“Eat, Lift, Sleep, Repeat”: David Corenswet speaks about his physical transformation for Superman

July 2, 2025 - 6:06 PM IST

Superman, DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, soars into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original Super Hero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor, and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an
Inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.

“Eat, Lift, Sleep, Repeat”: David Corenswet speaks about his physical transformation for Superman

When Superman is drawn into conflicts both abroad and at home, his actions to protect humankind are questioned, and his vulnerability allows tech billionaire and master deceiver Lex Luthor to leverage the opportunity to get Superman out of the way for good. Will the Daily Planet’s intrepid reporter Lois Lane, together with the aid of Metropolis’s other metahumans and Superman’s four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help Superman before Luthor can destroy him?

The film follows Superman’s journey to reconcile his heritage as the Kryptonian Kal-El with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas, and his selfless determination to use his power for good as humanity’s protector. Guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned, he is the embodiment of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.

The film stars David Corenswet in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Neva Howell.

Talking about his prep to look, feel and embody the ultimate superhero Superman, David Corenswet says, "Really, all I could do initially was go to the gym because the actors had gone on strike, and so there were no conversations to be had with James or Peter [Safran] or the costume department or anybody. And we hadn't even discussed what James wanted me to look like physically. I knew that eventually I would do some stunt training and fight training and whatnot, but the only thing that James said was when he called me to tell me I had gotten the role, he said, “You're in good shape, David, but I want to get you a trainer. I want you to work on your shoulders and your vulnerability,” which I thought was a good line. So, when we went on strike, I was all ready to start going to the gym, and I just decided that I would get as big as I could within reason and healthily. That was something that I'd always wanted to do, was put on size."

He further added, "I'd been a skinny guy—as Christopher Reeve said of himself, a string bean—most of my life, so I was excited to have a reason to put on a ton of weight and see what that felt like. Most of the training was to put on weight, you eat a lot, and you lift heavy weights as intensely as you can, basically. So, most of what I did was think about what to eat, eat it, digest it, go to the gym, lift for two and a half hours a day, go home, sleep, and then sort of repeat that cycle. It was definitely at a level of intensity that I'd never pushed myself to before."

DC Studios presents a Troll Court Entertainment / The Safran Company Production, A James Gunn Film, Superman, which will be in Cinemas and IMAX in India on July 11, 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will release in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu in 3D and IMAX 3D.

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