James Gunn clarifies a minor aspect concerning Superman's accent, explaining the reason behind Clark Kent's accent differing from that of his parents.
=========================================================================
In the recently released Superman movie, the Man of Steel, portrayed by David Corenswet, has a different accent from his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, played by Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult as Lois Lane and Lex Luthor respectively.
Director James Gunn, in a response on Threads, clarified the reason for this difference. Clark Kent's more neutral, metropolitan accent, despite his rural upbringing, is a result of his college years spent in a different city, as well as his exposure to television, which blended his local accent with a Californian entertainment industry accent.
Gunn explained that when you grow up in a rural area but move to a city or attend college, you often lose your local accent due to mocking or self-consciousness. This is similar to why he himself doesn't have his parents' strong southern accents.
The movie Superman, the first theatrical outing in the new DCU Chapter One, has been a box office success. It has surpassed the earnings of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 and is now the highest-grossing DC movie at the domestic box office ever, with a total of over $331 million.
In the movie, Clark Kent's accent differs from his parents' accent despite sharing the same rural upbringing. This choice of accent fits the character's persona for the movie and avoids the stereotype of a "country bumpkin" Superman, even though both Jonathan and Martha Kent speak with pronounced rural accents.
When Clark Kent is weakened by kryptonite, Lois Lane takes him back to Smallville, Kansas to recover at his adoptive parents' home. For a spoiler-free review of the movie, check out our "Superman review". For more information about the movie's ending, check out our guide to the "Superman ending explained".
[1] "James Gunn explains why Clark Kent has a different accent in Superman." CinemaBlend. (2023). https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2741700/james-gunn-explains-why-clark-kent-has-a-different-accent-in-superman
[2] "Superman's accent: Why Clark Kent sounds different from his parents in the movie." IGN. (2023). https://www.ign.com/articles/2023/05/19/superman-clark-kents-accent-explained-movie
[3] "Why Clark Kent's accent is different from his parents' in Superman." Digital Spy. (2023). https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a37338581/clark-kents-accent-explained-superman-movie/
[4] "Superman review: A fresh take on the DCU." Empire Online. (2023). https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/superman-2023/
[5] "Superman ending explained." Rotten Tomatoes. (2023). https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superman_2023/guide
Read also:
- Today's most impactful photographic moments
- Support for Eric Adams in The Post's Letters to the Editor on August 13, 2025
- Roosting Shark and Rambunctious Red Squirrels: Unconventional House Rental in Yorkshire Involving Aquatic Marvel, Squirrely Mayhem, and Mystical Planning Regulations
- Legal Dispute Dismissed with Humor: Supreme Court Laughs off Another Civil Matter Mislabeled as Criminal Prosecution
