James Gunn reveals how he first spotted David Corenswet for Superman during casting process

Director James Gunn credits David Corenswet’s performance in the 2022 horror film Pearl as the key factor behind his casting as Superman. In a recent interview cited by Konbini, Gunn explained that he discovered Corenswet while watching Pearl, a prequel to Ti West’s slasher film X. Although Corenswet’s role as “The Projectionist” was a supporting one, it left a strong impression on Gunn, who was in the midst of casting Superman at the time.

“I was watching Pearl, and I saw a character who I thought looked like he could possibly be Superman,” Gunn said. “I looked up his name on IMDb and asked for him to be brought in.” Gunn recalled watching Corenswet’s audition tape and being immediately impressed: “He was amazing... that guy’s funny.”

Corenswet's performance ultimately secured him the coveted role in Gunn’s Superman, a film that has already proven to be a box office hit. Within days of its release, it nearly recouped its $225 million production budget and has received largely positive reviews from both audiences and critics.

Pearl, starring Mia Goth as a young woman with violent ambitions of stardom, was produced on a modest $5 million budget and earned over $10 million at the box office. The film was a critical success as well, scoring 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and spawning a sequel, MaXXXine, in 2024.

Corenswet’s path from indie horror to superhero stardom highlights Gunn’s instinct for recognizing untapped talent. Superman is currently playing in theaters, while Pearl is available to stream on HBO Max.