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It’s hard to think of a movie opening in 2025 that’s under more pressure than “Superman.” James Gunn‘s new take on the DC character serves as a hard launch for a new cinematic universe of movies and shows overseen by Gunn and Peter Safran, who have served as co-CEOs of DC Studios since 2022. The two men are developing a slate of projects as varied as the animated Max series “Creature Commandos” (the soft launch) and a “Sgt. Rock” movie starring Daniel Craig and directed by Luca Guadagnino.
But much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe was built upon the success of Jon Favreau’s “Iron Man,” Gunn’s “Superman” will have to lay a strong foundation for the rest of his ambitious plans.
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” director enlisted David Corenswet to take over for Henry Cavill in the role of Superman/Clark Kent. He’ll be flanked by a star-studded cast that also includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Superman nemesis Lex Luthor. The official teaser trailer, released on Thursday, gives fans their first real look at the ensemble — including Corenswet in Superman’s iconic primary-colored tights. And yes, also Krypto the Superdog.
While “Superman” will serve as a starting point for what could become a sprawling film series, Gunn has stressed that it’s not an origin story. Speaking to members of the press on the film’s set (via TheWrap), the director explained that his film will begin with Superman already established as a superhero with the preexisting relationships that comic book fans have come to expect.
“We just start in the middle of the action,” he said. “Superman already exists. Lois and Clark already know each other. Lex hates Superman’s guts from the beginning, although they don’t know each other personally. So we start right in the middle of the action.”
Gunn also added that the film’s flight sequences were influenced by the aerial photography of another recent blockbuster that filmed real-life superhero Tom Cruise flying through the air.
“We took a lot from films like ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’” he said. “We shoot a lot of our action with actual drones flying in and around Superman and the people that he’s flying with, The Engineer, and whoever else that he’s fighting up in the air. And we did that on sound stages. We got these really small, crazy drones now. We’ve got some of the best flyers in the world here who are working with it.”
Warner Bros. Pictures will release “Superman” in theaters on Friday, July 11. Watch the teaser trailer below.
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