Aside from connections to what will become the movies and TV shows of the DCU’s Chapter One, the trailer is also tied to the history of DC. Not only was the music used a riff on the iconic John Williams score for Superman: The Movie, but elements like Superman being harassed by an angry mob were reminiscent of plot points used for Henry Cavill’s DCEU iteration of the hero. Concerning Cavill’s version specifically, the trailer for 2025’s Superman gave a perfect response to one of the coolest lines from the DCEU’s tenure.
Superman’s New Trailer Opens With Clark’s Defeat
Superman Is Shown At His Most Vulnerable
Firstly, it is worth exploring the moments from the Superman trailer that provide the loose connection to the DCEU. Initially, the Superman trailer opens with wide shots of an icy landscape, likely the surrounding area for Clark’s Fortress of Solitude. After a brief moment, Kal-El is shown crashing to the ground. He is then shown defeated, dejected, and bloodied before whistling for Krypto the Superdog to take him home. While it is unclear exactly how Superman ended up in this precarious position, it is an interesting way to begin the trailer.
For one, it showcases the human side of Clark Kent as opposed to the alien side of Superman. Clark can be knocked down, but what makes him Superman is how often he gets back up to fight for hope, justice, and the American Way. Regardless, showing Clark in a defeated moment is a striking way to begin the marketing material for the first official step of the DCU and provides an interesting link to the DCEU’s movie timeline via a divisive entry: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
David Corenswet’s First Superman Footage Confirms He Bleeds
The Iconic Question Of Ben Affleck’s Batman Has Finally Been Answered
The connection to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice stems from the title’s former hero. Ben Affleck’s Batman was shown to be strong opposition to Henry Cavill’s Superman in the DCEU. No scene showcased this more than the ending of Batman v Superman‘s second-act car chase in the Batmobile. As the scene winds down, Superman arrives to put an end to Batman’s path of destruction, warning him against the reign of vengeance Gotham’s Dark Knight is carrying out. Before Superman flies away, Batman states “Tell me, do you bleed? You will.”
The Batman of the DCU would have no questions over whether Superman bleeds if the first trailer is anything to go by….
Although Batman v Superman answers this question by the end of the film by having Batman use Kryptonite weaponry, Superman addresses this also. The trailer’s depiction of Clark at his lowest point proves that this version of Superman, the DCU’s iteration, does bleed. Of course, it could be revealed that Superman is bleeding due to Lex Luthor’s usage of Kryptonite, given that Gunn confirmed the duo’s intense rivalry began before the movie’s starting point. Nonetheless, the Batman of the DCU would have no questions over whether Superman bleeds if the first trailer is anything to go by.
Batman v Superman’s “Do You Bleed” Line Is Still The Coolest DCEU Quote
The Epitome Of Snyder’s Strengths
Admittedly, this connection could seem inconsequential, if it was not for how strong the original line from Ben Affleck was in the DCEU. Many would agree that this is one of the coolest individual moments in the franchise and, in many ways, epitomized the strengths Zack Snyder had as a filmmaker. Despite Snyder’s storytelling often being cited as one of his weaknesses, none can deny the eye the director had for individual moments of greatness. Batman v Superman had plenty, with the “Do you bleed” moment standing out among the crowd.
The moment solidified the subplot that made BvS special, after all. While the set-up for the larger DCEU did not quite blend as seamlessly as the rest of the story, the dynamic between Affleck and Cavill as the two titular superheroes was excellent. This line being the best element of that dynamic only goes to show how awesome it really was. Whether Superman‘s callback to this line was intentionally by Gunn or not, the fact that audiences can make the connection calls to mind the lasting advantages of the now-defunct DCEU before its successor truly begins.
