James Gunn shared a photo to his socials Thursday, where he can be seen smiling happily as he drapes his arm around the shoulders of the man the internet has labeled his arch nemesis — Zack Snyder.

Knowing exactly what he was doing, Gunn took the chance to compliment his fellow filmmaker’s talent behind the camera. “Consummate filmmaker (and a doubly consummate storyteller!),” he wrote on X, effectively sending into overdrive every SnyderBro who has accused Gunn of freezing Snyder out of the new and improved DC Studios.

Were the conflict between the two men not a concoction by one of the most ionate and oftentimes delusional fan bases on the internet, this post could almost be labeled a “burying of the hatchet.” Either way, its existence is pretty significant.

In fairness, the bitter end of Snyder’s history with DC had little to do with James Gunn’s appointment as its new co-CEO in 2022. By then, the studios had already replaced Snyder with Joss Whedon at the helm of Justice League, while the former was dealing with the loss of his daughter. Snyder later revealed that he stepped down because he did not have the energy to fight for the version of the film that he wanted, later made famous by the relentless #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign.

When Warner Bros. finally made that version of the film available on its streaming platform in 2021, fans of the filmmaker had hopes Snyder could still be given the chance to finish what he had started — an overarching vision for the DCU known as the SnyderVerse. That didn’t happen, but Snyder’s Superman of choice, Henry Cavill, was still asked to return to the role, only to be unceremoniously dropped by Gunn a year later. That’s when the animosity towards the Guardians of the Galaxy creative began.

As it turns out, however, the rage was coming entirely from Snyder’s fans alone. The 58-year-old has been friendly with Gunn for quite a long time, and this reunion proves there’s no bad blood between the two after the DC chief decided to develop his own take on the Man of Steel’s story. “Always a pleasure catching up with my friend,” Gunn’s tweet continued.

Always a pleasure catching up with my friend @ZackSnyder, consummate filmmaker (and a doubly consummate storyteller!) pic.twitter.com/kkl1qZtNup

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 20, 2025

The post seems intentional, with the release of Gunn’s own Superman fast approaching — a ing of the torch, a way to regain the affection of the more hardheaded Snyder fans who considered Gunn a traitor, and an officialization of the transition showing that Snyder is A-OK with it.

The film, which will truly inaugurate Gunn’s DC brand after a few “warm-up” projects, is led by David Corenswet in the blue suit and red cape. The star-studded cast also includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern.

Though Superman has been every bit a ion project for Gunn, fans will now surely be hoping this publicized meeting with Snyder was more than just a friendly catch-up. What a full circle moment it would be if the Man of Steel director were to be invited back to DC. And how wonderful that would be for Gunn, who would instantly fall back into the good graces of the hardcore fans of that film who, up until now, were most likely not to be buying tickets for his movie.

It’s clobbering time! Clobbering records time, that is, as The Fantastic Four: First Steps is already smashing milestones despite not launching into cinemas until the summer. Marvel Studios really gave DC’s Superman trailer a run for its money this week with our first proper look at director Matt “WandaVision” Shakman’s reboot of the First Family, and MCU fans are immediately finding their faith for the future of the franchise restored.

Just look at the evidence. It’s been confirmed that the First Steps trailer manage to draw 202 million views across all platforms within its first 24 hours of going live. This means it is officially one of the most popular Marvel movie trailer launches ever. Specifically, it’s the third most popular ever, which heavily indicates that the new Fantastic Four might just end up as the most successful Multiverse Saga movie since, well, the last one.

Fantastic Four: First Steps on track to become third biggest Multiverse Saga movie after No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine

According to Deadline, Fantastic Four‘s phenomenal trailer performance means it’s the MCU’s third most-watched trailer to date, behind Deadpool & Wolverine (365 million) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (355 million). That tells us that it is the most-watched trailer for an MCU movie that isn’t a sequel, which just goes to show how much fans care for these characters — despite Fox’s best attempts to tarnish their brand for good.

Deadpool & Wolverine memorably became the single most-watched trailer in movie and internet history when it dropped this time last year, which ended up translating to a whopping box office run — the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman threequel ended up bringing home $1.3 billion worldwide. Similarly, No Way Home swung to glory with an amazing $1.95 billion global total. First Steps is keeping some mighty fine company, then, thereby setting the stage for a hefty haul this July.

