Nostalgia Meets Modern Design in the 2025 Superman Movie
When James Gunn unveiled the first official image of David Corenswet stepping into the iconic Superman suit this past May, the internet lit up but not merely because of the looming alien threat in the background. Instead, all eyes (and tweets) zeroed in on one bold design detail: the return of the Superman red underpants.
Yes, the classic red trunks that have long sparked debates among fans and designers alike are back on the silver screen after more than a decade.
For TV and movie enthusiasts, this is an exciting moment that taps into Superman’s rich visual history while mixing with the evolving tastes of comic and cinema culture. So let’s delve into why the Superman red trunks have sparked such anger, excitement, and cultural conversation as we gear up for the 2025 movie.
Superman’s costume has arguably become one of the most recognizable superhero uniforms in cinematic history but the red underpants are a polarizing feature. The trunks first gained mainstream acceptance through the classic comics and various animated series, but by the 2010s, many fans and creators saw them as outdated. When Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013) debuted a sleeker, trunkless Superman costume, it marked a seismic shift in superhero aesthetics.
The "no red underpants" look was then adopted by subsequent DC projects, including the hit show Superman & Lois (2021), which flirted briefly with the classic look but ultimately stuck with the modern style. So when the new 2025 film revealed a Superman suit complete with the red underpants- juxtaposed with a high collar inspired by Jim Lee’s celebrated 2011 New 52 redesign - it reignited passionate debate.
“We were trying on all these different versions, and we screened tested with trunks and no trunks, and one of the things David said is that Superman wants kids to not be afraid of him. He’s an alien. He’s got these incredible powers. He shoots beams out of his eyes…He’s incredibly powerful and could be considered scary. He wants people to like him. He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity. So he dresses like a professional wrestler. He dresses in a way that makes people unafraid of him, that shows that hope and shows that positivity. And that really clicked in for me.”
- James Gunn, via Gizmodo.
Critics of the red underpants see them as a charming relic from a bygone era that hasn't aged well visually, likening them to an underwear-over-pants trope that feels impractical for today’s darker, grittier superhero stories. What is the realistic reason the trunks exist over the suit in the first place? Supporters, however, argue the trunks are an essential piece of visual identity, a symbol that connects modern Superman to decades of comic book tradition and wholesome heroism. This tug-of-war between nostalgia and reinvention is at the heart of the Superman red underpants controversy.
It’s no surprise James Gunn, known for blending irreverence with deep respect for source material (Guardians of the Galaxy, Peacemaker), would embrace this polarizing element. The decision to reintegrate the red underpants into Superman’s look demonstrates a desire to acknowledge the character’s long history while updating his image for a new generation. The high collar nod to Jim Lee’s New 52 design - a fan-favorite that famously abandoned the trunks - signals that Gunn’s creative team is mixing eras, combining the best aspects of Superman lore. This design choice hints at a layered narrative approach: honoring Superman’s classical roots and his evolving identity in a darker, more complex world.
By choosing to include the red trunks, the film’s costume designers are inviting audiences to revisit their feelings about what Superman represents. Is he a timeless symbol of hope and optimism, steadfast in his traditional costume? Or should he reflect a more modern, sleek, and somewhat alien aesthetic befitting a 21st century hero facing new kinds of threats? The answer may not be simple, but it certainly makes the Superman red underpants more than just a costume detail, but a storytelling device in its own right.
Surely in the modern day this camp throwback would not go un-noticed by the other characters around him? Surely it would be of debate on the Metropolis version of Twitter? Lois Lane in 2025 may have "got the ick" from seeing Clark debut his underpants on the outside of his superhero suit! In an era where everything is scrutinised and every detail serves a purpose, why does Clark still suit up with the trunks?
“I think trying to pretend that Superman’s costume doesn’t have some frivolity to it at its base, trying to make it look serious, is silly because he is a superhero... he’s the first one, brightly colored and that’s who he is.”
- James Gunn, via Gizmodo
The Superman red underpants have been referenced, parodied, and celebrated across decades of pop culture. From classic Lois & Clark episodes to satirical nods in The Simpsons and Family Guy, the crimson trunks have become shorthand for Superman’s unique blend of old-school charm and superhero convention. The 2006 film Superman Returns was the last major cinematic moment to include the red trunks, embedding the feature in a particular era of Superman. Since then, cultural tastes shifted toward minimalism and functionality in superhero costumes, not to mention the rise of darker, grittier adaptations like Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.
Reintroducing the red underpants now feels like a love letter to long-time fans and a challenge to newer viewers to reconsider why costumes matter beyond aesthetics. They carry history, evoke emotion, and act as visual storytelling anchors. In this way, the 2025 Superman movie may use this seemingly small detail as a powerful narrative touchstone - perhaps even shaping how we see Superman’s character journey amid the looming alien threats hinted at in that first official photo. It may be a significant tell as to the direction James Gunn intends to take Superman in his first outing in the DCU.
