After today’s reveal of the “Superman” runtime, the real story might be what’s happening behind the scenes. I started asking around, and uncovered that the road to release has been anything but smooth for DC Studios’ flagship reboot.
Tensions are high at Warner Bros., where CEO David Zaslav and DC Studios leads James Gunn and Peter Safran are scrutinizing every frame to avoid another franchise misfire.
Sources close to the production say the film received a mixed reception at earlier test screening, triggering a cascade of changes. Gunn’s original cut apparently leaned heavier on humor—something the execs weren’t entirely sold on. In response, several comedic beats were cut, trimming down both tone and runtime.
More intriguingly, one of the film’s editors was quietly removed mid-process, leading to a slight reworking of the film’s structure. This was somewhat of a “tweak,” and signaled a slight shift in how the story was being presented. Some key sequences were shuffled, and minor scenes were added during recent reshoots.
The music department wasn’t spared either. A second composer was brought in late in the game to reshape the score, suggesting the tone may have been in flux as recently as a few weeks ago. It’s all part of what one insider described as a “slight course correction.”
Altogether, about 25 minutes of footage has been trimmed from earlier versions, giving the final cut a leaner feel. The adjustments hint at a studio anxious to get it right—especially with this being the first major installment in the rebooted DC Universe.
The last test screening is set to happen this week. Whether these eleventh-hour changes will pay off remains to be seen, but there is a tad more confidence now that the finished product, which is officially in the can, turns out to be a great film.