The new era of the DC Universe has officially taken flight.
James Gunn’s Superman, the first feature film under the newly rebooted DC Studios, just dropped its long-awaited full trailer—and it’s not pulling any punches. Equal parts hopeful and high-stakes, the film sets the tone for what this next chapter in superhero storytelling is shaping up to be: grounded, messy, and emotionally human, with enough action and worldbuilding to shake up the genre.
Set to hit theaters July 11, 2025, Superman stars David Corenswet (Twisters, Hollywood) as the titular hero, offering a fresh take on Clark Kent that leans into empathy and idealism over brooding muscles. Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) joins him as Lois Lane, already in-the-know and more than ready to grill her boyfriend about the world’s conflicted feelings toward Superman. And then there’s Nicholas Hoult, stepping into the iconic role of Lex Luthor—bald, bitter, and building something dark.
But that’s just the surface.
A Universe Already in Motion
Unlike past reboots, Gunn isn’t wasting time re-telling Superman’s origin. When we meet Clark, he’s already suited up, the world is already complicated, and not everyone is happy he exists. This Metropolis has layers—politics, opinions, consequences—and Superman, despite being the most powerful being on Earth, has to earn his place in it.
This version of the DCU isn’t starting from scratch. It’s continuing an ecosystem. We get first looks at other major players: Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), and even Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo). We also catch Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Milly Alcock as Supergirl, and Frank Grillo reprising his animated Creature Commandos role as Rick Flag Sr.
And yes, Krypto is here—cape and all.
Meet The Engineer
One of the trailer’s biggest surprises? María Gabriela De Faría’s Engineer. In the comics, Angela Spica is a hero powered by liquid nanotech, but in Gunn’s world, she’s shaping up to be a formidable villain—and one of the film’s most visually unique. Dressed in black and generating weapons from her body mid-battle, she’s not only battling Superman but later seen teaming up with Luthor to raid the Fortress of Solitude.
Gunn has already called her performance “sinister perfection,” and judging by the trailer, she’s one to watch.
What This Film Is (And What It Isn’t)
Let’s be clear: this isn’t Man of Steel 2, and it’s not trying to be.
The tone of the trailer feels like a course correction—one that honors Superman’s hopeful legacy without shying away from the chaos of modern life. Gunn’s Superman is wide-eyed but not naïve. He’s powerful but not invincible. And the trailer makes that clear from the jump—with a bloodied Clark crashing into the snow, calling out for Krypto.
Even with all the monsters, kaiju, and wild sci-fi worldbuilding (yes, it’s in there), the real story seems to lie in the dynamic between Clark and Lois, their ideals, and what happens when those beliefs collide with a messy, cynical world.
Behind the Scenes
Gunn, who’s writing and directing, brings his usual team of collaborators to the project: cinematographer Henry Braham, production designer Beth Mickle, and composer John Murphy (along with David Fleming). Judianna Makovsky handles costume design, while editing is in the hands of The Batman’s William Hoy and Blue Beetle’s Craig Alpert.
The project is produced by Gunn and Peter Safran under DC Studios, with executive producers Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo, and Lars Winther.
The Stakes Are High—For Everyone
Make no mistake: this movie has something to prove. DC is attempting to rebuild a cinematic universe from the ground up, and Superman is its first real test. Yes, Creature Commandos launched the new DCU with animation, but this is the first live-action swing—the one that sets the tone, the aesthetic, and the stakes for what’s to come.
With Marvel’s The Fantastic Four reboot landing just two weeks later, Superman isn’t just launching a new franchise—it’s stepping into a heavyweight fight for the future of superhero cinema. And after a string of DC misfires (Black Adam, The Flash, and Joker: Folie à Deux among them), all eyes are on Gunn to stick the landing.
“Superman” soars into theaters and IMAX on July 11, 2025. The new DC Universe begins here. Watch the trailer now.