5 quick thoughts on that Superman trailer

Krypto, kaiju, and kissing, oh my!

I've been told that it is part of the job of a professional critic to keep my emotions in check, but c'mon, this is Superman. I don't often get happy-weepy when I'm writing, but right now? Oh, I'm a mess.

While my overall thoughts concerning James Gunn's new direction for the DC Universe will have to keep for now (sorry, no time to unpack Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner today), I can, at least, share my first impressions about this new teaser for James Gunn's Superman, which drops July 11, 2025.

Let's watch it again really quick:

I think this is going to work.

1. The Theme

It's John Williams again. Kind of. There are chords that are reaching elsewhere than we've heard from Williams' inescapable theme, and as I enjoyed the percussive nature of Hans Zimmer's Man of Steel theme, so too do I enjoy the electric guitar in John Murphy's work here. (He previously scored The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for Gunn.) It's sweeping, triumphant, and, if I may, kinda neat.

2. The Tone

One thing that strikes me when I watch this is how much sunshine there is. No funereal dawn/dusk imagery, just big, open skies, a whole lot of blue. And the mood! That shot of the kid planting his homemade Superman flag amid conflict, wishing with all his heart for Superman to come zooming in to save the day, his call becoming a chant that grows in tandem with the score as Gunn overwhelms us with kaiju skirmishes, galactic sky anomalies, dying androids, and all the other wonderful Silver Age antics this teaser gets up to, culminates into a feeling I always get from these Superman trailers but the movies rarely make good on: that overwhelming sensation that someone's up there looking out for us. Even when we see Superman's battered body fall from the sky, we know Superman's getting back up to fight that Neverending Battle. He's down, not out.

3. Luthor

Gunn is going the "cracked billionaire" route for mean ol' Lex, which is wise on a couple of fronts. Personally, I like it because it hearkens back to the Triangle Era of the Superman comics when Lex ran an empire while secretly using his fortune to trounce his hated foe. (That shot of Hoult seething after catching Superman flying past his window is perfect.) Plus, it keeps the commentary up to date — just because Gunn is quieter about his politics on social media these days shouldn't suggest he's happy about the current state of the world, and you can bet hard currency his version of Luthor will reflect his feelings. As for the actor playing Superman's arch nemesis, I think this Hoult kid's been quietly establishing an impressive range for years now, and I see no reason why "mad scientist/frothingly jealous mogul" should be beyond him. Plus, he looks great bald, which is a good quality to have in this regard!

4. Lois

While I wish there's been at least one line of banter between David Corenswet's Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane in the teaser (with Brosnahan deploying some of that brassy Ms. Maisel energy), I will happily accept this quick shot of Lois measuring up the goofball in the glasses sitting at the desk next to hers. There are shots of smooching between Lois and Clark and Lois and Superman (the latter taking place mid-flight, natch), so I'm guessing the Daily Planet reporters are in a relationship, and Lane is perfectly aware that Kent is the Man of Steel. Still, these two kids must keep up appearances for the sake of secret identities, which I appreciate.

5. Superman

The suit is doing things. It's boxy, ridiculous, and bright — an overcorrection from the days of Henry Cavill and Zack Snyder, but I think there's more to it than that. The inherent goofiness of this suit plays into what looks like a return to the vivid, fantastical Silver Age cadence that Grant Morrison tapped into with All-Star Superman, where giant monsters can tramp through Metropolis, robots can walk amongst people, and Superman can save a kitten from a tree in one panel and pummel a supervillain in the next. The bigness of the suit also makes him come across as gentle, approachable, a far cry from the strange, aloof, alien nature of Man of Steel. This is the Superman we've been waiting to see since the days of Christopher Reeve, I think. I hope. As for Corenswet, based on what we've seen, I like his face. He makes Superman look determined, unsure, and humble — a man of tomorrow whose primary concern is saving today.

Also: Krypto!

Who’s a good boy? Who is such a good boy? This fella, right here. Take us home, Krypto!