programming. 'Superman thinks he is doing something because it is his destiny and his Kryptonian parents have set him out to do this thing,' Gunn said. 'Along the way, he discovers through the love of the people who are actually his parents [the Kents] that he’s doing these things not because of someone else, but because of himself. It’s like taking accountability in the deepest way possible that his morality is not based on some figure outside of himself, but on his own choices. I think it’s really beautiful in that way, and I’m not gonna change that.'
Gunn went further, clarifying that Jor-El and Lara aren't portrayed as outright villains. 'I don’t really even think of Jor-El and Lara as being totally evil,' he added. 'They just have this mindset that humans are less than what they are. We’re sea turtles to them. They’re just trying to keep the Kryptonian genes alive.' Think about it: it's like viewing other species as inferior, which could spark debates on colonialism or ethical hierarchies in storytelling. Is this a bold reimagining that challenges traditional superhero narratives, or does it go too far by tarnishing beloved characters?
This divisive twist has split opinions wide open, but it also opens doors to fascinating future plots. Could Jor-El return as a redeemed figure, or perhaps as a more antagonistic force? That's where Bradley Cooper's recent interview comes in. When Variety asked him if he'd reprise Jor-El in Man of Tomorrow, he sidestepped it completely—by gushing about how much he's enjoying the second season of Peacemaker, another Gunn project. As the tweet from Variety put it: '#BradleyCooper shares his love for James Gunn's #Peacemaker after being asked if he'll return for the upcoming "Superman" sequel. Cooper, who previously voiced Rocket Raccoon in Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy, briefly appeared as Jor-El in the latest "Superman" film.' It's a classic move for actors under strict non-disclosure agreements, avoiding spoilers at all costs.
But let's talk about the elephant in the room: Would fans even want to see this version of Jor-El again? On one hand, it could lead to compelling redemption arcs or deeper explorations of Superman's identity. On the other, some might argue it's time to revert to the heroic Kryptonian parents we know and love, without the conqueror baggage. For beginners, this controversy highlights how modern blockbusters often shake up classic stories to provoke thought—much like how Marvel's Loki evolved from villain to anti-hero.
What do you think? Is Gunn's take on Jor-El a fresh, thought-provoking spin that adds layers to Superman's mythos, or does it unfairly sully a cornerstone of DC lore? Do you want Bradley Cooper back as this flawed father figure in the sequel, or would you prefer a complete reimagining? Hit the comments below and let's debate—I'm curious to hear your takes!
