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When James Gunn's name is on a project, we've come to expect that it'll feature a pretty banger soundtrack, filled to the brim with popular songs. The Guardians fo the galaxy films are maybe the most-known example of this fact, but Gunn's Creature Commandos also proves the point. Hell, there was even that usage of Billie Eilish's Bad Guy in Brightburn! (Remember Brightburn? I know, weird.) But when th Gunn & Peter Safaran-cinematic universe kicks off with 2025's Superman, don't expect needles to drop. 

Expect an orchestra to rise.

Recently, Gunn himself spoke about the Superman music with Gizmodo, during a visit that the outlet paid to the Superman set. "The one thing is it is a score," the director told Gizmodo, "it’s not a soundtrack. So it’s not about the songs. There’s a few songs in it. And of course, I chose those songs beforehand, but it isn’t like any of my previous movies really in terms of the score is what drives it. It’s a much, much more of a score film."

As to who's doing this different, more smphonic music, Gunn has reteamed with frequent collaborator John Murphy, who Gunn says has created " this incredibly beautiful score." And in that score, Murphy will make use of a song that is as classic to Superman as blue tights and a weakness toward green rocks - that is, the 1978 Superman film theme, composed by John Williams.

As you've probably already heard from the Superman teaser trailer (we know you've watched it, don't pretend you haven't), that song isn't the exact Williams theme, but an electric guitar-laced twist, perfectly encapsulating the "classic but new" feel that the movie has worked so hard to achieve. And considering the fact that this song will the tune the movie is likely most known for, it's certainly new terriroty for James Gunn.

Although, hey, we guess the Superman theme is technically a hit song from the 1970s. 

Superman, along with its John Murphy score, flies into theaters July 11, 2025.

James Gunn's Superman movie is out now - and we have a lot to say about it. You can also read about Superman's S-Shield through the ages, how Superman and Clark Kent keep their secret identity secret, our recs for best Superman comics, and how to watch all his TV series and movies in order.