Marketing for James Gunn’s Superman movie is officially getting up, up and away. Warner Bros. on Monday debuted the teaser poster for the first film in the relaunched DC Universe under Gunn and producer Peter Safran’s DC Studios, which welcomed press for a preview of the Superman trailer on Warner’s Burbank lot. While the first footage won’t be released to the public until Thursday, December 19 (coinciding with Superman’s appearance in episode 4 of the Max series Creature Commandos), fans can get a glimpse of the DCU movie via the just-released poster.
David Corenswet (Twisters) stars as the new Man of Steel, with Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (Nosferatu) as the villainous Lex Luthor. Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell round out the supporting cast as Kal-El’s adoptive parents, Pa and Ma Kent. Skyler Gisondo, Beck Bennett, Mikaela Hoover, Christopher McDonald, and Wendell Pierce play Clark Kent’s colleagues at The Daily Planet. Meanwhile, Edi Gathegi (For All Mankind) portrays Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) is the Guy Gardner Green Lantern, Isabela Merced (Alien: Romulus) will be Hawkgirl, and Anthony Carrigan (Barry) will take on the role of Metamorpho. Superman also features María Gabriela de Faría (Deadly Class) as Angela Spica/The Engineer of The Authority and Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. from Gunn’s Creature Commandos.
First announced as Superman: Legacy, the reboot “tells the story of Superman’s” complicated relationship with his Kryptonian heritage and his human upbringing as Clark Kent from Smallville, Kansas.” Gunn and Safran noted, this movie is “not an origin story.” Indeed, Gunn said, “With our stories, we want to take it away from good guy vs. bad guy.” The film will explore “the shades of gray which allow us to tell complex stories,” he added.
Critics have long been excited about the potential new direction for Superman. This is not another retelling of Superman’s origins, which have been explored through various iterations over the years. Instead, this film draws inspiration from writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely’s acclaimed 12-part series All-Star Superman. Morrison envisioned All-Star as a “timeless” interpretation of the Super-mythos featuring beloved characters like Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Superman’s arch-nemesis Lex Luthor.
On December 19, fans will finally get to see the first trailer for Superman, teasing what promises to be one of the most anticipated films of 2025. The countdown to its exact release time has already begun, with anticipation building over how the film will reflect the classic values of truth, justice, and the American way. The trailer is expected to shed light on the new DCU costume, and the cinematic portrayal of Clark Kent along with glimpses of the main cast.
James Gunn has leveraged his extensive experience in the world of superhero films and narrative construction to craft this new vision for Superman, merging epic action with humor and heart, as described by studio reps. A newly released teaser poster hints at visually stunning sequences with the words “Look Up,” inviting audiences to engage with the film on multiple levels.
Expectations for the trailer also include insights about Superman’s colleagues at The Daily Planet, comprised of key characters played by Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. Not to mention the inclusion of Krypto the Super Dog, who is set to feature alongside Superman. The excitement surrounding the anticipated first look is palpable, as Gunn's previous works have successfully combined humor and rich character development.
With the full trailer release scheduled for Thursday at 6 AM PST (9 AM ET, 2 PM GMT), fans are eagerly waiting to log on and witness the first official look at Corenswet as Superman, alongside his flagship allies and antagonists. The new Superman is touted not only as the beginning of Gunn's vision for the new DC Universe but also as pivotal to revitalizing the iconic superhero's cinematic legacy.
James Gunn’s Superman is slated to soar onto big screens, set to launch on July 11, 2025, making it the first major film of the rebranded DC franchise. With the film's promising cast and innovative take on the superhero, it aims to rejuvenate interest and set the tone for future DC movies under Gunn's stewardship. With enthusiasm running high and the trailer on the horizon, fans can hardly wait for the moment they will finally get to see the new Man of Steel come to life on screen.