Pre-release buzz for Captain America: Brave New World has been arguably somewhat muted — although box office projections aren’t terrible — so it’s encouraging to see that Marvel’s summer tentpole could be on track to become as popular as its last. Obviously, clicking on a trailer is a lot different from actually buying a theater ticket, but with any luck, the fans will follow through. Although it has to be said that First Steps has some ridiculously stiff competition.

This July is stacked in the crowd-pleasing blockbuster department, as Fantastic Four is the filling in a cinematic sandwich also comprising Jurassic World: Rebirth at the start of the month and Superman at the end. This could either turn into a mutually beneficial three-way Barbenheimer-style situation (Jurantastic Fuperman? Super Fantastic World Man?) or a disappointment for all parties as the three films shave sales off of each other.

It’s worth pointing out that Superman‘s trailer smashed its way to 250 million views in 24 hours to become DC and Warner Bros.’ most-watched trailer ever. So the glass half empty way of looking at this is that the Man of Steel might have the edge over Marvel. On the glass half full side, though, it seems people are excited for superhero movies again!

Superman might not have to worry about obeying the traffic laws, but the actors who play him still do. Former Smallville star Tom Welling, who portrayed the part of young Clark Kent across all 10 seasons of The CW’s iconic Man of Steel prequel, found himself in a situation which would shame his Kryptonian alter ego this weekend when he got arrested for DUI.

As broken by TMZ, Welling was arrested in an Arby’s parking lot in Yreka, California, just after midnight on Sunday, Jan. 26, once he was found to be driving under the influence — his blood alcohol level was reportedly 0.08% over the limit. Unfortunately for the 47-year-old, the fact of his arrest — along with his leaked mugshot — has ended up going viral online, as old-school Smallville fans have reacted with shock at this unexpected news.

Maybe Welling was actually in method acting mode for his starring role in a remake of Superman III. James Gunn, care to comment?

Yes, Smallville fans know what’s really going on here. Just like all those episodes of the show where Clark turned into a bad boy, clearly Welling was just under the influence of red kryptonite.

For some, the most disappointing news isn’t that Welling was caught driving while drunk but that he was caught eating at Arby’s.

Somebody had to make this joke…

Welling has yet to publicly comment on the incident, but he has been active on social media since. Later on Sunday, the Cheaper by the Dozen actor took to Instagram to celebrate his wife’s birthday. “Happy Birthday to our Angel who makes our dreams come true and inspires us even more! We love you to the moon and back!” wrote in his post, which came with various pictures of wife Jessica Rose Lee on the Wellings’ ranch property in California.

Welling and Lee tied the knot in 2019 after dating since 2014, with the pair sharing two children together. In recent years, Welling’s acting career has taken a back seat, although he has continued his association with DC. He appeared in a regular role as Marcus Pierce on the third season of Lucifer and even reprised his role as Kal-El for a cameo in The CW’s 2019 Arrowverse crossover event, “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

Welling is most commonly seen these days in his ongoing TalkVille podcast, which he hosts alongside former co-star Michael Rosenbaum, who played his friend-turned-nemesis Lex Luthor on the beloved series, which ran for 217 episodes from 2001 to 2011. Welling and Rosenbaum have been open about their attempts to get an animated revival of Smallville off the ground. Despit having the of the show’s original creators and other cast , the duo have so far been unsuccessful in getting a greenlight.

“The honest answer is we have not been able to get Warner Bros. to give us the thumbs-up. We need their permission,” Welling itted in a Nov. 2024 interview. “We haven’t even gotten a response!”

Well, the “glass half full” way of looking at this oopsie is that maybe now his name’s in the headlines again, WB might finally give him a call…

Batman may be on the back burner for DC, but James Gunn’s extended world continues to spin. In addition to his Superman movie, Kal-El’s cousin will make her solo film debut in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Gunn’s universe has already gone to task in reinventing the brand and he has recently added a familiar face to the mix. According to the Dune actor himself, Jason Momoa has been cast as the villain, Lobo. Momoa’s previous work in the DC universe is not cause for concern. After playing Arthur Curry in two Aquaman films, he will return to DC as one of his favorite characters. Momoa took to Instagram to officially drop the news. He posted a quote from an interview several years back about his hopes for his comic book future.

