Even before its first trailer, Superman was one of 2025’s most exciting upcoming films, promising to launch a new era of DC films after a long string of flops and critical disasters. The film comes over twelve years after Henry Cavill debuted as the DC Extended Universe’s Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Although fans have long maintained that Cavill was a terrific casting choice for Superman, most can agree that the DCEU failed him and his character. Thankfully, after only two minutes of footage, I’m convinced that James Gunn understands the character of Superman better than the DCEU and Zack Snyder ever did.
James Gunn Is Creating a More Comics-Accurate Superman
The DCU’s Superman Is More Optimistic and Relatable
The first trailer for the DCU’s Superman shows that James Gunn understands fans’ biggest gripe about the DCEU’s Superman. Unlike Zack Snyder’s version of the Man of Steel, Gunn understands that Superman should be relatable and optimistic, not dark and gritty. The first trailer includes shots that sent chills running down my spine as I watched unfold the vision of a creator who understands Superman at a fundamental level. The most poignant moments in the trailer come in several interactions with children, one in which Superman manages to save a young girl from a crashing debris, making it to her just in time. Another even more important moment comes as a young boy raises a flag with Superman’s symbol, whispering under his breath for help during a crisis. We don’t learn what the crisis is or whether Superman makes it there in time, but this moment gives us a clear idea of what the superhero represents to the people of the world. Superman is hope, the one they look to in the skies as things come crashing down around them. He is the one that children call for in hopes of rescuing them when no one else will. He is the hero who will stand for truth, justice, and everything good.
This doesn’t mean that David Corenswet’s version of Superman won’t face some of the same challenges as Henry Cavill’s character. Like in the DCEU, Corenswet’s Superman is shown to face opposition from the citizens of the world, who are shown protesting against him and throwing things at him as he patiently wades through the crowd. We don’t get any details about this confrontation, but I hope that the film takes this solid opportunity to explore the uniqueness of Superman’s character more fully. It is one thing for Superman to save a world that adores him, as is typically the case in most adaptations of the character. It is another thing entirely for Superman to save a world in which many people have turned against him. While the DCEU’s version of Superman did likewise, his story was belabored by court hearings and politicians acting against him. The DCU can ditch the depressing subplots and instead focus on the hero’s actions despite his critics, saving the world no matter what its citizens think about him. This would only enhance the character’s heroism, making him someone truly worthy of admiration.
What to Expect From David Corenswet’s Superman
Audiences Will Watch the DCU’s Superman Grow as a Hero
David Corenswet’s Superman is expected to appear in many future DCU projects, acting as the cornerstone of the franchise in much the same way that Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man helped build the MCU. While there may be mixed opinions on the hero within the world of DCU, Superman will continue to grow as the symbol of hope that he was always meant to be. In the much darker DC Extended Universe, Superman’s critics had a valid argument, as the hero seemed to put just as many lives in danger as he saved. The DCU version, however, can continue to grow and learn throughout his career as a hero. Though he may begin similar to Cavill’s version, making mistakes as he goes along, he will slowly grow into a seasoned hero who acts as a competent protector of his world.
Superman Cast & Character Guide
Character
Played By
Superman
David Corenswet
Lois Lane
Rachel Brosnahan
Supergirl
Milly Alcock
Lex Luthor
Nicholas Hoult
Hawkgirl
Isabela Merced
Mister Terrific
Edi Gathegi
Green Lantern
Nathan Fillion
Metamorpho
Anthony Carrigan
Jimmy Olsen
Skyler Gisondo
The Engineer
María Gabriela de Faría
Maxwell Lord
Sean Gunn
Corenswet’s Superman will also eventually cross over with other DC superheroes in the DCU’s own Justice League. James Gunn has kept tight-lipped about the potential lineup for this superhero team in his franchise, but recent episodes of Creature Commandos have hinted at which characters to expect to be included. In flash-forward sequences, audiences see Corenswet’s Superman alongside other as-yet-uncast superheroes, including Batman, Wonder Woman, and more. Given other DCU projects in the mix, the Justice League could also include such characters as the Green Lantern, Supergirl, and even Booster Gold. Superman will undoubtedly be a central figure of the DCU’s Justice League, unlike in the DCEU, where he is only seen with his superhero compatriots in a handful of scenes.
Zack Snyder’s Superman Wasn’t Right For the DCU
Henry Cavill’s Darker Superman Wasn’t Built for Long-Term Storytelling
When Henry Cavill’s Superman made his debut in Man of Steel, it was clear from the beginning that he wouldn’t be like other versions of the character. Zack Snyder had a vision of Superman who was much darker in tone than previous iterations, struggling more under the weight of society than his predecessors ever had. While this made for an interesting exploration, Snyder’s darker version of Superman was never a character that a franchise could build itself around. Snyder’s vision for the DCEU was much more contained than Gunn’s DCU, built around more morally ambiguous characters who were interesting, but not the kind of heroes that audiences would follow for years or even decades.
Upcoming DCU Movies
Title
Release Date
Superman
July 11, 2025
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
June 26, 2026
Clayface
September 11, 2026
The Authority
TBA
The Brave and the Bold
TBA
Swamp Thing
TBA
Zack Snyder’s Superman had many issues, but the darkness of the character is what fans have most criticized about the character. Despite a terrific performance from Henry Cavill, this iteration of the character isn’t the protagonist that a long-running cinematic universe needs. James Gunn is trying to build such a protagonist that audiences won’t mind revisiting over and over again as the years go by. While he can still be emotionally complicated, he doesn’t have to adopt the morally ambiguous world around him. Instead, he stands out as a beacon of light in an increasingly dark world–which is exactly what Superman has always stood for.
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