David Corenswet‘s audition tape for Superman is out, showing a leaner side of the actor. He hadn’t bulked up his body yet in the video, but he still gave a great screen test that landed him the role. One fan compared Corenswet’s physique from the audition to that of his current shredded body. It appears that the actor put in a considerable amount of time in the gym for this peak transformation.
The way he transformed himself for the role!! pic.twitter.com/ScnL7YIROz
— Ishaan Imtiaz (@Batman2008834) August 23, 2025
Corenswet pulled off the Superman look with the help of Los Angeles-based trainer Paolo Mascitti, a connection that James Gunn introduced him to. Gunn loved Mascitti’s work with actor Flula Borg for The Suicide Squad, which prompted him to turn to this celebrity trainer.
For Superman, Corenswet had a lot of work to do. He had to build huge biceps, bulky forearms, and broad shoulders. When Mascitti explained his process to GQ, he shared that Corenswet had already started working out intensively when they met. He shared that the actor was naturally lean, a 6’4″ star.
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Corenswet had put on 40 lbs for Superman before Mascitti came into the picture, which meant that all the trainer had to do was tone him up. They began their sessions five months before Superman went into production. According to Mascitti, the intensity and volume of work could’ve broken any less dedicated actor before the first month was even over. Mascitti shared his workout plan for Corenswet:
We focus on moments like presses, pull ups, pull downs, rows—all the big ones. We switched a little bit after a while, but kept the focus on progressive overload to encourage muscle growth, keeping track of reps and weight and trying to advance each week.
It was not an overly complicated plan, and Mascitti only changed it slightly when the filming began. He shared, “He was very busy right so we were only fitting in three or four sessions a week, but he’s still working out for two hours a day.”
Mascitti worked with stars like Tom Ellis of Lucifer fame and Mr. Robot‘s Christian Slater. He also helped Nicholas Hoult with his transition into Lex Luthor. However, he shared that Hoult’s workout was less hands-on for Mascitti.
As for his diet, Mascitti told Business Insider that Corenswet ate 4,500 calories per day of whole foods. As filming approached, he dropped this to 3,500 calories. His high-protein diet was split into 50% carbs, 30% protein, and 20% fat.
We Know Why James Gunn Picked David Corenswet After His Audition Scene
David Corenswet’s audition tape also proved why James Gunn wanted him in the titular role in Superman. He enacted the first draft version of a scene in the movie, which has been earning praise recently. It was the scene where Corenswet’s character and Rachel Brosnahan‘s Lois Lane have an interaction at the latter’s apartment.
It was also the scene where Corenswet pulled acting chops like Christopher Reeve in the original Superman movie. The beginning of the interview scene was a callback to one of the famous scenes from the 1978 film. In the original film, Reeve pulled off a great transition from a mild-mannered Clark Kent to the manly Superman.
He changed both his body stance and his voice in the brilliantly acted scene. Corenswet did the same thing with more subtlety, both in the audition tape and in the final film. In the audition, he removes the glasses, straightens his shoulder, and gives off a more confident look when changing into Superman. He also changed his voice when he said, “Hello”, in the audition.
David Corenswet’s ‘Superman’ audition tape has been released
(https://t.co/XD1eZNWQc2) pic.twitter.com/JBCEXImoOH
— Superman Saga News (@SuperSagaNews) August 23, 2025
In the movie, he further makes a few improvements. He removed the glasses from the equation. He was in a slouched position as Clark, but straightened his posture to change into Superman. He drops his voice by an octave when he says, “Miss Lane.”
Gunn, being a fan of Reeve and his original movie, would have definitely loved Corenswet in this particular scene. The scene amounted to nearly 13 minutes in the film, which was surprising to many fans who didn’t feel the longer duration in the action film.
David Corenswet Not Only Nailed Superman’s Physique But Also His Humanity
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor constantly questions the humanity of David Corenswet’s humanity in the movie. Corenswet delivers a brilliant monologue about his humanity and his vulnerability in the climax of the movie (after a healthy argument with Gunn). It was this part of the character that Corenswet nailed, other than his physique.
| Superman‘s box office | $599 million |
| IMDb Score | 7.3/10 |
| Tomatometer Score | 83% |
| Avg. Popcornmeter Score | 90% |
| Metacritic Score | 68 |
Before the film, Gunn had teased that the hero in the movie represented “the basic kindness of human beings” (via ScreenRant). With several scenes, Gunn showed the human side of Superman. The film kicked off, showing Superman bleeding in the snow. In another scene, we see Corenswet’s character being helped out of the crater by an ordinary citizen.
During his scene with Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, he gets frustrated when he thinks she doesn’t see his perspective on stopping a war. He emotionally screams out, “People were going to die!” We also get to see him getting support from his Earth parents on the Kent farm.
Corenswet was brilliant in each one of these scenes. He nailed them along with his physique, which puts him in the league of Christopher Reeve when it comes to the best Superman actors.
What do you think of Corenswet’s audition tape for Superman?
Superman is now available to purchase/rent on Amazon Prime Video.
