Superman: Official trailer
Superman, one of the year’s most eagerly awaited blockbusters, is set to hit cinemas in just a few days.
The comeback of the cherished DC hero has millions of fans on tenterhooks, hoping that newcomer David Corenswet, 32, can fill those iconic red boots.
Previously recognised for supporting roles in successful films like Pearl and Twisters, as well as streaming dramas The Politician and Hollywood, taking the lead in James Gunn’s rebooted superhero franchise is undoubtedly the actor’s most significant role yet.
He’ll be sharing the screen with The Marvelous Mrs Maisel’s Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and X-Men’s Nicholas Hoult as Superman’s adversary, Lex Luthor.
But what about Corenswet’s personal life away from the spotlight? Let’s delve deeper.
Inside Superman star David Corenswet’s life from marriage to famous grandparent (Image: GETTY)
Marriage to childhood sweetheart
David Corenswet has been wedded to fellow actress Julia Warner, 34, since March 2023. However, their love story began much earlier.
The couple first crossed paths as teenagers at a summer theatre programme while both were growing up in Pennsylvania.
In an interview with People, he confessed they had a “slow burn” romance, leaving it unclear when exactly their friendship blossomed into love.
They tied the knot in New Orleans in an interfaith ceremony, blending Corenswet’s father’s Jewish traditions with the Catholic customs of Warner’s family.
David Corenswet has known his wife Julia Warner since they were teenagers (Image: GETTY)
Warner has featured in the Sarah Paulson-led horror series Ratched as a nurse and has also secured a role alongside Alec Baldwin in the forthcoming film The Cutting Room Floor.
First child
Corenswet and Warner have resettled in Pennsylvania to bring up their first child, a daughter born at the outset of 2024.
Currently, they keep her out of public view and remain tight-lipped about her name; however, the actor recently shared with Access Hollywood that he possesses snapshots of her donning a miniature Superman outfit.
He confided in People: “I feel like I’ve been a dad for a long time, and just waiting for a kid to prove it.
The new Superman star welcomed a daughter last year (Image: WARNER BROS)
“My dad was an enthusiastic father and stayed home with my sister for a period when she was very little, and was very good with kids.
“And so I think I just inherited that. I liked being a camp counsellor, and I have terrible jokes that nobody laughs at.”
Getting into shape
When it comes to fitness regimes for superhero roles, Corenswet disclosed a more relaxed stance on diet and workouts to Men’s Journal.
He managed to bulk up by about 40lbs (18kg) of muscle for his superhuman role but set clear boundaries with his trainer regarding one particular dietary preference.
Corenswet packed on 40lbs of muscle for his superhero physique (Image: GETTY)
“I just said to him: ‘Eating a bowl of cereal makes me a better person. I’m nicer, I’m easier-going’,” he said to Men’s Journal.
“I could not eat cereal for a year, but I would just be a little less joyful and a little edgier. And that’s not a sacrifice that Superman would make.
“Superman’s the kind of guy who’s like, ‘Oh, you want washboard abs? Come on. Have a couple bowls of cereal’. Maybe I was just letting myself off the hook, but I think it was something real.”
Famous relative
While David Corenswet may not be one of the so-called ‘nepo babies’ that seem to fill Hollywood, his lineage does include some notable figures in the entertainment industry. His father, John Corenswet, trod the boards as a stage actor in New York before transitioning to a career in law.
The actor explains how Superman makes choices based on his principles (Image: WARNER BROS)
Yet, it’s another family connection that has left an indelible mark on American pop culture: his maternal grandfather is none other than Edward Packard, the author behind the pioneering Choose Your Own Adventure books that captivated young readers starting in the 1970s.
Discussing how his family background influences his take on Superman with People magazine, Corenswet reflected: “I actually think there’s more to the idea of making choices not solely based on the outcome you think they will bring, but based on the principles with which you navigate life.
“To the point where you can feel like, even if this choice brings me an outcome I didn’t want, I could still look back on it and say that I made the right choice. And then whatever the outcome, at least you can live with yourself; you can feel like you did your best.
“I think that’s a lot of Superman, as well. Superman is less worried about the outcomes of his actions than he is about making sure that he does what he knows is right in the moment.”
Superman hits UK cinemas Friday, 11th July.