During a recent interview with Forbes, Deborah Snyder (executive producer for Justice League) defended the new version of Superman presented in the DCEU. If the comics and the Richard Donner version of the character were seen as a symbol of hope and everything that is right in the world, the DCEU version of Superman is brooding and dark, pretty much like a superpowered Batman.
But was this Zack Snyder’s intention? Did he actually want to ruin this symbol? According to Deborah Snyder, this version of the superhero isn't dark at all. Instead, this is a deconstructed version of Superman, who was then updated for the present day. According to the executive producer, this deconstruction was something that needed to happen:
I mean, Zack really loves Joseph Campbell and the hero's journey. And these characters are just so mythic, and their journeys - I always say their journeys are what we can relate to. Because we can't relate to their powers, so what do you have? That's the great thing about our Superman. He is more relatable. Someone said, "It's so dark," and I go, "Well, is it dark? He's going through real problems that we go through as people every day." To me that's not dark, that's life. We're complicated people. And we're making him in that way more relatable (via Forbes).
From this point of view, the DCEU's Superman is certainly a flawed and more humane character, rather than being the epitome of virtue. And he is most certainly a relatable character - more relatable than if he were perfect.
However, as we’ve said many times, maybe this darkness/deconstruction isn't the reason why so many fans have become alienated. Maybe it is the little details, the way in which Superman/Kal-El learns to be a human, that don't work - scenes like the unnecessary death of Pa Kent (and his subsequent return in Batman v Superman), destroying a trucker's livelihood, failing to aid civilians after a bombing, the mood swings, and so on and so forth.
Maybe what doesn't work is how these small scenes are written, shot, and presented to the audiences.
Now, Justice League presents a new opportunity for all those involved in the creation of DCEU's Superman. After his death and his return to life, those involved in the creation of the character for the big screen can help rebuild him from scratch.