“I collect comics, and I don’t do so much anymore, but he was always my favorite, and I always wanted to play Lobo, because I’m like, ‘Hello? It’s the perfect role.'”

Momoa indicated that no one would have to twist his arm to audition for Lobo in the future. Patience is a virtue because, as Momoa succinctly said in his post, “They called.”

Momoa has now been confirmed to portray the role he has been gunning for in a surprising twist of fate.

Lobo is no Aquaman

James Gunn came into control of the DC brand at just the right moment. For the past decade, DC has been trailing behind its rival Marvel in of quality. But following the magnum opus, Endgame, there was a void to be filled. Marvel could never quite top the film and now it is DC’s time to shine. The success of Matt Reeves’ Batman started a butterfly effect that has created a new era for DC. Since Gunn took over as the creative head of the brand, he has been making waves.

Superman is one of the most anticipated films of 2025 and Supergirl already carries some heat. The role of Kara Zor-El has been awarded to House of the Dragon actor Milly Alcock. The young performer portrayed Rhaenyra Targaryen in the first half of Season 1. Jason Momoa will add to the high-profile film as a veteran of DC. His new character, however, varies distinctly from the rambunctious and fun-loving Aquaman. The illegitimate son of Queen Atlanna of Atlantis, Arthur never thought he would have real responsibilities. His desire to do good contradicts his half-brother Orm’s need for control.

In Supergirl, Momoa will lean more toward Orm on the personality scale. Lobo is an anti-hero character, first introduced to DC Comics in 1983. Hailing from the utopian planet of Czarnia, Lobo becomes a bounty hunter of the stars. After falling out of favor, the character was revitalized in the ’90s. While he was meant to be a parody of heroic characters such as Marvel’s Wolverine, he became a hit with fans — including Momoa. Viewers will have to wait for some time for the release of Supergirl, but in the meantime, can read up on some of Momoa’s favorite comic book characters.

In perhaps the only case where Superman and Matt Gaetz have been mentioned in the same sentence, Mark Hamill has shared excitement about two releases pertaining to the superhero and whatever the opposite of a superhero is, respectively.  

The Star Wars actor — one of multiple celebrities to depart Elon Musk’s X amid grievances with both its owner and his presidential bestie — took to the new locale of Blue Sky to express his eagerness around the release of both James Gunn’s Superman and the House Ethics Committee investigative report into Gaetz. “Almost [as] excited about the release of the new Superman movie with Krypto the Super-Dog as I am about the release of the Matt Gaetz Ethics Report,” Hamill — a noted critic of Trump and his loyalists — wrote on his new preferred platform. 

Naturally, Hamill accompanied the message with an image of both the Superman poster and of Gaetz, though part of me wishes it was the latter’s whose back was facing us instead, so my eyes could get some reprieve from the Botox queen. In any case, Hamill’s excitement about both releases is understandable, since the arrival of the teaser trailer for Superman earlier this week certainly heightened the anticipation around Gunn’s entry to the DCU. The teaser alone sparked commentary about everything from possible cameos to the first look at Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luther, adding to the already fervent fanfare around the David Corenswet-starring film. 

Ahead of its release in July, Superman fans — who can now count Hamil among them — have been theorizing about Green Lantern and his hairdo, the loveable dog Krypto (whose name feels ironic), and the title character’s Yamcha-like pose in the teaser. Gunn himself has also gotten tongues wagging (like Krypto’s) with morsels of details around Superman merchandise toys, his experience directing the film, and his thoughts on fan-made trailers. While the pair have not yet worked together, there were rumors in 2022 that Hamill would appear in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, but that never actually eventuated. 

The far less heroic subject of Hamill’s excitement (ahem, Gaetz) has also received a flurry of new developments following the long-awaited release of the House Ethics report. The investigation has delivered sweeping allegations about the conduct of the former attorney general nominee, including that Gaetz “regularly” paid women for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, as well as purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress. Oh, it also includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations allegedly attended by Gaetz, and accuses him of “knowingly and willfully” seeking to obstruct the committee’s investigation. 

