Neat-o news: Beck Bennett, who was on SNL for 8 seasons, has joined James Gunn's SUPERMAN. He'll be a member of the intrepid Daily Planet newsroom. https://t.co/UtoIyTwuOV

— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) June 5, 2024

I have a theory.

One that will almost assuredly turn out to be wrong, but I'm going to put it out there nonetheless...

The "bagginess" of the suit from the initial pic a while back... the red trunks... that thick gold belt... what we can see of the spit curl, etc... is all starting to look VERY retro/1940s to me. Like, almost blatantly so.

In that regard, I'm wondering if this Superman is actually from the past. And has somehow time traveled to/ended up in modern day Metropolis.

What if the untraditional versions who were cast, of Ma & Pa Kent, look the way they do because they're from the 1920s, when Clark was raised? And just before, or right as, he became Superman (in the 1940s), he somehow got caught up in a superhero fight of some kind, in sci-fi fashion, that inadvertently sent him to the present day?

We know this world is already populated with superheroes. And there are strong hints that a lot of them are cynical, edgy, etc. In contrast, this iteration of Superman "is guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned." That's from the official logline, and the apparent thematic crux of the movie.

Well, what if that "old-fashioned kindness" literally comes from the past? What if that's why he acts/looks the way he does?

Yes, it might be a little too Captain Americany, but I still think it could work, and work well, potentially. Ha, at least that's what I'm telling myself, and how I'm going to rationalize the look until we hear otherwise.

I like the idea. It wouldn't likely be something like being frozen in ice for 70 years, though. Maybe he learns of his alien origins in the past and spends those years on a search for what remains of Krypton.

However it turns out, I like the attention to detail they are revealing in those shots. Given my life long love of the character, this is my most anticipated movie for next year.

Clark Kent clearly didn't go to journalism school. You can't quote yourself or put yourself in the story. Can that chump.

Let's say Clark Kent/Superman is 30 years old in this movie and that it takes place in 2025...

- Instead of landing on Earth from Krypton as a baby in 1995, I'm speculating that maybe he landed on Earth from Krypton as a baby in, say, 1920.

- He then grew up in Smallville, Kansas during the 1920s, '30s, and '40s. Just like in the original comics.

- He then maybe even moved to Metropolis and became Superman in the 1940s. Perhaps the world back then even knew Superman, as in he became a beloved superhero figure - or - maybe he only had just become Superman, and the world never got to know him.

- Either way, something happened to him - potentially under some crazy, sci-fi circumstances - where he gets transported to modern day. Or, like Cinco Ranch Aggie said, maybe he goes in search of his origins and returns to Earth decades latter. Or, another idea I just had... what if his transformation in the Fortress of Solitude lasts decades, or there's some kind of quantum time jump from entering/exiting it?

- Regardless, he then finds himself in modern day, where superheroes are the norm, and (according to what we know of the plot) they're somewhat more cynical, edgy, and all-around very James Gunn-esque.

- In contrast, however, according to the official logline, Superman is "guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned." So all I'm proposing is that maybe that "old-fashioned kindness" comes from Superman (and his suit) literally being old-fashioned. As in, he's a time traveler from the past.

The more I think about it, the more it would also make sense as an introduction to the new DCU. What if the first 15-20 minutes or so of the movie are set in the '20s/'30s/'40s, but then, through Clark's/Superman's eyes, we enter this new, modern world, and learn about it from his point of view. Instead of simply dropping the audience into the new DCU from minute one of the movie, what if we're somewhat gradually led into it through Clark's/Superman's perspective? How cool would that be?

TCTTS said:

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That could be an interesting take as well. He leaves Earth in the '40s, on some kind of spiritual journey or whatever to the remnants of Krypton, and then returns to Earth decades later. With the same 1940s values, the same 1940s suit, etc.

Either way, if this basic theory is true, I think he also gets a new, more modern suit by movie's end.

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Boy is he in for a demographic and cultural surprise.