James Gunn’s Superman, now playing in theatres, is garnering huge praise, with a lot of it coming in for Rachel Brosnahan, who plays the iconic character of Lois Lane, an intrepid journalist and Superman’s (played by David Corenswet) ladylove. In an India exclusive, t2 caught up with Brosnahan — who has previously enthralled us as the titular protagonist in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel — for a freewheeling chat.
You were in a public restroom when you saw James Gunn’s name flashing on your phone, potentially to tell you you had landed the part of Lois Lane in Superman. What was that like?
It was definitely an experience! Yes, I was in a bathroom in an Aritzia store in New York. I was really nervous and I hoped that it would be a good call. It turned out to be a really great call... I was immediately thrilled and then instantly intimidated!
Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane with Savid Corenswet's Superman in Superman, playing in cinemas.
Did that nervous, zingy energy accompany you on set and was that helpful in keeping you on your toes?
I can be a bit of a nervous person generally. It never leaves me. But thankfully, we had a lot of time to prepare. David (Corenswet), James and I had spent a lot of time talking about the building of the Lois and Clark relationship as well as the Lois and Superman relationship, and each of our individual journeys through the film. So, by the time we showed up, we felt well prepared.
The first scene I shot was one of the scenes that David and I had auditioned with. So it felt like we had already had a rehearsal and it went well. We got to spend two full days on a 10-page scene living with these characters in that space together. That built the foundation for the rest of our run.
What are your earliest memories of Superman?
I loved the Christopher Reeve-Margot Kidder Superman movies. They were my first exposure to comic-book movies when I was about 12. It made me feel that magic was real. I still think about that shot of him (Reeve, who played Superman) running next to the train. I feel that it holds up even today. That set the bar high for us and, hopefully, we can make the same kind of impact that those original films did.
James Gunn, in his interview with us, spoke about how contrasting Superman and Lois Lane are — how he likes to see the good in everyone and everything, while she is the skeptical kind. What was that equation like and was there an attempt to be more ‘likable’, given that you were up against this symbol of goodness?
Lois Lane has stood the test of time because it is aspirational to see someone go to the literal ends of the earth for something she believes in. She is very passion-driven and everybody can relate to that in some way. What makes the love story between Superman and Lois one of the greatest of all time is that they are polar opposites, they are both superhuman in their own way... they bring out each other’s humanity.
Clark Kent/Superman sees the beauty in humans first and trusts everyone and everything. Lois, by nature and also because it is important to her job, is 10 steps ahead of everyone else at any moment. She questions everyone and everything. While that is a strength, it can also mean that she tries to logic her way out of things like love, or the possibility of love.
I feel that sometimes Superman could use a little bit of seeing around some corners. He doesn’t often think about the implications of what he might view in a moment to be a good thing, but actually could affect a number of other things in a negative way.
I also think that they are soulmates and that their love is very deep. They share the same core values. They are both interested in truth and justice and are inherently hopeful, even though they express it in different ways.
How does Lois Lane embody female power in the new era through this film?
Big question! James wrote her as a fully-realised three-dimensional human being. I appreciate that he places an emphasis on journalism in this movie. ...the importance of journalism for Lois, but also for the film as a whole. As I said, it is inspiring to watch somebody who is not always the most graceful in her pursuit of truth and justice, but who is passionate and willing to do just about anything to get a great story. While that has been inherent in this character through every iteration that we have had, I am hopeful that this version speaks to a modern audience, talks about the issues that we are familiar with, but in a modern way.
It is hard to strike a balance of somebody who is fiercely intelligent and perfectly capable of being independent and taking care of herself and everyone around her, but who is also knocked backwards off her feet by this great love that disrupts her game. Both things can exist in one person — just because you might need saving sometimes doesn’t make you any less strong. To me, that feels like a new conversation about what it means to be a woman in this world.
Did anything about her feel familiar or even comforting?
Truthfully, this is probably the closest to myself I have ever played. We get each other. The journalism piece was brand new for me. I did a lot of research just trying to figure out a way inside her head. I had the opportunity to speak to a number of journalists who helped me build this character from the inside out. I was interested in where that balance lies between raw ambition and also a desire to make an impact on the world around you or leave the world a little bit better than how you found it.
I talked to one journalist in particular who I found really inspiring, who said to me that she was always drawn towards the intensity and the full spectrum of the human condition, but is also a total adrenaline junkie and is super competitive. And that if she only got into journalism because she wanted to change the world around her, then she would have been sorely disappointed because it doesn’t always happen the way you hope it does or intend it to. She needed something else and that desire to run towards the fire rather than away from it is the thing that fuels her. Finding that balance felt like an interesting foundation for Lois.
James Gunn has mentioned that your chemistry with David Corenswet during the audition helped you two to land your respective roles. How did you build further on that dynamic on the set of Superman?
It is one of those things... you either have it or you don’t. There is no logical explanation for it. David and I did a chemistry read together, but we only read together once. We thought it was a rehearsal, and then they were like: ‘Cut, cool, thank you so much, you guys!’ And we were like: ‘Oh, oh oh!’ A couple of weeks later, we got a call from James saying that we had the roles. I think chemistry is one of those things that feels like both magic and science.
How does it feel playing a journalist in a world where the integrity of the profession is being questioned, and where the existence of a free and fair press is increasingly being threatened?
The thing I love about superhero movies in general is that they are — and our film Superman definitely is — a shot in the arm of hope. In this movie, we live in a world where the pursuit of truth and justice is one of the worthiest to exist. And all the characters do that in their own way. There is a big conversation about journalistic integrity in this film. I am excited for people to see that side of Lois in this movie.
What do you think it is about Lois that makes her a heroine for the ages?
She is equal parts hunger and curiosity. She is never satisfied and that drives every single part of her life. We had a lot of conversations about what kind of food she would be eating, and the conclusion was that it would be whatever is quick and delicious. She pours her whole life and soul into this work that is so important to her. But she has vices too, and, like Clark, she is also curious about what makes us human.
You have played women with agency before. Where would you place her?
I am attracted to women who learn who they are when they get pushed to the brink. Midge, who I played in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, has her picture-perfect world completely falling apart in just one evening. She then has to take a look inside and figure out who she is and who she wants to be in the world. Lois, in contrast, is already a successful journalist. The world knows about Superman, he is a part of the world of Metropolis already. I appreciate that, in this version, we get to see the way in which she is knocked off her feet by this love that she feels. Love is something that she can’t logic her way out of. It suddenly makes her feel that she can’t be 10 steps ahead. That is uncomfortable for her. What unites all these characters is them discovering who they are when they are pushed to the absolute edge.
We get to hear and experience so much about superhero fatigue these days. Do you think Superman, with simplicity at its core, could be a palate cleanser for the audience?
I hope so. It has a really simple idea — somebody came to earth and wants to leave it a little bit better than he found it. That idea is inspirational and aspirational, but it is also packaged in this hugely entertaining world with tons of action, a great romance and
big adventure. It feels like you get to have your cake and eat it too.
Which actress has played Lois Lane best? Tell t2@abp.in