For those who’ve been following the investigation — which was last month responsible for Gaetz’s withdrawal as a potential member of Donald Trump’s second cabinet — these revelations are about as surprising as a spoiler saying that Superman will wear a red cape, but they are nonetheless a cause for celebration for Hamill. While his medium may have changed, the actor’s sentiment around Gaetz and Trump more broadly has remained just as ferocious. 

Since migrating to Blue Sky, Hamill has weighed in on everything from Trump’s cabinet picks (with particular aim at RFK Jr.) to his thoughts on Musk’s increasing political power and his preferred method of switching off from “an increasingly turbulent world.” Hint, it involves a furry companion… but it’s not Krypto.

The new Superman trailer has an interesting opening that anime fans were very quick to jump on. The very first thing we see is Superman plummeting out of the sky, crashing into the icy expanse of what we can assume is the Arctic.

The Man of Steel comes to rest in a small crafter of his own making, curled up on his side in what Dragon Ball Z fans will recognize as the Yamcha pose. This is a somewhat famous and highly memed pose that a defeated Yamcha ended up in after getting killed by a Saibaman in the incredibly popular Dragon Ball Z anime. The Saibamen were strange, humanoid creatures that grew from seeds and were used by early antagonist Vegeta to check the power levels of the defenders of Earth and give them a challenge before deciding if they were worth fighting himself.

The reason the pose grew to become such a meme is that it was used to signify failure after attempting something practically impossible. Defeat was not just a possibility but almost a certainty for the person in question, and usually through some fault of their own.

Now, realistically, you could argue that Superman fell in that pose for the same reason that Yamcha was animated that way in the first place; there are only so many ways for a body to fall that can retain any mystery. Lying on your back is too comic, while lying on your face lacks dignity, so on your side it is. This also allows cameras or animators to do slow reveals on the extent of injuries and exactly what kind of shape the character is in.

This is exactly what happens in the Superman trailer, as we get to see the Man of Steel fall, the slow reveal that this film’s hero does, in fact, bleed, and then the arrival of his caped canine friend to help. It’s disarming, showing that Supes will be taking on some major challenges in the show. Of course, writer and director James Gunn could also be very much aware of exactly what it is he is signaling to potential fans, and it might be a very conscious choice to echo Yamcha’s failure to a generation of people who know exactly what that means.

A common criticism levied against Superman as a character is that he is just too strong. The Son of Krypton can basically do it all, and anyone familiar with the world of comics will be aware that while this problem, and the ridiculous power and threat scaling required to keep things interesting, is common for many heroes, Superman, in particular, is haunted by it as a character. When you, in essence, are a god, it takes another god to harm you, after all. So showing us early that this Superman, while not an origin story, is still establishing himself, is a great selling point for fans.

There is one other reason why Superman might have struck the iconic pose. Perhaps Gunn has used it as an expression of his own situation, as he has opened up about feeling a lot of psychological stress while working on the project. With the potential for a whole new cinematic universe riding on how this film is received, it’s easy to understand even Gunn, who has proven to be something a comic-book movie miracle worker, might be feeling the heat.

For a long while there, superhero movies were the least risky films to make imaginable, but times are a-changing and audiences have made clear they’re done with seeing any old superpowered picture just because it’s based on a Marvel or DC comic (looking at you, Kraven the Hunter). Next summer’s Superman has the big job of winning over waning cinema-goers, then, so spare a thought for the man who’s got a whole cinematic universe resting on his shoulders: James Gunn.

While there are still many Zack Snyder loyalists out there, Gunn’s appointment as co-CEO of DC Studios (he’s in charge of the creative side of things, while producing partner Peter Safran handles the business stuff) was largely embraced as the best possible move. After the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker, Gunn knows how to turn in something that appeals to the masses and massive comic book nerds. And yet the director’s now itted just how much the stress of making Superman got him down.

