James Gunn has revealed that the big Jor-El twist in Superman is real. Spoilers for Superman follow in this article.
In a highly controversial reimagining of Superman’s origin story, director James Gunn’s 2025 film Superman introduces a shocking twist: a holographic message from Kal-El’s biological parents, Jor-El and Lara, urging him not to protect Earth, but to conquer it.
James Gunn confirms that the Kryptonian message in ‘SUPERMAN’ is real and not doctored.
(via @joshuahorowitz) pic.twitter.com/CwTZWW77dK
— DCU Brief (@DCUBrief) July 19, 2025
This revelation has sparked intense debate among fans, many of whom hoped it was a fabrication by the villain Lex Luthor or a setup for future redemption. However, Gunn has explicitly confirmed the message’s authenticity, emphasizing its role in exploring Superman’s internal heroism.
The Controversial Message and Its Plot Significance
In the film, which hit theaters on July 11, 2025, Lex Luthor (played by Nicholas Hoult) deciphers a corrupted portion of a Kryptonian hologram stored in the Fortress of Solitude. The message from Jor-El (Bradley Cooper) and Lara (Angela Sarafyan) initially appears loving, expressing pride in their son and his potential for good.
Rahcel Brosnahan as Lois Lane in Superman – YouTube, DC
However, the decoded section reveals a darker intent: they instruct Kal-El to take multiple wives, produce offspring to revive the Kryptonian race, and, if humanity resists, to subjugate the planet through force. This revelation frames Kal-El’s arrival as an invasion rather than a salvation.
This bombshell drives the movie’s central conflict. Luthor leaks the recording to the media, eroding public trust in Superman (David Corenswet) and triggering a crisis of faith for the hero.
Superman fighting an unknown enemy in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
Superman grapples with his heritage, questioning whether his benevolent nature stems from Kryptonian destiny or his upbringing by Ma and Pa Kent. Ultimately, he overcomes the turmoil by exposing Luthor’s manipulations and replacing the hologram with childhood footage of his adoptive parents, symbolizing his choice to embrace humanity over Krypton. Gunn describes this arc as the film’s “thesis statement,” where Superman’s actions arise from his inner convictions, not external directives.
Fan Theories and Backlash
Since spoilers surfaced shortly after the film’s release, fans have speculated wildly. Many insisted the message must be doctored by Luthor, perhaps as a ploy to undermine Superman, or that it would be retconned in a sequel to reveal a misunderstanding.
Lex Luthor in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
Others drew parallels to darker superhero narratives like Invincible or Brightburn, accusing Gunn of injecting “creepy” elements into the iconic character.
On X, users like @Haydenbarton_39 lambasted the change, calling it hypocritical for Gunn supporters who previously criticized Zack Snyder’s darker takes on Superman lore.
Reactions ranged from outrage—”character assassination” of Jor-El—to reluctant acceptance, with some praising the added depth to Superman’s heroism.
Superman withstands fire in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
One popular theory posited that the hologram wasn’t truly from Jor-El and Lara, but from a villain like General Zod or Brainiac, given the film’s lack of visual confirmation of the speakers’ identities. However, Gunn has dismissed such ideas outright
Gunn’s Confirmation and Rationale
In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn laughed off doubts about the message’s legitimacy, stating, “How can someone not think it’s real? I don’t understand…” Apparently the director can’t wrap his mind around one of his decisions being so unpopular that even fans who liked the movie are desperate to explain it away.
Mr. Terrific in James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
He highlighted three in-film validations: Mister Terrific affirms no tampering occurred; the Secretary of Defense acknowledges its authenticity; and even Luthor admits it’s genuine, expressing surprise that Superman’s parents aided his downfall.
Gunn elaborated on his creative choice in interviews with outlets like Inverse and ComicBookMovie, explaining it as a deliberate “big swing” to challenge Superman without eroding his core integrity.
Superman and Lois Lane kiss while flying in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
“I’m a huge Superman fan,” he said, “so first of all I had to trust myself that I was going to honor the pieces of Superman that we needed to keep the same. And also allow myself to make changes where changes might work and wouldn’t go against the integrity of who the character is.”
The twist forces Superman into a personal crisis, reinforcing that his heroism is self-derived, inspired by the Kents rather than his birth parents. Gunn added, “I didn’t want to take something away from him that was elemental to who he was, but I did want him to deal with a personal crisis.”
Nicholas Holt as Lex Luthor in Superman – YouTube, DC
He also addressed concerns by pointing to comic precedents, noting it’s “few and far between, but it’s happened.”
Examples include the SyFy series Krypton (where a young Jor-El is adopted by Brainiac), Flashpoint Beyond (an invading Jor-El), the New Krypton storyline (Kryptonians seeking dominion over Earth), and All-Star Superman (a ruthless Kryptonian couple akin to Jor-El and Lara).
Additionally, the TV show Smallville featured Jor-El’s AI initially trying to program Clark for conquest.
Future Implications and Reception
Gunn has indicated no plans to revisit the twist in sequels like Superman 2, viewing it as resolved. Superman’s focus remains on his chosen path, not Kryptonian mandates.
Superman beaten down in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
While the change has divided audiences—some decry it as undermining Superman’s inspirational roots, others applaud it for humanizing the character—the film has been praised by many for its emotional depth and strong performances.
As debates rage on X and beyond, Superman stands as a provocative entry in the DC Universe, blending tradition with innovation.
