David Corenswet, who will portray Superman in the upcoming DC Universe film Superman: Legacy, recently discussed his physical transformation for the role during an appearance on the Manly Things (Sort Of) podcast. The actor provided insight into the challenges of preparing to play one of the most iconic superheroes in pop culture.

Corenswet revealed that gaining weight to match the physique of the Man of Steel was no simple task. 

“I wasn’t 238 pounds when we started shooting. I was 238 at my max. I didn’t fit into any of my pants,” he said, explaining the demanding process of bulking up. He also described how maintaining his peak weight during the early stages of production presented its own set of difficulties.

“It didn’t feel great,” Corenswet admitted. “Getting used to all that extra weight was challenging.” He humorously mentioned that during a table read for the movie, he realized he had bulked up to the size of a “2XL Champion sweatshirt.” 

He wentexplainedt he started losing weight gradually before shooting began, eventually reaching about 228-230 pounds. “I know I wanted this to be my excuse to see what it felt like to gain as much weight as I could,” Corenswet added.

Paolo Mascitti, the personal trainer working with the Superman cast, praised Corenswet’s dedication in a social media post from May, saying, “David Corenswet worked his ass off; I can’t wait to share more of the training we did to prepare to play this iconic character.”

The highly anticipated Superman: Legacy aims to tell the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent in Smallville, Kansas. The film, set for release on July 11, 2025, will see Corenswet step into the legendary role, while Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane.

The supporting cast includes Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, among others. The film also features a cameo appearance from Milly Alcock as Supergirl, hinting at her own movie, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.