James Gunn its he was “miserable” while filming Superman, but hopes it’s “for the greater good”

Gunn’s always been more honest with his fans than most filmmakers (and certainly most studio heads), but he’s now made one particularly startling revelation that offers a window into how unpleasant the pressures of realizing the best Superman reboot possible made the day-to-day process of shooting the thing.

In a Superman set visit published this week to tie into the release of the first teaser trailer, Gunn was asked how he was dealing with the fact that so much is riding on Superman to succeed. He didn’t hold back in his response.

“I’m miserable,” he came clean to io9. “Really I’m miserable. But hopefully it’s for the greater good.”

Gunn went on to clarify that his problems with making the film weren’t to do with any, say, nightmare production issues, but were entirely resulting from psychological stress. It’s clear he was feeling the immense weight of actualizing a film that not only needs to stand on its own as an entertaining and worthwhile reimagining of a very familiar character but also has to be successful enough to launch the planned DCU.

“A lot [is riding on Superman],” Gunn commented. “I mean, we’re not going to just keep making movies.”

With any luck, Gunn was able to relieve at least some of this pressure this week when the Superman trailer came out and was by and large hailed as a masterpiece of movie marketing. Going by this sneak peek, Gunn has managed to craft something that feels like a true love letter to the superhero genre, embracing the craziness and silliness of classic Superman comics and combining that with the awe-inspiring ambiance of the best moments of the Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill films.

Gunn, DC Studios, and every Superman fan out there are hoping all the stress will be worth it once Superman soars into cinemas next July 11 and not only kicks off a new era for DC but maybe even a second wind for the superhero craze.

It’s been a million and one Kryptonian years, but we’ve finally gotten the teaser for the Superman movie, intended to revive the DCU in grand style. 

The electric teaser gave a glimpse into what to expect from David Corenswet as Clark Kent, and Gunn dropped a pretty cool surprise as well: Krypto the dog. While we still don’t know what to expect next year, the beloved super-powered sidekick was a welcome treat. But what exactly was Superman thinking naming his dog Krypto, especially when he literally can’t stand Kryptonite? 

Meet Krypto, the Superdog

Krypto was first introduced in the comics as the pet of a young Kal-El on Krypton. The canine was used by Kal-El’s father, Jor-El, as a test subject for the prototype rocket that would later send Kal-El to Earth. Krypto’s rocket was knocked off course, similar to Kal-El’s cousin, Kara, which led to Krypto landing on Earth years later when Clark was already a teenager.

His name, Krypto, isn’t derived from the power-leeching element Kryptonite, but from his and Kal-El’s home planet, Krypton. As Krypto was Kal-El’s dog as a toddler, it’s not hard to believe that the young boy chose the most basic name for his pet. Other iterations of the comic character have him as a regular dog who was rescued by Superman’s friend and fan Bibbo Bibbowski. Bibbo tried to name the dog Krypton after the planet but the engraver who made his collar didn’t put the “N,” and Bibbo chose to name the dog Krypto. 

James Gunn’s Superman is embracing the character’s comic book roots in a way that’s been missing from live adaptations. The teaser trailer showed that the movie will focus on Kal-El reconciling his dual Kryptonian and human identity, and showed some of the cast that will be ing him in this journey. However, the star of the teaser was undoubtedly Krypto the Superdog, Superman’s pet and super-powered dog. 

Krypto appeared in a scene where an injured Superman lay in an icy landscape. He called for his canine best friend, who ran to him at super speed, and grabbed onto Superman’s cape to pull him home after Clark asked for help. 

Krypto is not a dog like dogs on Earth are, but a member of a canine species from Krypton. He shares the same superficial similarities to dogs that Kryptonians share with humans and possesses the same abilities all Kryptonians do when under a yellow sun. In the comics, he often accompanies Superman or Superboy in their hero duties and wears a cape and a collar engraved with the Superman symbol. 

Superman re-introduces a host of comic favorites

The teaser trailer didn’t only introduce movie audiences to Krypto, but to a few more Superman comic characters that non-comic fans may or may not be familiar with. Superman will be ed by a few more heroes in this movie, as shown in the teaser.  Despite the announcement that Aaron Pierre will be playing Green Lantern John Stewart in the Lanterns series on HBO, Superman will feature another Green Lantern- Guy Gardner, played by Nathan Fillion.

