The Superman origin story has been interpreted in a million different ways throughout fiction. But in “Brightburn,” the classic origin for the Big Blue Boyscout is remixed and, frankly, terrifying.
In the new trailer, we see just what would happen if an alien is sent to Earth, raised by a loving farming couple in a small town, and begins to display superhuman powers. However, where Clark Kent began a life of saving people and becoming the ultimate superhero, Brandon Breyer takes the bullying received by his peers and begins a reign of terror, utilizing his incredible powers for evil.
And honestly, who else could come up with something like this other than James Gunn? The writer-director of the two ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ films is on board this production as the producer, which makes complete sense given his filmography. Gunn has taken superhero mythology and spun it to extremes before with his film “Super” starring Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page.
“Brightburn” is something entirely new, however. Mixing “Man of Steel” with the possessed child horror film will surely raise a few eyebrows with audiences. The film is directed by David Yarovesky and written by Gunn’s brothers Mark and Brian.
“Brightburn” will hit theaters on May 24.
Here’s the synopsis:
What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? In this horrific take on the classic superhero trope, a couple (Elizabeth Banks and David Denman) adopts a baby who came from the stars. While they attempt to raise the boy (Jackson A. Dunn) to use his powers for good, an evil begins to grow inside that he unleashes.