Whether it be comic books, movies, video games, or just about any other form of media, it seems that superheroes are absolutely dominating pop culture. None of that would have been possible without a character known as Superman making his debut back in 1938 in Action Comics #1. Since then, the iconic hero has been adapted to movies and TV several times, all of which have been handled quite differently. Now, James Gunn is at the helm to kick off the new DCU. 

The new film may be several months away, but the first teaser trailer dropped, giving fans a taste of what they can expect from this version. Let’s take a peek at what it has to offer.

Superman | Official Teaser Trailer

Superman Badly Hurt

The trailer opens on a very injured Superman lying bloodied in the snow. It’s known that Lex Luthor is the primary antagonist of the film, so who hurt him? Was it Lex in his warsuit, or someone working with him? It’s also worth noting that there’s a point later on in the trailer that shows Superman locked in some sort of containment unit, so despite Superman’s power levels, he still doesn’t feel like he’ll win these battles with ease, which is nice for creating a suspenseful story.

Fortress of Solitude

There are a handful of shots showcasing the Fortress of Solitude, Superman’s secret base of operations. It’s likely where he was heading to in the opening when he dropped out of the sky injured since it looks like he’s in the Arctic. It looks fantastic with giant ice crystals and all. One question, though, is why is Kelex, the robotic assistant who resides there, damaged? Is there some sort of threat that finds its way to the Fortress of Solitude?

Metropolis

Metropolis is shown off quite nicely throughout the trailer. The hustle and bustle of the city, the Daily Planet, and the LuthorCorp building all look incredible, like they were ripped from the pages of the comic books. Even the style of the clothes and buildings feel like the comics come to life. This may very well be the best live action version of Metropolis yet.

Tone

From the John Williams original score on electric guitar to the cinematography, the teaser gives us a taste of the film’s tone, and it’s a hopeful one. The scene with the kid raising the flag and calling out for Superman adds to that feeling greatly. With the colors, lighting, and music, this feels exactly like what Superman should be.

Krypto

Krypto the Superdog looks insanely adorable, to say the least. He looks scruffy and in need of pets. He also looks to be quite powerful given how he causes a cloud of smoke and snow as he sprints and how he’s able to carry Superman with ease. It’s a safe bet that Krypto will be a fan-favorite character in the movie.

Protecting Citizens

It’s genuinely nice to see Superman, or any superhero in a movie, actually taking the time to protect civilians from harm. Usually in live action adaptations, superheroes are seen battling evildoers, but very rarely go out of their way to save someone from getting hit by rubble or from falling to their demise. The shot of Superman shielding the little girl is instantly iconic.

Kaiju and Other Threats

According to the teaser trailer, there are a lot of threats for Superman to take on this time around. Not only is his archnemesis Lex Luthor ready to take him out, but he’ll also be battling it out against a terrifying kaiju, what looks to be Ultraman, and an evil orb in the sky that shoots laser beams. Hopefully this doesn’t feel like too much for a single movie, but at least the action is sure to be incredible.

Stagg Industries

There is a sign in the background of a shot that says “Stagg Industries.” This is the name of a research and development company in the DC Universe owned by billionaire Simon Stagg. In the source material, Simon Stagg’s research is the reason for Metamorpho being a metahuman, so perhaps we’ll see that play out in the movie. Perhaps there’s an accident that Superman is unable to prevent, causing Metamorpho’s DNA to change. This could hurt his public image and lead to quite an interesting story.

Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific and Metamorpho

Superman isn’t the only superhero in this flick. Guy Gardner Green Lantern, Hawkgirl,Mr. Terrific, and Metamorpho are all present as well. They’re all superheroes who haven’t gotten love on the big screen, so it’s good to see them here. That being said, this is another element that causes concern that there may be too much for one movie, but only time will tell if that’s the case.

Regarding how they look, they all look awesome and comic book accurate (yes, even Guy’s stupid haircut is accurate to the source material). That being said, they are wearing uniforms they typically don’t in the comics, indicating they’re on a team of some sort. Hopefully we can see them don their comic book outfits either in this movie or a future one.

Superman releases in theaters on July 11, 2025. The anticipation and speculation until then will be a blast.

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