Actor David Corenswet is working hard to make sure he captures the essence of Superman for the upcoming DC Universe movie, and that includes bulking up and putting on some weight in the gym.
Corenswet details his maximum weight gain while training
Speaking during an appearance on the Manly Things (sort of) Podcast, Corenswet revealed that in the training process to bulk up for the role, Corenswet reached a max weight of 238 pounds and had gotten so much bigger that he didn’t fit into any of his clothes.
“I wasn’t 238 [pounds] when we started shooting. I was 238 at my max,” said Corenswet. “It was so awesome, I wanna go back. I put on like one of those crew neck sweatshirts . . . Champion. And I put on one of those sweatshirts — 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.”
Despite being bigger, Corenswet admitted that his body “didn’t feel great” while amassing so much weight so quickly, and that by the time production on the film started, he had already shed some weight.
“That was at the peak of my bulk,” Corenswet said. “And then I slowly lost weight before we started shooting. I started shooting at about 228, 230 . . . I know I wanted this to be my excuse to see what it felt like to gain essentially as much weight as I could.”
“Superman tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas,” reads the movie’s official synopsis. “He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”
The titular role of Superman is played by Corenswet (Pearl, The Politician), while Lois Lane will be played by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan. They’re joined by Nicholas Hoult, Skyler Gisondo, María Gabriela De Faría, Sara Sampaio, Isabela Merced, Nathan Fillion, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, and more. The film is set to release on July 11, 2025.