David Corenswet might be playing the Man of Steel on screen, but in real life, he’s melting hearts with wholesome awkwardness.
During a promo segment with Silverspot Films for the new Superman film, Corenswet and co-star Rachel Brosnahan took turns reading cheesy pickup lines. But one particular line had the internet collectively swooning, and giggling.
“Is your outfit the square root of 64? Because it’s an 8… it ate,” Corenswet read, stumbling over the punchline. Realizing what he said, he paused and innocently added, “That’s so mean. I think it’s a 10.” Brosnahan immediately chimed in, laughing, “It ate… you are too pure for this!”
The brief moment, both awkward and adorable, quickly went viral, turning Corenswet into the internet’s favorite himbo. Fans across social media praised the actor for his sweet demeanor and comic timing, dubbing him the most “earnest Superman since Christopher Reeve.”
‘Superman’ star David Corenswet reads a pick-up line with @SilverspotFilms:
“Is your outfit the square root of 64 because it 8 (it ate)…That’s so mean, I think it’s a 10.” pic.twitter.com/0ro1xXQkoy
Corenswet’s off-screen charm isn’t the only thing winning over audiences. Superman, directed by James Gunn and produced alongside Peter Safran under the revitalized DC Studios banner, is proving to be a major summer success.
In its second weekend, Superman added $57.2 million domestically, bringing its North American total to $235 million, a promising hold with just a 54% drop, particularly for the often-volatile superhero genre. The film has soared past Marvel’s Thunderbolts’ entire run and is closing in on Captain America: Brave New World‘s global total of $415 million.
Photo: Warner Bros.
Worldwide, Superman has now earned $406.8 million, including $171.8 million from international markets, despite the character’s traditionally lukewarm overseas performance. The strong global showing marks a much-needed win for Warner Bros., which now leads in domestic market share for 2025.
Corenswet’s Moment in the Sun
The actor’s viral pickup line moment arrives on the heels of a steamy GQ spread that reintroduced Corenswet as Hollywood’s new leading man. The photoshoot, filled with tailored suits, tousled hair, and smoldering stares, has only cemented his status as a sex symbol, albeit one who blushes over a math joke.
Starring alongside Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Corenswet leads a stacked ensemble that includes Skyler Gisondo, Isabela Merced, Nathan Fillion, and Edi Gathegi.
But with Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps arriving in theaters on July 25, Superman will soon face stiffer competition and lose out on Imax and premium format screens. Still, with its viral press tour moments and steady momentum, the film, and its endearingly dorky star, may just fly a little higher.
Sebastian Stan (Thunderbolts) and Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) are teaming up for a powerful new film that blends political rebellion, counterculture history, and queer love. Titled Burning Rainbow Farm, the film is directed by Justin Kurzel (The Order) and based on the true story of Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm—two lovers who turned their rural Michigan land into a cannabis-friendly utopia before it all ended in a tragic and fiery standoff with the state.
Leo Woodall ‘The White Lotus’ Season 2. Photo: HBO
The project, adapted from Dean Kuipers’ nonfiction book and written by Holding the Man screenwriter Tommy Murphy, is poised to make waves not just for its dramatic plot, but for centering a love story rarely explored in American cinema: one that’s both radical and queer.
A Real-Life Romance on the Frontlines
At its core, Burning Rainbow Farm is a political love story. Crosslin and Rohm weren’t just partners in life—they were partners in building something extraordinary. Rainbow Farm, as it was known, became a symbol of peaceful protest, cannabis legalization, and queer visibility in the early 2000s Midwest. The film follows the couple as they create their dream community, only to have it ripped apart by legal battles, the loss of their son, and a government siege that captured national attention.
Director Kurzel describes the project as “a love story about two outliers who raise their middle finger to hate and declare, ‘This is who we are, and we dare you to take it from us.’” With Stan and Woodall portraying the star-crossed lovers, the emotional gravity is expected to hit hard—and queer audiences are likely to see reflections of resilience, resistance, and tenderness often left out of similar genre films.
Queer History Meets Mainstream Cinema
For a generation raised on sanitized Hollywood romances, Burning Rainbow Farm offers something refreshingly real. Not only does it revisit an overlooked chapter in queer and drug policy history, but it also places a same-sex relationship at the emotional center of a major cinematic release. And with Murphy—the writer behind the beloved gay romance Holding the Man—penning the script, the intimacy and complexity of the couple’s bond is in thoughtful hands.
This is not just another crime drama. It’s an elegy for queer love under siege, and a warning about how far state power will go to crush what it doesn’t understand.
A-Listers Behind the Scenes
The film is being produced by Nicole O’Donohue, Kurzel, and Alexandra Taussig for Thirdborn, alongside Adam Shulman of Anonymous Content, Alix Madigan of Mad Dog Films, and Justin Lothrop and Brent Stiefel of Votiv. Rocket Science will present the project to international buyers at the Cannes Film Market, while CAA Media Finance is handling North American rights.
Sebastian Stan, hot off his Oscar-nominated turn in The Apprentice and starring in Thunderbolts, brings both depth and star power to the project. Leo Woodall, meanwhile, has continued to rise with roles in Prime Target, One Day, and the upcoming Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. With this film, both actors are taking on roles that demand emotional nuance and social weight.
