With James Gunn’s upcoming ‘Superman’ expected to kick off the new DC Universe, the director has downplayed the hype, stating that the project does not need to crack the $700 million mark to be successful, calling it “utter nonsense.”

In a recent GQ cover feature on David Corenswet—the latest actor portraying Clark Kent/Superman—Gunn opened up about the expectations surrounding the film, especially in light of growing concerns over "superhero fatigue" in recent years.

“This is not the riskiest endeavor in the world,” Gunn said. “Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it’s not as big as people make it out to be. They hear these numbers that the movie’s only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it’s just complete and utter nonsense. It doesn’t need to be as big of a situation as people are saying.”

Although James Gunn seems intent on keeping expectations in check for ‘Superman,’ the film is clearly positioned to be a major box office contender, especially given its hefty budget. DC Studios has estimated the production cost at a net $225 million after accounting for tax breaks and other incentives. This figure doesn’t include marketing expenses, which insiders say could add up to another $200 million. The total budget (marketing and production) could lend itself upward of $425 million.

The film follows a younger version of Clark Kent as he grapples with balancing his Kryptonian origins and his human life, all while navigating his job as a journalist in Metropolis. The cast also includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

‘Superman’ is scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 11.

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