Superman’s Journey, Not His Origin, Is the Focus of James Gunn’s Reboot

DC Studios is launching headlong into a new era with its reboot of Superman, a big-screen version of the superhero from writer-director James Gunn. Expected to release in July, the movie has been in the headlines for months, but now that the first full trailer has been released, we have even more reason to get hyped. A new Clark Kent, spunky Lois Lane, an array of DC heroes and villains, and one swaggering superdog all come together in the trailer for the blockbuster that promises a fresh take on the Man of Steel.

No Ordinary Boy from Krypton

For starters, Gunn himself has said this is no ordinary Superman origin story. Instead, the movie chronicles the emotional journey of Clark Kent (David Corenswet) as he struggles to reconcile his Kryptonian royal upbringing with the small-town values he was raised with in Kansas. The emphasis is an interesting and welcome choice, and lends the film emotional stakes as Clark battles to find where he truly belongs in the world.

Speaking of which, Corenswet, best known for his roles in Pearl and Hollywood, steps into the cape as a 25-year-old Superman, an iteration more battle-hardened than the deer-in-headlights newcomer of past versions. Both his civilian Clark Kent and his superhero persona play an important role, it seems, particularly in his relationship with Lois Lane.

Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) stars as Lois Lane, a tough-as-nails reporter not known for pulling punches. From the get-go, the trailer frames the relationship between Lois and Clark/Superman as a push-pull of friendly competition and outright flirting. But has Lois truly gotten on Clark’s superhero persona yet? Some are calling shenanigans and pointing to visual cues that she already knows. A segment of the internet. Including this writer, have said otherwise. One more look at those faces in this trailer, though, and I think they are playing it both ways. Until Lois Lane is Lois Lane and we are Lois Lane, I am buying. See you at the theatre.

One of the biggest additions to the cast is Nicholas Hoult, who plays the title villain Lex Luthor. The trailer showcases his usual blend of dastardly cunning and muscle-headed corporate evil. But he’s not alone. Sara Sampaio (You) will play Eve Teschmacher, and Terence Rosemore will play Otis, both working at Lex Luthor’s side as loyal muscle.

Krypto, Kaiju, and DC Icons Galore

Of all the memorable moments from the trailer, one breakout star was truly unexpected. It’s Superman’s white dog, Krypto. Fans first got a hint of him in the teaser trailer released in December, when he helped drag a mortally wounded Superman to safety, back to the Fortress of Solitude. The full trailer goes a long way toward living up to that amazing first impression. The superdog is shown getting down and dirty with both Lex Luthor and a high-tech villain named Angela Spica, a.k.a. The Engineer, played by Maria Gabriela de Faria. The villain, dressed in sleek black spandex and sporting rotating blades made of nanotech, leads a full-scale attack on the Fortress.

Speaking of spectacle, there is plenty of that as well. Fans get big action beats in the form of explosions, glimpses of kaiju, team-ups, and more. There’s also a first glimpse at a hefty array of lesser-known, but no less compelling, DC characters in the mix. Nathan Fillion appears as Guy Gardner, the bowl-cut-sporting Green Lantern, while Anthony Carrigan plays Rex Mason/Metamorpho, an element-manipulating shapeshifter. Isabela Merced appears as the winged fighter Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi (The Umbrella Academy) plays Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, a costumed hero and brilliant inventor. You can check out all the cameos below.

Another member of Superman’s family is also in the mix. Milly Alcock will play Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, hinting at a larger universe of Kryptonians in the galaxy. Pruitt Taylor Vince (Gotham) and Neva Howell will play Clark’s adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.

Fans of other DC properties can also catch a crossover, as Frank Grillo reprises his role as Rick Flag Sr., this time from the animated series Creature Commandos, while Sean Gunn is spotted as Maxwell Lord.

Hero or Heroic?

The trailer is not short on grand action beats, from rooftop leaps and climactic battles to kaiju appearances and inter-dimensional team-ups, but one of the most powerful elements here is the dichotomy between hero and humanity. There’s an inherent conflict as Clark’s superhero work is challenged, and his moral reasoning is called into question by Lois Lane and her pointed questions about how his work is perceived, including by the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Clark’s frustrated “People were going to die!” retort is a powerful moment that is very likely a thesis statement of the film itself.

On the other end of the spectrum, some levity is peppered in as well. In the final moments of the trailer, after all that chaos, Superman lies on his bed in a moment of peace he hasn’t seen in a while, while a sleepy and satiated Krypto lounges on his chest. It’s an unpretentious moment, but one that encapsulates what feels like the emotional throughline Gunn has set out on here—an epic superhero adventure at heart, but a story all about relationships.

In cast, tone, and style, Superman looks to be not just a reboot, but a reset for the DC universe. If this trailer is any indication, it’s a welcome one.