James Gunn Resisted Superman’s Red Trunks Until David Corenswet’s Pitch to Add Them to the Costume: ‘Trying to Make It Look Serious Is Silly’

variety.com:

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Some of the biggest headlines to emerge while James Gunn was shooting “Superman” came from set photo leaks that revealed the new Man of Steel costume would include the superhero’s iconic red trunks.

Zack Snyder famously got rid of this part of Superman’s costume during Henry Cavill’s tenure with the character. But now the red trunks are back and being worn by new Superman actor David Corenswet, which prompted debates online among fans over whether or not the trunks are just too silly-looking.

Speaking to press on the set of “Superman” earlier this year (via Gizmodo), the film’s writer-director Gunn revealed that he was “on the no trunks team for a long time.” It wasn’t until Corenswet spoke up himself in support of Superman’s red trunks that Gunn realized he had to include them. “We were trying on all these different versions, and we screened tested with trunks and no trunks,” Gunn said. “And one of the things David said is that Superman wants kids to not be afraid of him.

He’s an alien. He’s got these incredible powers. He shoots beams out of his eyes…He’s incredibly powerful and could be considered scary.