James Gunn Confirms Superman Flight Is CG-Free in New Ad

DC Studios co-chief James Gunn has addressed online criticism regarding Superman's facial expression during a flight sequence, which sparked debate following the release of a new TV spot.

This past weekend, DC Studios unveiled a fresh TV spot for the upcoming Superman film, prompting widespread discussion online about David Corenswet's appearance while flying.

The 30-second video features two new clips: one showing Lex Luthor exiting a helicopter in a snowy, remote location—potentially near the Fortress of Solitude—and another of Superman soaring over an icy terrain, executing a barrel roll as he races toward an unknown target.

Some viewers felt the shot seemed odd because Superman's face appears unusually static despite his hair and cape flowing in the wind. While some attributed this to "awkward CGI," Gunn clarified on Threads that no computer-generated imagery was applied to Superman's face in that scene.

"Looks awesome," a Threads user commented on the spot. "Great camera angle of Superman flying! But something about his face seems a little off. I assume there’s still time to polish the visual effects."

Gunn responded directly: "There is absolutely zero CG on his face. Faces can look different when filmed up close with a wide-angle lens. The background plate from Svalbard is completely real, and so is David." Svalbard refers to the Norwegian archipelago where portions of Superman were filmed.

So, the explanation is clear: Superman's flying face is entirely natural, meaning David Corenswet genuinely maintained a slight, knowing smirk while speeding toward the camera—or while a powerful fan blasted air at him.

Despite this clarification, fans continue to debate the shot, often comparing it to Adam Warlock's flight scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, also directed by James Gunn. As IGN has noted, excitement for the Superman movie remains high alongside discussions about this brief clip. Superman arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025, marking the first installment of the DCU's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. IGN offers additional insights, including a breakdown of all the DC heroes and villains featured in the new trailer, Gunn's comments about Krypto being a rather troublesome dog in the film, an analysis of how Superman embodies hope, and further coverage.