David Corenswets Superman Costume Breaks 1 Major 46-Year Tradition

David Corenswet’s Superman suit has been revealed, prompting much discussion over an element that breaks 46 years of tradition. Since James Gunn announced that David Corenswet would be the DCU’s Superman, many have been eager to get a glimpse at how the actor looks as Clark Kent. This has included how the Superman suit will be designed, which holds great importance for both the symbolism of the character and the overall DCU, of which Clark will be the central pillar.

Although the first looks at other members of Superman‘s ensemble cast are also anticipated – such as Lois Lane, Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, and Lex Luthor – none were positioned as important as Corenswet’s debut. In May 2024, James Gunn took to social media to give DCU audiences what they wanted, revealing the first image from the Superman movie that highlighted Corenswet’s suit. With much to dissect and discuss, the discourse around Superman has been focused on one specific aspect of the costume that breaks 46 years of tradition regarding the Son of Krypton.

David Corenswet’s Superman Costume Is The First Live-Action Version To Have A Collar

Corenswet’s Superman Has A Notable Collar

The aspect in question is a high-rising collar sported by David Corenswet’s Superman. This makes the costume in Superman the first in live-action to have a high collar, going all the way back to 1978’s Superman. Since Christopher Reeve’s debut as the Man of Steel, no version of Superman’s costume in live-action has includeda collar, though Gunn’s iteration bucks that trend.

In the image, Corenswet’s Clark can be seen fastening his bright red boots as a mysterious beam of light engulfs Metropolis in the background. While the boots, the glimpse of red trunks, and the Superman symbol have caused a lot of discussion, the collar has undoubtedly stood out to those dissecting the first image of the DCU’s flagship film. This is likely due to the aforementioned break in tradition. Change can often be difficult for fandoms to overcome, specifically with a character as iconic as Superman. With the collar present, 46 years of collar-less Superman suits come to an end.

The DCU Superman Costume’s Collar Has Comics Precedent

The DCU’s Superman Collar Is Honoring A Specific Era Of DC Comics

Interestingly, the DCU’s Superman suit is primarily taking inspiration from the New 52 era of DC Comics that ran between 2011 and 2016. The suit seems to be a blending of three iterations of Superman from the comics, with the collar and seam lines found on Corenswet’s costume being taken directly from the New 52 design. The other elements are taken from the classic Superman suit, such as the trunks, high red boots, and bright colors, while the Superman symbol emulates the “Kingdom Come” version of the character.

Concerning the New 52 specifically, this suit was divisive upon its reveal. Many did not care for how Superman’s suit had become more militaristic, with the bulkiness of the suit giving it an armored feel. This, combined with the seam lines scattered throughout the suit, saw many criticize the New 52 Superman look as they felt it was overdesigned and thus fit closer with a video game version of the character such as Injustice, not matching the usual tone of Clark in DC Comics.

As evident by James Gunn’s image of Corenswet’s Superman costume reveal, these seam lines can be spotted for the DCU suit. This gives Corenswet’s suit a similar militaristic feel, with the collar garnering criticism as it did in the New 52. Many thought that Superman’s New 52 collar made the suit look unnatural when combined with the seams of his cape. It gave the suit the appearance of having two separate parts for the neck and shoulder area, needlessly complicating the classic design without a collar. Given this divisiveness, Corenswet’s Superman collar is facing similar criticism from DC Comics fans.

Other Ways David Corenswet’s Superman Costume Is Different

Corenswet’s Superman Suit Has Other Differences From Past Live-Action Iterations

When comparing Corenswet’s Superman suit to other live-action versions, it has some notable differences besides the collar. As alluded to, the seam lines on Corenswet’s suit are not as prominent on any other Superman suits, be it Reeve’s, Brandon Routh’s, or Henry Cavill’s from the major movie interpretations or Tyler Hoechlin’s from the CW’s Superman & Lois. Similarly, the “Kingdom Come” Superman symbol is new for live-action, at least where movies are concerned. Only Brandon Routh’s version of Superman from the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover possesses this logo, besides Corenswet’s Clark.

Concerning the differences between Corenswet’s and Cavill’s Superman suits, the latter did not possess a red belt or trunks. The former suit does, bringing back the more classical elements that were seen in Reeve’s Superman series and Routh’s Superman Returns. Aside from these elements, there are not many other differences between the suit worn by David Corenswet and his previous live-action counterparts. Undoubtedly, the collar, seam lines, and symbol are the most notable alterations, making the costume from Superman one that breaks tradition as far as live-action interpretations of the Man of Tomorrow are concerned.

Superman (2025)

Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.’ rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill’s departure from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.”

Cast

David Corenswet , Rachel Brosnahan , María Gabriela De Faría