‘Really Are the American Way’: Superman Star Highlights How Superhero Movies Show the Good in People

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For years, the conversation about superhero movies has just gotten louder. Although many critically acclaimed filmmakers, with Martin Scorsese as their leader, have denounced superhero films as not being cinema, many esteemed actors have joined the genre and are fiercely defending them.

For example, Superman star Rachel Brosnahan. The actress, who won a Primetime Emmy and two Critics’ Choice Awards for her role as Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel in Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is set to play Lois Lane in James Gunn’s first film in the DCU. Speaking to Deadline on the red carpet at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, Brosnahan praised the genre and explained how the films truly highlight the “American” way, while providing a much-needed distraction.

“We’re living in a moment of so much turmoil, both here, abroad,” the actress explained about the current environment. “There’s a lot of challenges for everybody in all different pockets of the world right now.”

Addressing the superhero genre as a whole, Brosnahan shared, “And for a lot of the complaints that people have sometimes about superhero movies, at their core, they’re about the goodness of people and how good we can be to each other, how the pursuit of truth and justice really are the American way, and that courage and hope can carry us through.”

She also highlighted that she believes the upcoming Superman “really encapsulates all of that,” teasing that it’s a “hopeful superhero movie,” noting that it’s “so true to the comics.”

At the same event, the actress couldn’t help but gush over her co-stars, as well as the DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn, who wrote and directed Superman, as well as Peter Safran. She had only good words about her experience, both with the director and her co-stars, noting the true dedication and energy they brought to the set.

“David [Corenswet] is such a Superman nerd, and it was just a blast,” she continued. “So to feel that kind of energy reflected back at us has just been so encouraging.”

She also has her own Superman background to emphasize her excitement. “I mean, I grew up loving the [Richard] Donner Superman movies, the Chris Reeve Superman movies, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane. I mean, she’s just a dream,” Brosnahan explained. “So, I was definitely intimidated to step into this role but excited to pick up the mantle. And this team just loves this project, and it sounds like it should be a given, but it isn’t always a given that people love what they’re making to this degree. So, that’s what I was looking forward to the most.”

As for what she can tease about the upcoming Superman movie, Brosnahan shared, “David is very strong and Nick [Hoult] is very bald,” she joked.

Superman comes out in theaters on July 11.

Source: Deadline

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