David Corenswet is taking on one of the biggest challenges of his career. The 31-year-old actor is the new "Superman," a character that, while beloved and storied, is a challenging one to adapt to the screen. While Superman is perhaps the most famous of all superheroes, he's also the least interesting in a world where Batman and Spider-Man have been adapted to the screen by multiple actors with enormous box office success.
"Superman" is Corenswet's big break. As the world prepares for the movie's premiere this July 11th, it's the perfect time for you to get to know Corenswet. Here's what you should know:
He likes to keep his life private
Corenswet likes his privacy, keeping details of his life away from the spotlight. He has an Instagram where he promotes his work. His first post was made following his casting as Superman, showing a glimpse of the iconic superhero suit.
He's married to Julia Best Warner, a fellow actress, with the two sharing a daughter that they welcomed last year. The couple has yet to reveal her name.
Corenswet and Best Warner got married in 2023 and have known each other most of their life, first meeting in a theater camp in Pennsylvania when they were teens.
Being a father came easily for him
In an interview with PEOPLE, Corenswet opened up about becoming a father and how joyful and easy the process was for him.
“I feel like I've been a dad for a long time, and just waiting for a kid to prove it," he said. “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 counselor, and I have terrible jokes that nobody laughs at.”
His big break was on the series 'The Politician'
Corenswet has been acting for over a decade, appearing in multiple TV series and films before his big break. In 2019, he starred in "The Politician," a Netflix series led by Ryan Murphy. He partnered up again with Murphy for the TV show "Hollywood," kickstarting his career.
Following those TV shows, Corenswet played key parts in "Pearl" and "Twisters," playing handsome men with a twist to them, serving as an interesting base for what people can expect with Superman.
What we know about 'Superman'
"Superman" is one of the most anticipated movies of the year, serving as the basis for a new stage of the DC universe of films. Details of the film are being kept under wraps, but at an appearance at CinemaCon, James Gunn, the film's director, revealed that the film finds a young Superman at the start of his career as a superhero and journalist.
The film sounds like a love story
Superman's relationship with Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan, plays a key part in the story.
"We have robots and monster babies and giant kaiju and all of that stuff. But that is also grounded around these incredibly real relationships with a couple that started dating a few months ago, and now they're really learning the ins and outs of each other," said Gunn to Entertainment Weekly.
In an interview with Time Magazine, Corenswet shed some light on the headspace of his character. “He is starting to become successful in the big glitzy city so far away from home,” he said.
“He’s madly in love with a woman who isn’t so sure about him. And he’s made a few superhuman friends who like him but think of him as naive. All these new elements in his life have unbalanced him a bit and as he’s tottering we’re going to see where he lands in terms of his values and choices.”
Corenswet wants to embrace the challenge of 'Superman'
In a profile with TIME magazine, Corenswet revealed that he was ready to be identified with Superman for the rest of his career.
“Would this be worth doing if this was the only thing I do as an actor for the rest of my life?” he asked in his interview. "I think the answer is yes.”
An interest in aviation that will come in handy for Superman
Corenswet has many hobbies, including a keen interest in aviation. In an interview with The New York Times, he revealed he's even taken flight simulator classes at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles. He said that one of the reasons he enjoyed the skills so much is due to "working with your hands, and seeing the fruits of your labor."
He also revealed that he likes to be handy, fixing stuff around his house. “I like learning about those things, and electrics and plumbing and drywalling,” he said to PEOPLE. “Mostly it's changing, I don't know, light fixtures or something, simple stuff. But it's fun to work with your hands, especially as an actor where so much of what you do is talking to other people.”