Alex Garfin, who plays Jordan Kent, a.k.a. Superboy, inSuperman & Lois, talks about James Gunn’sDC Universeand his thoughts on the direction of the franchise. The CW is getting closer to wrapping up its time with the DC brand as the Arrowverse concludes this year withSuperman & Loisseason 4, which is only a few episodes away from its series finale. But as one universe comes to its end, another one is getting ready to kick off withGunn’s DC Universefranchise from DC Studios.
During an exclusive interview withScreen RantforSuperman & Loisseason 4,Garfin was asked about his thoughts on the direction for David Corenswet’s Superman, as the Jordan Kent actor has now been part of this iconic franchise for multiple years. While adding that he thinks thatSuperman & Loisand Gunn’s DC Universe could have co-existed, Garfin looked at how the new continuity is taking a different approach from previous DC superhero incarnations, while adding his admiration of Gunn as a filmmaker:
Alex Garfin:Look, I feel my personal belief is that the two were different enough [that] they could have coexisted. It looks very different. I think that’s why James Gunn is so good at what he does, is that he makes it look - it’s not campy per se - It’s more like it just has this veneer of you’re watching something that is a little bit elevated from reality, which is very different from that Christopher Nolan’s school of when we saw the Dark Knight movies. They were so incredible because they’re like, ‘Whoa, this looks like real life, and these characters are so interesting and dark,’ and I think Superman & Lois falls a little bit more in that Nolan-esque school of grounding these characters in something, whereas from other work I’ve seen of James Gunn, he goes the other direction, which I think is brilliant in itself. I don’t know what his plan is with the Superman movie. I haven’t spoken to him. I’ve actually never met the guy. We’ve talked on Instagram briefly, so we’ll see what happens. We’ll see what happens.
Garfin also mentioned how the changes DC has undergone may be a sign of how different the industry for TV and film has become today. TheSuperman & Loisstar commented on the many transitions that have been happening in Hollywood lately, as he shared the following:
Alex Garfin:It looks like they’re trying a new strategy.I don’t really know. I also know there are a lot of bigger mechanisms that work here. Warner Bros. also went through a transition. There’s a lot - the entire state of the entertainment industry is in a state of transition that I don’t know if we’re going to get out of anytime soon. I definitely think it hit its bottom with the strike, but we’ll never see it was almost. It was a bit of a bubble in a way that they thought there was demand for all these very niche shows, and they kept making more and more and more content, and eventually there wasn’t enough screen time because our eyes were being drifted away now to TikTok and Instagram. So whether or not James Gunn, taking it back to Superman & Lois, just wants to captain this ship in a way that he knows will work given that everything’s in flux, who knows? It’s a business decision at the end of the day.
What Alex Garfin’s DC Universe Comments Mean
The commentary about having both projects co-exist stems back to the report that emerged earlier this year when The CW president of entertainment, Brad Schwartz revealed thatGunn’s DC Universe franchise causedSuperman & Lois’endingto happen. According to Schwartz, it was becauseWarner Bros. didn’t"want a competing Superman product in the marketplace.“There has currently been no official response to Schwartz’s statement from Gunn, DC Studios or Warner Bros. Discovery.
Garfin’s comment on how this decision is a new tactic for Warner Bros. Discovery is also noteworthy, astime will tell how this current approach works for DC Studios in the long run. IftheSupermanmoviewill be the only live-action iteration of the Man of Steel for the next couple of years, that could restrict other story opportunities that could be explored with the DC icon in an Elseworlds setting. But for now, the world will have to wait and see how Gunn’s DC Universe plans pan out for DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery as a whole.
Our Take On Alex Garfin’s DC Universe Comments
While Warner Bros. Discovery may not be looking at the multiverse element anymore when it comes to their DC IPs, there is seemingly no reason whySuperman & Loiscouldn’t have ended at least with season 5 while the DC Universe gets up and running, especially given the differences between the releases that Garfin references. Indeed,The BatmanandThe Penguinsuggest there is value in keeping an Elseworld property alive. But for now, fans can look forward to the remaining episodes ofSuperman & Loisseason 4 in the next couple of weeks.
CatchSuperman & Loisseason 4, episode 5, tonight at 8/7c on The CW.
Superman & Lois
Based on the characters from DC Comics, Superman & Lois follows Clark Kent and Lois Lane, attempting to live a quiet life in Smallville with their twin sons Jonathan and Jordan. Unfortunately for the couple, their lives continue to be effected by Clark’s superhero identity and powers. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch star as Clark and Lois, with Jordan Elsass and Alex Garfin portraying the couple’s sons.
