David Corenswet has (almost literally) turned himself into a Man of Steel for his upcoming role in James Gunn’s Superman, revealing the results of his superhero workouts. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star is taking over from Henry Cavill as the new DC Universe’s Superman. Cavill’s portrayal of the character in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and subsequent DCEU movies set the modern blueprint for the character’s physicality. While Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh’s portrayals gave the Kryptonian superhero a muscular and athletic physique, Cavill took his body transformation to the next level. As a result, fans have been skeptical about how any actor can match what Cavill achieved, but David Corenswet might have just done it.

Speaking on the Manly Things (sort of) Podcast, Corenswet made his first full public appearance to promote his role in Superman. The actor dived deep into his physical transformation for the role, and silenced the naysayers by revealing that he’s always wanted to try and bulk up for a superhero role.

“Getting to bulk up for
Superman
was, I was looking for an excuse to really throw on some weight,” Corenswet said.

A few gym photos were released by Corenswet and his personal trainer, Paolo Mascitti, during the movie’s post-production, but the actor has now revealed just how jacked he got for the role. The actor said:

“I thought 210[lbs] was gonna make me happy, but then I got up to 238[lbs]… I wasn’t 238 when we started shooting. 238 was my max. It didn’t feel great [because] I did it so quickly that my body just hadn’t adjusted to the extra weight… But that was at the peak of my bulk, and then I slowly lost weight before we started shooting. I started shooting at about 228[lbs]. I put on one of those sweatshirts, and I was like an XL or double XL, and I was like, ‘I fill this out. This is amazing.’ I didn’t fit into any of my pants.”

What David Corenswet’s Transformation Means for Superman

As anyone who’s been to the gym will tell you, jumping from 190lbs to 238lbs in such a short time is an incredible transformation, even for a Hollywood actor with the aid of multi-million dollar equipment and personal trainers. But what does it mean for Corenswet’s performance as Superman in James Gunn’s new movie? Firstly, it should allow for Corenswet to fill out his Superman suit. Leaked set photos have already showcased the suit in its entirety and the images have shown off Corenswet’s physical transformation as he looks massive next to the rest of the cast. It would be easy for an actor to get lost under such an iconic suit, especially with a bright red cape and red underoos, but Corenswet manages to pull it off.

As for his actual performance, undergoing such a drastic transformation would no doubt have helped Corenswet embody the physicality necessary to play the Man of Steel. Adding so much strength and muscle is sure to make him feel confident. For Corenswet, that added confidence will mimic Superman’s confidence in being almost indestructible compared to, well, everyone else. Of course, the physical transformation is only a part of Corenswet’s preparation, but it is a big stepping stone for the actor to embody the character, and potentially be the best Superman yet.

Superman
releases in theaters on July 11, 2025.