In James Gunn’s blockbuster “Superman” film, Skyler Gisondo brings to life the young and charismatic Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen. Portrayed as the office’s charming heartthrob yet somewhat naive and guileless, Gisondo hopes to see Jimmy’s character expand far beyond this image in a potential sequel.
In Gunn’s “Superman,” Jimmy Olsen is one of Clark Kent’s closest colleagues at the Daily Planet. He plays a pivotal role in the story, thanks to his past connection with Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio), now Lex Luthor’s (Nicholas Hoult) girlfriend. However, Gisondo envisions a future for Jimmy that goes beyond his “office stud” persona.
Gisondo: “I Want Jimmy in the Field and Falling in Love”
In an interview, Skyler Gisondo expressed his desire for Jimmy Olsen to fully showcase his potential as a journalist in future films. Admiring the character’s honesty and professional integrity, Gisondo wants to see him thrust into the heart of the action:
“I’d love to see Jimmy out in the field, right in the thick of things. I want to see him use his powers. It’s clear he has a magnetic charm with women. But more than anything, Jimmy cares deeply about his job and has immense journalistic integrity. That’s why he’s so conflicted with Eve—when she says, ‘We’ll spend the weekend together,’ he’s not lying to get a story. He never lies.”
Gisondo also hopes that in a sequel, Jimmy will find true love:
“I’d love to see how he uses that charm to dive deeper into a story. I want to see what Jimmy’s like when he truly likes someone, when he forms a romantic connection and wants to pursue it.”
What About the Comics’ “Wacky” Adventures?
Jimmy Olsen is known in 1950s comics for his bizarre escapades, like turning into a turtle or nearly marrying a gorilla. As a talented comedic actor, Gisondo is aware of this legacy but prioritizes a different path. He wants James Gunn to establish Jimmy’s journalistic credibility on the big screen before diving into absurd transformations:
“In the comics, there’s stuff where Jimmy turns into a turtle. All sorts of wild deviations exist. I’d love to see Jimmy get in over his head in a big way, maybe even a version of Jimmy grappling with newfound metahuman powers. But above all, I want to see Jimmy in a high-stakes situation where he needs to get a story.”
In fact, this already happened to some extent in the first “Superman” film, where Jimmy and Eve uncovered a critical plot point. Gisondo wants even more of this.
With the resounding success of “Superman,” sequels are all but guaranteed, and rumors even suggest a potential Jimmy Olsen-focused TV series. It seems only a matter of time before we see Skyler Gisondo’s vision for a deeper, adventure-filled Jimmy come to life.
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