David Corenswet, the actor who stars as the iconic Superman in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman: Legacy, got candid about what it’s really like wearing the famous superhero suit. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Corenswet shared some behind-the-scenes details about his experience stepping into the Man of Steel’s costume.
The Challenges of the Superman Suit
Corenswet revealed that while there are “lots of zippers” in the suit, there is no single zipper for easy bathroom access, something many might expect given the complexity of superhero costumes. He explained, “There’s no single zipper that allows me to go to the bathroom, which you would think would be quite straightforward.”
Despite the challenges, Corenswet assured fans it wasn’t as bad as it might seem. “But nothing is straightforward about these things. I mean, we talked about it and we tried, and it was not worth the costs that came with it,” he added with a laugh.
When asked if wearing the suit was uncomfortable, Corenswet replied, “Not at all,” emphasizing that he had a great dresser, Scotty, who was there to help him. “I had the most amazing dresser you could ask for, Scotty, who was sort of like a mob fixer.
He was always in my ear going, ‘Do you need a break? Do you need a break? Tell ‘em you need a break and we can step you out. I’ll tell him it’s me.’” Corenswet praised Scotty’s ability to quickly help him in and out of the suit when needed, allowing him to take breaks during long filming days.
First Time in the Suit
The first time Corenswet put on the Superman suit, the experience was not exactly what he expected. “It was very underwhelming. It was in pieces. The S wasn’t even on yet. It was really just about the blue tights,” he recalled.
The actor had to gain about 40 pounds of muscle for the role, and when he tried on the suit for the first time, it was snug. “They had made it to my proportions when I screen-tested, where I weighed about 195 pounds. And when I walked in for my first costume fitting, I weighed about 235, 240 pounds,” Corenswet shared.
The fit was intense. He described feeling a bit claustrophobic in the suit due to the tightness, saying, “You hear actors who play superheroes talking about squeezing into the suits. I got kind of claustrophobic in the suit the first time just being constricted in all those places at the same time.” Despite the initial discomfort, Corenswet grew more accustomed to it.
The Superman Role and His Bond with Rachel Brosnahan
Corenswet was officially announced as Superman in 2023, after beating out other contenders like Patrick Schwarzenegger and Nicholas Hoult. His co-star, Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane, has already developed a strong connection with him.
“James [Gunn] felt like the relationship between Clark and Lois was integral to the heart of the story and the success of the movie, and so we spent a lot of time talking through those scenes and talking about our characters and our relationship,” Corenswet shared.
Superman: Legacy
Superman: Legacy, directed by James Gunn, is set to hit theaters on July 11, and fans are eager to see Corenswet’s portrayal of the Man of Steel. With his commitment to bringing Clark Kent to life and his chemistry with Brosnahan, the film is expected to showcase a new chapter for Superman in the DC Universe.
