James Gunn Addresses Viral ‘Superman' Plot Hole Debate

James Gunn is weighing in on a fan debate that's been gaining a lot of attention online - and it all comes down to one big question about Superman.

The filmmaker, who wrote and directed the 2025 reboot, recently addressed criticism surrounding what some viewers have labeled a "glaring" plot hole involving Lex Luthor and his failure to uncover Superman's secret identity.

Much of the online conversation has centered around Luthor's glaring oversight. Fans pointed out that the villain goes as far as creating a clone of Superman and even breaks into the Fortress of Solitude and accessing personal data. In one scene, images of Jonathan and Martha Kent are even visible in the background, raising eyebrows about how Luthor didn't connect the dots.

But of course, Gunn has an explanation.

Posting to Threads on April 28, per the account @DCFilmNews, Gunn wrote: "Lex doesn’t know who he is but I don’t know how he would. A) Lex thinks Superman is a disconnected alien who wants to take over the world, so I’m not sure why he’d assume he has a ‘secret identity.' B) Hypno Glasses are real. Clark looks like another person. C) Being a genius in some ways (in Lex’s case, genetics, electrochemistry, nanotechnology, nuclear & quantum physics, to name a few) doesn’t mean you are a genius in all fields. Like many scientists (& artists!) he can miss basic things."

The film, which stars David Corenswet as the next-generation Man of Steel, has been a major success for DC Studios, earning positive reviews and pulling in roughly $619 million worldwide. Still, as with any major franchise launch, not everyone is on the same page.

While many fans have embraced the film's brighter, more hopeful tone (compared to the darker era led by Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill) others are holding the new universe to a more detail-oriented standard.

Still, for Gunn, the answer may be simpler than fans expect. At the end of the day, it's a Superman story, and sometimes, a little suspension of disbelief is part of the ride.

The sequel, "Superman: Man of Tomorrow," is already in production and is set to hit theaters in 2027.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 8:05 AM.