Sebastian Stan in ‘Thunderbolts*.’ Photo: Marvel
Representation That Matters
In a media landscape where queer stories are often sidelined or sanitized, Burning Rainbow Farm arrives like a Molotov cocktail of truth and tenderness. It’s a film that dares to explore what it means to love radically, live authentically, and stand your ground—even when the odds are stacked against you.
Burning Rainbow Farm is currently in pre-production. Keep your eyes on Cannes, and your hearts open for what might be one of the most essential queer films of the year.
Florence Pugh is pushing back against the fashion-focused expectations placed on actresses in Hollywood, saying the industry often conflates acting with modeling — and unfairly so.
In a candid new cover story for Who What Wear, the Oscar-nominated actress from “Thunderbolts” opened up about the evolving demands placed on performers, particularly the pressure to look and present like runway models. The Marvel star, who has become one of Hollywood’s most compelling young stars, says the industry’s fixation on physical appearance — especially on red carpets and in photo shoots — distracts from what actors are actually hired to do: act.
Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Geraldine Viswanathan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, and Jake Schreier attend the New York Special Screening of THUNDERBOLTS hosted by The Cinema Society at iPic Theater on April 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Disney)
“It’s so sh*t,” Pugh told Who What Wear. “It’s not the same thing. It’s not the same thing at all. I had this conversation recently with a friend.… It’s just mental that red carpets are even an expectancy of someone that is not…. That’s not even their job.… They don’t model.”
Pugh, 29, went on to emphasize the emotional depth and vulnerability required in acting — a skillset she believes is being overshadowed by image-based expectations.
“They are good at being on a camera that is this close with that face, and they know how to show how raw their soul is on the flick of a switch,” she said. “That’s their talent. Their talent isn’t anything beyond that. I mean, it might be, but that’s what they’re getting paid to do, and that’s what we recognize them for.”
Florence Pugh attends the New York Special Screening of THUNDERBOLTS hosted by The Cinema Society at iPic Theater on April 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Disney)
The Oppenheimer star said it’s unfair that actors are often compared to professional models, particularly on red carpets. “You’re supposed to be able to be like a runway model, and you’re compared against runway models,” she said. “That’s not our job.”
A Growing Burden in Modern Hollywood
Pugh’s comments come amid a broader conversation about how social media, fashion, and celebrity culture intersect in today’s entertainment industry. Increasingly, actors are judged not only by their performances, but by their Instagram presence, red carpet looks, and how well they photograph. This has led to growing concerns that talent is being overlooked in favor of appearance — especially for women in the business.
Reports in recent years have highlighted how casting decisions can be swayed by an actor’s social media following or visual appeal, even for roles that have little to do with glamour. Pugh acknowledged these shifting dynamics, noting that the expectations for actors have drastically changed over the past decade.
Learning to Navigate the Spotlight
While Pugh has become a red carpet regular and a muse for several high-profile designers — including Valentino and Harris Reed — she admits the process hasn’t always been comfortable. When asked whether modeling feels like stepping into a character, the actress was quick to reject the comparison.
“It’s so exposing because it’s you being beautiful, which is like everybody’s inner hell,” she said. Unlike acting, where she can inhabit someone else’s skin, modeling puts her personal identity and appearance front and center.
That vulnerability has taught her to advocate for herself, especially when it comes to styling. “Once you do, you know, shoot after shoot after shoot, you get better, and you get more confidence,” she explained. “You see the pictures, and you see the work, and you’re like, ‘Okay, that looks great. I’m going to now make sure that I know how to argue when a certain piece of clothing isn’t working.’”
Pugh said learning how to stand up for herself on set and during shoots has been a gradual process — one that came with experience and self-awareness.
Grounded in Her Craft
Despite her growing fashion credentials, including head-turning appearances at the Venice Film Festival, Met Gala, and most recently London Fashion Week, Pugh remains focused on her primary role: storytelling. With critically acclaimed performances in films like Lady Macbeth, Midsommar, Don’t Worry Darling, Oppenheimer, and Dune: Part Two, she has established herself as a serious and versatile actress.
But even with such a strong resume, she said the pressure to be aesthetically perfect never quite goes away.
“If I’m disappointed about how something turned out or looked or if someone’s saying something nasty about the dress that I was wearing or if I was a bit too heavy for the dress or a bit too this or that or whatever sh*t someone wanted to say to me,” she said, “I have to be like, ‘Babe, this is not even why you’re…. This is not your job.’”
A Message for the Next Generation
Pugh’s words reflect a growing movement among actresses and public figures who are calling for a reevaluation of how women are perceived and judged in entertainment. In recent years, stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya, and Emma Stone have also pushed back on body-shaming and image-based commentary, advocating instead for a return to valuing the craft of acting.
For Pugh, it’s about drawing a clear boundary between performing and being perceived.
“I’m here to do my job,” she said. “And that job is not modeling.”
As Hollywood continues to wrestle with issues of representation, body image, and the conflation of fame with beauty, voices like Pugh’s are helping to reshape the conversation — one honest interview at a time.
