Henry Cavill Perfectly Explained Why The DCU Superman Costume Needed Trunks 11 Years Ago

When Henry Cavill’s Superman was introduced to the DC Universe, the actor made some salient points about the importance of both using and not using trunks in the Man of Steel’s costume. While the former Superman star’s outfit did not have trunks, the DCU Superman costumehas been revealed to include the red underwear over the hero’s suit. The arguments for and against trunks on DC heroes have circulated well before the DC Universe timeline was first announced, with the look generally attached to these characters’ classic iterations. That classic look, however, can help contribute to a sense of legacy.

Costumes are an integral part of the visual vocabulary attached to superheroes. Lately, Marvel has been nailing comic-book looks, especially with the inclusion of Wolverine’s yellow and blue suit in Deadpool & Wolverine. So much of the legacy attached to these heroes is rooted in their appearance, andfinding ways to both stay faithful to the source material and to iterate on it in meaningful ways has helped to solidify these characters in pop culture. These changes tend to reflect their era on the heroes themselves, and Henry Cavill has previously shed light on how this applies to Superman.

Henry Cavill’s DCEU Superman Suit Explanation Also Helps Explain The DCU Costume

Each Superman Suit Tends To Be A Product Of Its Time

Henry Cavill’s Superman was the first live-action iteration to appear without trunks, and his explanation for this helps to illuminate some of the motivations behind bringing them back for David Corenswet’s version of the hero. Speaking to The Feed, Cavill said: “The underwear on the outside was down to circus strongmen being very prevalent in pop culture. And circus strongmen would wear a skin-colored bodysuit with underwear on the outside to save their modesty because of the era.” Noting that these images no longer had that strongman association, the modern choice was to do away with them.

Cavill continued: “That was then. We’re reinventing it now, so already we’re bringing it to a modern age.” However, this was in 2013, so what was modern then is no longer strictly the case. While Man of Steel attempted to reinvent the Superman character through a contemporary lens, the upcoming Superman is rooted instead in legacy. Understanding that, it becomes essential that the new Superman costume pulls from details of the past. Including trunks, despite their dated associations, allows the new suit to reference and celebrate past iterations.

Why The DCU & DCEU Superman Suits Needed To Be Different

Superman’s Suit Should Reflect His Era

Man of Steel was conceived to capitalize on the dark, gritty, and realistic superhero trend that had found great success in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. However, that era has passed. While the franchise slowly changed its version of the character, resulting in the brightest realization in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, it seems that audiences desire a decidedly different version of the Superman character. This needs to be clear even in the visual realization of the hero.

As such, the DCU suit needs to be different to clearly separate itself from the DCEU, especially given the final stretch of the franchise ended on a low note. After the box office failures of Blue Beetle, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and The Flash, ensuring obvious and substantial changes are made to the DC Universe is the best way to signify a fresh start.Fortunately, Superman appears to be doing so in exciting and innovative ways.

Costume Changes Are An Important Part Of Superhero Storytelling

Just as Henry Cavill’s Superman portrayal evolved throughout the series, it is almost certain that details of David Corenswet’s version, including the suit, will develop through the years. Looking at how MCU characters have changed through the years is a good reflection of how a long-running cinematic universe can evolve. While Superman appears to show a somewhat established version of the hero, there will be a great deal of development to the character throughout the many films and series of the new DCU. His outfit will likely change along with this.

Superman has sported many different looks through the years. His trunks have come and gone, and the symbol on his chest has changed drastically from one iteration to the next. James Gunn’s Superman suit appears to have some interesting flourishes, including a raised neck, while also referencing much of the character’s past. However, new suits can symbolize character changes throughout the course of the story. If Superman is as successful as the studio hopes, it is almost certain that different costumes will be worn as the DC Universe unfolds.

A superhero’s costume is not the most important component of their depiction, but a great deal of significance can be packed into that simple visual. Henry Cavill’s Superman needed to reflect the era’s tastes, and it seems that David Corenswet’s Man of Steel will do the same. These features are not static, and they draw evolving influences from different comics, series, and films alike. However, understanding these outfits’ significance in the DC Universe gives a refreshing insight into the direction of the new universe.

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