Clark Kent’s long-time lover Lois Lane will also be a part of this movie, played by The Marvelous Mrs.Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan. Edi Gathegi is also among the cast, taking on the mantle of Mister Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan plays the shape-shifting hero Metamorpho. Rounding out the heroes introduced in this movie is Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl. 

James Gunn and DC have won the internet for the day with the new teaser trailer for the Superman movie. While we were all wondering how the new reboot of the DCU would work out, it seems that Gunn and his team have been in the kitchen cooking up something special.

The cameo-laden trailer ignores little things like dialogue, focusing instead on human expression, motion, and Superman doing super things. We see people reacting to him, from the average, everyday citizen to Lex Luthor, the mere presence of the Man of Steel drawing out hope and adulation or hatred and fear. It’s a great trailer, hopefully one that heralds a fantastic movie, but one scene more than any other makes me think that this might just be a banger, folks.

During the latter part of the trailer, there is a scene of a massive monster’s foot crashing down, causing gas tanks to fly in all directions, with a young girl just moments away from grievous injury. Superman zooms into the frame, wrapping himself around the girl to protect her, absorbing the hellacious impact of the tanks, broken glass, and other shrapnel.

Other Superman movies have often led with him doing the extraordinary on a grand scale. Flying at superspeed to snatch someone out of the air, somehow managing to do it without smearing them all over the place from the impact. Or maybe catching a plane, or hurling someone into the sun. This scene is more simple, a defining moment for the character and a display of his approach to the concept of collateral damage that was used as a central crux in the story of the Snyderverse.

The message is loud and clear that, for Gunn’s Superman, collateral damage is not okay. The fights this Superman will endure are not careless romps spent throwing his enemies through buildings. This is further hinted at later in the trailer, as we see him fighting someone in an empty stadium, and it feels likely that Superman will have drawn them there as a way to keep others safe.

Right now, people feel like they want someone to fight for them. Not for “the greater good,” or loftier ideals that are often more conceptual than based in reality, but for them. Threats in the world today feel more personal, more real. People who feel afraid want a hero who is willing to put themselves between them and the danger. At times, it feels like the powerful among us are willing to sacrifice normal people for their own ends, so seeing the most powerful person of all take such care to protect a young child really strikes a chord.

What this new Superman needs to give us is the birth of hope, the idea that every innocent life is worth saving. Gunn is a talented director who usually plumbs the emotional depths of his subjects — and his audience — very well. The use of this scene feels deliberately designed to let us know that this Superman lives up to the old ideals.

Classically, Superman has always been willing to avoid a fight. He will defend those who need defending and will save those who need saving, but if he can do it without hurting anyone, that is his preferred method.

It is this stance that lets us know that when he is forced to fight, to go toe to toe with an enemy, that enemy truly is a villain. It seems that we will once again have this classic Superman back on the big screen, the type who would give his life in exchange for yours, because he truly believes you are equals.

The new teaser trailer for James Gunn’s Superman movie is, frankly, incredible. It hits all the right notes and sets up the new Superman as an emotionally affecting look at a beloved hero, not a misplaced reimagining of an already great recipe. We suspect you just have one burning question.

What’s up with Green Lantern‘s hairdo?

Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern character appears to have been given the interesting fashion choice of a haircut that looks like Lord Farquaad watched the original Star Trek series and decided he really wanted to look like Spock.

While it is a close approximation to a haircut that this Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, sported in some of his comic book appearances from the 80s, it’s definitely something that many internet citizens will likely feel the director could have left on the cutting room floor, so to speak.

I’m not going to lie; I am actually here for it. Every superhero being too much on the polished side and overly modernized rapidly becomes boring, and Gardner’s character has always been interesting because of who he is and how he reacts to the world around him, not because of how he looks. His bowl cut is a trademark look, and it would be a shame to lose it when that is unnecessary.

Famously antagonistic, Gardner is the type of guy who would love to take a shot at Superman, so watching him march aggressively toward the Man of Steel in the trailer perfectly sets the tone for the type of role he is likely to play in the story, which tends to be a thorn in the side of almost everyone around him, good guys and bad.

