Superman: Legacy will officially kick-start the new DC Universe continuity on the big screen when it releases in 2025, and James Gunn's reboot is emulating a Batman narrative decision from Zack Snyder's DCEU. Not much is yet known about Superman: Legacy, though casting details have started to emerge, confirming several heroes like Green Lantern and Hawkgirl who will officially enter the DCU canon with their appearance. Of course, the focus will be on Clark Kent and his adventures as Superman.

Plot details for Clark's next big-screen adventure are still being held under wraps, but we do know that Superman: Legacy won't re-tell Superman's origin story. Per Gunn, who is writing and directing the movie, "I think we've seen his origin enough in film at this time!" While the DCEU does show Bruce Wayne's parents getting shot, it does skip his backstory of becoming the version of Batman seen on screen. While it was likely smart to streamline the introduction of a familiar character like Bruce, it also introduced a few problems that Superman: Legacy will want to avoid.

The DCEU Skipped Much Of Batman's Backstory, But It Caused Some Confusion

Batman has starred in enough beloved movies and TV shows that viewers can be reasonably expected to know who he is, why he does what he does, and how he operates as The Dark Knight. Because of this, and because Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne was introduced in a team-up movie instead of his own solo project, the DCEU presented a truncated version of Bruce's backstory. However, since Affleck is shown as a Batman late in his career, most of his work is left up to the imagination. For the most part, this isn't a problem. However, it also meant that certain DCEU character changes were never fully explored.

Notably, the Batman presented in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is overly violent and jaded, a far cry from the intense but compassionate Bruce normally seen in DC media. Hints are dropped as to why this may be, such as the costume of a dead Robin in the Batcave, but by skimming over important elements of backstory, some of Bruce's characterization comes off as unwarranted, unearned, and unexplained. If Superman: Legacy wants to avoid similar characterization confusion, it must be more careful with what parts of Clark's backstory it chooses to leave out.

Superman: Legacy's Lack Of Backstory Walks A Fine Line

Though his backstory may not quite be as ubiquitous in pop culture as Batman's, the big beats behind who Superman is are similarly known. Enough movies and TV shows have shown or mentioned the destruction of Krypton and why Clark is on Earth that Gunn is correct about it not being necessary to show again. However, given that Man of Steel is the most recent big-screen project to cover Kal-El's youth and that the movie takes big liberties with important plot beats, some might be risky to skip. Most notably, Man of Steel presented a controversial Jonathan Kent, one who was less optimistic and inspiring and more paranoid and unsure.

Related: Every Actor Cast In Superman Legacy (So Far)

While Superman: Legacy's story doesn't need to show the destruction of Krypton, Kal-El crash-landing on Earth, or the Kent's raising Clark, his adoptive parents being a positive and formative impact on who he is may be important context for the older Clark seen in the movie. Of course, there are other options. Clark may still have a close and meaningful relationship with one or both parents in Superman: Legacy, or he could reminisce about their time together even without showing them on-screen.

Why Superman Doesn't Need As Much Backstory As Batman

Superman: Legacy will also benefit from the fact that Superman's background simply isn't as important to explore in detail as that of an older Batman in the DCEU. While broad strokes about where Clark is from are foundational elements of his person, he doesn't need a complicated chain of events to explain his optimism and belief in the potential of humanity to do good. At his best, Superman is guided by a relatively simple set of morals and ethics that drive him to be as good as he can be, and that's easy to understand.

Affleck's Batman was presented as a markedly different character than most interpretations in DC Comics. While that was a good thing in many ways, it also raised valid questions about what happened to him that simply weren't answered. Unless Superman: Legacy plans to make dramatic changes to who Clark Kent is as a person, it should be just fine keeping his backstory to a minimum.