Honestly, the internet has a memory like a goldfish. If you scroll through social media right now, you’d think David Corenswet was manufactured in a lab specifically to replace Henry Cavill. People see the jawline, the 6'4" frame, and that massive 40-pound muscle gain, and they assume he just fell out of the sky—pun intended.
But David Corenswet before and after Superman is a story of a guy who was actually grinding in the indie and streaming trenches for years. He wasn't just "waiting" to be Superman; he was built for it, through Juilliard training and some pretty weird roles that most casual fans have never even heard of.
The Juilliard Years and the "Projectionist" Weirdness
Before he was squeezing into a blue suit that was literally too tight for his new biceps, Corenswet was a theater kid from Philadelphia. His dad was a stage actor, and his grandfather actually invented the Choose Your Own Adventure books. It’s kinda poetic when you think about it. He had to choose between a "normal" life and the madness of Hollywood.
He graduated from Juilliard in 2016. For a while, it was the usual stuff: a guest spot on Elementary, a tiny role in the final season of House of Cards.
Then came the Ryan Murphy era. If you watched The Politician or Hollywood on Netflix, you saw the "Before" version of David. He was lean. Almost lanky. He had this Old Hollywood, Montgomery Clift energy—charming but a little haunting. In The Politician, his character River Barkley was so perfect that fans were already fancasting him as Clark Kent back in 2019. Seriously, look at the old Reddit threads. The "he looks exactly like a young Henry Cavill" comments started half a decade ago.
The real turning point, though? A horror movie.
James Gunn actually "discovered" David while watching the A24 film Pearl. David plays the Projectionist, a guy who is charming but also a little bit... off. He’s the one who tells Mia Goth, "You're scaring me, Pearl." Nothing about that character screams "superhero," but Gunn saw the charisma. He jotted the name down. David was only the second person to audition for the role.
The 40-Pound Problem: The Physical Transformation
Let’s talk about the bulk. This is where the David Corenswet before and after Superman comparison gets wild.
When David did his screen test in early 2023, he weighed about 195 lbs. He was fit, but he wasn't Superman fit. By the time he stepped onto the set in 2024, he was 240 lbs.
His trainer, Paolo Mascitti, put him through a "classic bodybuilding split." We're talking:
- Push Days: Incline dumbbell presses and cable flys.
- Pull Days: Weighted pull-ups and rows.
- Leg Days: Squats and trap bar deadlifts.
But it wasn't just the gym. It was the food. David was reportedly eating between 4,500 and 6,000 calories a day. He told E! News that he was basically eating four plates of eggs for breakfast. He admitted that it got to the point where he never wanted to look at food again.
The weirdest part? The suit didn't fit.
Because David gained so much muscle so fast—about 18kg or 40lbs—the costume department had a minor crisis. They had taken his measurements when he was 195 lbs. When he showed up for the first fitting at 240 lbs, he was practically bursting out of the tights. He described the experience as "claustrophobic." There’s no "quick release" on a Superman suit. You’re just... in there.
Why He's Not Just a "Henry Cavill Clone"
There’s been a lot of talk about how much he looks like Cavill. And yeah, the resemblance is there. But the "After" version of Corenswet is leaning into a totally different vibe.
Where Cavill’s Superman was often stoic, brooding, and burdened by his god-like status, Corenswet and Gunn have been vocal about making this version "bright and optimistic."
During filming, there was even a bit of friction on set because David wanted to lean into the humanity of the character. There’s a story about a climactic kiss with Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane). Gunn wanted it to be "solemn." David wanted to chuckle, essentially saying, "I know you love me." He pushed back. He questioned the writing. He wanted Clark Kent to feel like a real guy, not just a statue.
That’s the biggest difference in the before and after. Before, he was a character actor playing "perfect" looking guys. After, he’s a massive movie star trying to find the "imperfect" parts of a perfect hero.
The Reality of the "Superhero Shift"
Becoming the face of the DCU changes everything. You don't just go back to playing the "nice guy" in an A24 horror flick after you’ve led a $200 million blockbuster.
✨ Don't miss: Keith Richards: Before They Make Me Run and the Trial That Almost Ended the Stones
David’s personal life shifted too. He got married to actress Julia Best Warner in 2023 and they had a daughter in 2024. Imagine trying to handle a newborn while eating 6,000 calories and training for two hours a day. It’s a lot.
If you’re looking to track the David Corenswet before and after Superman journey yourself, here is the best way to see the evolution:
- Watch "The Politician" (2019): This is the raw potential. You see the "Superman" face but without the "Superman" neck.
- Watch "Pearl" (2022): Look for the charisma that convinced James Gunn. He’s playing a bit of a "sketchy" dude here, which shows his range.
- Check the "Twisters" (2024) Press Tour: He was actually filming Twisters while preparing for Superman. You can literally see him getting bigger in every interview.
- Follow the "Manly Things" Podcast Insights: David has been surprisingly open about how "rough" the bulking process was on his mental health and digestion.
The transition from a Juilliard grad to a global icon isn't just about lifting heavy circles. It’s about a guy who spent ten years learning how to act, only to realize he had to spend five months learning how to eat eight eggs at a time.
Whether the movie is a hit or not, the "After" version of David Corenswet is officially here to stay. He isn't a "discount Cavill." He's a guy who did the work, outgrew his own suit, and somehow kept his sense of humor through the whole process.
To see the physical change in detail, look up the "Mascitti training" photos. The shoulder width alone tells the whole story. David didn't just get lucky; he got to work.
Next Steps for Fans:
Go back and watch his performance in Hollywood on Netflix. It’s the best example of his leading-man energy before the cape changed his career trajectory forever. It’ll give you a lot more respect for his acting chops beyond the gym selfies.</_human_text>