Based on the trailer, I am perfectly happy to let the Superman team cook and see what they have in store for us, as they might weave a story that wins us all over. Personally, I never really fell in love with the Synderverse and found the attempted exploration of a man removed from humanity to be a little shallow and undermined by early story choices. I am already finding a bit more heartfelt honesty in Gunn’s project, based on the teaser trailer alone.

Maybe it is age talking, but no actor has yet to top Reeves and his portrayal of both Superman and Clark Kent for me, although we do get small hints that David Corenswet’s Clark will manage to separate himself from his Superman persona in a tangible way. When running through a crowd, he awkwardly tries to move around the uncaring masses despite being a head taller than them, and his gait as he runs is slightly awkward without being goofy, hinting at similar subtle body language that Reeves used to create his version of Clark Kent.

All in all, there are enough signs in the trailer to let us know that Gunn and crew are heading in the right direction, and that includes Gardner’s bowl cut, even if none of us will be running to the barber to emulate it any time soon.

Watch out, MCU — the DCU has arrived. Only time will tell whether James Gunn’s attempt to reboot DC into something that can be a real rival to Marvel will prove successful, but this first trailer for his Superman movie has certainly got the fans excited. With nary an Iron Man-like quip in earshot, and a stirring cover of the classic John Williams theme, the new film starring David Corenswet as the superhero that started it all promises to be a beautifully back-to-basics comic book adaptation.

That said, Gunn still has to create a shared universe with this one, and the trailer teases how Corenswet’s Big Blue will immediately be living in a world populated by other costumed heroes and filled with world-ending threats. In just 2 minutes 19 seconds, the Superman teaser trailer manages to squeeze in a whole bunch of major DC characters. Here’s all of them, including a couple you might not have spotted.

Superman/Clark Kent

Brilliantly subverting expectations, the Superman trailer throws Corenswet’s suited and booted Superman at us right off the bat instead of building up to him. In another unexpected move, it opens with a bloodied and beaten Superman, promising that this is a version of the character who is human and vulnerable and isn’t some messianic god-like figure (looking at you, Zack).

Lois Lane

Lois Lane fans, rejoice! It looks like Rachel Brosnahan’s ace reporter will be a huge presence in the film. Suitably, she’s the next major character glimpsed after Supes, as we see her walking through the Daily Planet bullpen and sharing a loaded glance with Corenswet’s Kal-El, now in his everyday guise as the mild-mannered — and messy-haired — Clark Kent.

Jonathan Kent

Next, we see a wholesome moment as Clark bonds with his adoptive father, Jonathan Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince), on the steps of the Kent farmhouse in Kansas. This is quietly a huge reinvention of the cinematic Superman story as it looks like Pa Kent has survived to see his son become a superhero, in contrast to both the 1978 film and Man of Steel.

Krypto

Here he is, the star of the show! Honestly, this movie might be called Superman but something tells us Krypto will be everyone’s favorite character come next July. James Gunn, king of the scene-stealing animal characters, has finally given us the Silver Age sidekick in a live-action movie. He’s even got his own red cape and superpowers!

Lex Luthor

No, it’s not Agent 47 from Hitman. In just one shot, Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor immediately marks himself as potentially the most dangerous iteration of the character we’ve yet seen on film. It’s hard to imagine Gene Hackman or Jesse Eisenberg’s Luthor waving a gun around and looking threatening. Get ready for a Lex who’s a match for Supes in looks, youth, and charisma.

Guy Gardner/Green Lantern

Good news: Green Lantern is back on the big screen for the first time since Ryan Reynolds and his CGI suit! Bad news: it ain’t Hal Jordan. Instead, it’s Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, somehow looking even more ridiculous than his last DC role (as The Detachable Kid in The Suicide Squad). For those perturbed by that bowlcut, don’t worry, some more serious Green Lantern content is just around the corner in the form of Lanterns.

Mr. Terrific

X-Men: First Class‘ Edi Gathegi will appear as Guy Gardner’s teammate, Mr. Terrific. It’s currently unclear exactly what team this is, but it looks like their HQ is Stagg Industries. This highly suggests the foursome (we’ll meet the other two in a second) is an adaptation of the Terrifics. The smartest man on DC’s earth, a later clip shows Mr. T’s drone-like T-Spheres protecting him from gunfire.

