WARNING! Potential spoilers ahead! You’ve been warned.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Production resumed for “Superman” at Progressive Field on Friday morning, with James Gunn’s stadium-based battle scene continuing across mats splayed in the outfield.
With the Superman stunt double on a wire, the Man of Steel’s unnamed nemesis in a black suit took a wide swing at the hero, “landing” a punch that sent the double into a rolling tumble in right field. The shot was repeated several times before the crew made a partial shift for another “stunt lineup.”
A crane wire rig was brought in to presumably film a shot with aerial components. Principal cast members David Corenswet and María Gabriela de Faría (Superman and Engineer characters) were ushered on set from the home-plate area.
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Corenswet was secured into a wire harness for the next scene for some additional flipping. Underneath, de Faría appeared to be face-down in an evasive pose.
After the shot was complete, the crew called for some “clean plates” – background shots – and geared up for the next scene in the fictional “Lordtech Field,” which crew suggested would be moving to the third base line/right field.
Unlike a typical gameday, the stadium was bereft of fans. The prevailing theory is that Superman draws his enemies to any empty ballpark to avoid the kind of destruction we’ve seen in other scenes filmed in downtown Cleveland, err, Metropolis.
The Metropolis Meteors’ home ballpark was adorned with panache. The foreground was decorated with fictional ads from the DC Comics Universe that should bring a smile to any comic-book fan’s face. Everything from the Metropolis Transit and “GBS News” (Galaxy Broadcasting System) to First Metropolis Bank, Soder Cola, Ducel, Zesti Cola and Big Belly Burger were represented.
There’s also an outfield banner that reads, “Welcome to the Home of the World Series Champion Metropolis Meteors.” Guardians fans would love to see that life imitate art for a change! We digress. We just want to join the “Meteors Fan Club” (another sign) and score that “M” cap.
In the afternoon, the crew moved to the other side of the outfield for a shot with Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), who apparently joins the on-field fracas, only to end up flat on his back. Though some of the shot was obscured, remnants of his jetpack appear to be scattered around him.
He would shake off what appeared to be a hard landing and then run northeast to the center field wall.
The next shots were set up back in right-center field, with the unnamed black-clad nemesis giving Superman another going-over. One of the late shots found Corenswet “flying” toward the ground with the baddie following close behind. Both of them on wires, Superman was forced into the ground, face first.
Meanwhile at the Arcade Cleveland, two giant yellow cranes (with what appeared to be rigging for lights) were positioned at either end of the landmark. A hefty amount of heavy duty electrical lines ran out both sides of the landmark and into large trucks parked on the street. Inside, crews worked diligently, making and hanging window and door treatments and installing Metropolis shop signage.
An upcoming scene from director James Gunn’s “Superman” film is due to be shot there in the coming days and is said to include Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan’s “Lois Lane.”
The Man of Steel will reconcile Kryptonian heritage and human coming-of-age as Clark Kent when “Superman” is released to theaters on July 11, 2025.