Photo: Warner Bros./Everett Collection
Spoilers ahead for the plot and ending of Superman.
Unlike most superhero movie post-credits scenes, the ones in James Gunn’s Superman don’t set up any sequels or spin-offs. That’s reserved for the actual ending. But there are two moments during and after the credits that play like deleted scenes, showing off how well actor David Corenswet fits the part of DC’s Man of Steel.
In between Superman’s Richard Donner-style credit blocks and the actual scroll of names, we’re given a brief shot of Superman (Corenswet) and his super-dog Krypto sitting quietly on the moon, watching the Earth from afar. It doesn’t last more than a few seconds — and we’ve actually already seen this shot. (James Gunn shared it on social media back in October.) While it doesn’t add much to the overall narrative, it adds to the scope of Superman’s godlike powers, while providing a peek into the isolation he feels from the rest of the world.
The scene harkens back to several moments from the comics, including one from Tom King and Andy Kubert’s 2019 series Superman: Up in the Sky, which Gunn also shared on Instagram several years ago. The director appears to have been taken with the image, though it’s a shame it doesn’t end up in the actual movie, which flies by far too quickly for such a serene moment.
The second tag, at the very end of the credit scrolls, is a bit more connected to the film’s events, but works as a fun bonus rather than homework for future entries. After fellow hero Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) helps stop Metropolis from being ripped in half — thanks to a black hole from a pocket universe created by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) — he and Superman stare at a crack in a building, which Terrific seems to have put back together imperfectly. Superman hesitates before pointing out the discrepancy, causing Terrific to leave in a huff, at which point Superman begins apologizing for bumming him out and berating himself for being “such a jerk sometimes.” He throws in an adorable “darn it!” too, kicking a rock like a kid.
Neither of these are likely to have far-reaching consequences, but they’re great reminders of the kind of moments and interactions that take place just outside the margins of most superhero movies. Coming after a string of post-credit scenes that teased characters we’ll never see again — Blade, Harry Styles, and in one special case even Henry Cavill’s Superman — that’s a refreshing change.