Hawkgirl

Isabela Merced has managed to instantly shake off the stigma of Madame Web by ing the DC universe as Hawkgirl. Hawkgirl is the third member of Mr. Terrific’s team. Kendra Saunders is either the reincarnation of an Egyptian immortal or an alien warrior, depending on the version, so we’ll see what’s in store for Merced’s take. Don’t expect any connection to Black Adam‘s Hawkman.

Kelex

Why is Superman crying over a funky-looking robot buddy? We’re guessing this is Kelex, the Kryptonian android who guards the Fortress of Solitude. It seems poor Kelex will get destroyed over the course of the film, suggesting an enemy — perhaps Lex — will storm the Fortress. The death of Kelex no doubt hits Clark hard as it means he’s lost yet another connection to his homeworld.

Metamorpho

Metamorpho may look like a villain, but he’s actually one of the good guys. Gotham‘s Anthony Carrigan returns to the worlds of DC to play Rex Mason, an archaeologist who uncovered the wrong ancient artifact and became transformed into a being with an ever-shifting elemental form. Every superhero team needs a tragic hero, à la the Hulk, and Metamorpho is the Terrifics’.

Elsewhere, there’s some kind of flame-breathing dragon creature and a giant glowy eyeball thing shown attacking Metropolis at different times. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but these don’t appear to be direct lifts of any specific comic book critter. What we can say, though, is that 2025’s Superman will embrace the Last Son of Krypton’s long and storied legacy like no other film before it. Get ready to look up (at the cinema screen) come next July 11.

The Superman trailer is here and, yeah, sure, it offers our first look at David Corenswet’s Man of Steel in action, but you know what else it does? It reveals Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, too. Ask the Joker or Thanos and they will tell you that any superhero is only as good as their villain, and the bald-headed billionaire is one of the finest in comic book lore. Even so, it’s been a fair few years since a new definitive take on the LexCorp CEO hit screens. Could Hoult be it?

It’s too early to weigh it on that, as the trailer doesn’t give us a proper taste of his portrayal of Lex, only featuring a few shots that allow us a glimpse at how he’ll look in the part. One thing we can say right away is that it looks like James Gunn has written him a more dynamic, action-oriented interpretation of the character, as Hoult’s Luthor is shown waving a gun around. So it seems his Lex will be more willing to get his hands dirty than most.

There’s still a lot of reservation about the Nosferatu star — who auditioned for the role of Superman first — taking on the part, but at least it seems the skepticism is starting to thaw. “He’s not who I would have picked, but I don’t hate it,” reads one bit of faint praise.

Some, at least, are ready for the Hot Lex Summer to come in 2025.

There’s just one problem: Hoult’s gun-toting Lex is leaving people confused. Is this a Superman reboot or a reboot of the Hitman franchise?

Meanwhile, those who are terminally online can only see TikTok comedian Dan Henstschel.

Those who have a “yearning for evil bald young men,” this is your time.

This is an interesting time for our first tease at Hoult’s Lex to drop, seeing as the last cinematic incarnation of the supervillain just opened up about how playing the role has negatively impacted his career. Jesse Eisenberg appeared as Luthor in Batman v Superman, as well as for a cameo in Justice League, and his tic-ridden tech bro portrayal didn’t hit the spot for many fans. If you’re wondering why Eisenberg has been in fewer blockbusters since, he claims that the backlash to his Lex cost him roles.

With multiple acclaimed projects under his belt, Hoult definitely didn’t need the role of Lex so hopefully he won’t come to regret it like Eisenberg has. Gunn has promised that Hoult could be the most comics-accurate take on Luthor we’ve ever had on the big screen, so that should certainly do something to appease the antis. Movie Lex has typically been presented as a broadly comedic character — see Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, and Eisenberg — so it’s about time we had a version who feels like a real threat to his Kryptonian white whale.

And, if all else fails and the DCU falls flat on its face right out the gate, at least Hoult now knows that he’s a shoe-in for the next Hitman film.