Superman Official Teaser Trailer Reaction

The first trailer for James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ has been released, teasing audiences with what they can expect from the 2025 film. While plot details are still largely undefined, the two minutes demonstrate that James Gunn’s take on the character will be returning the hero to an icon of hope, something that many fans want from the character. Many of the key characters also get their first look, showing off how they’ll look in the film.

The trailer opens in a way many fans might not be expecting, with Superman crashing into the snow, injured. This will likely be the movie’s lowest point, where the icon of hope will be beaten into submission by Lex Luthor and the weight of his enormous task. Later moments show Krypto the Dog coming to save Superman, giving him hope and love in just the same way that many pets across the world do. Hopefully Krypto will be a significant part of the film, as this will be the first time the dog has been in a live-action movie, and this good boy deserves to shine. This whole scene though shows that despite Superman being an experienced hero at this point, he’s still got many challenges to face. 

Audiences get to see him bumble about as Clark Kent, with a lot of the earnestness of Christopher Reeves’ Superman had, which is an intentional choice that James Gunn and David Corenswet are choosing to make. At the Daily Planet, audiences also get a look at Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, with a later scene showing her making out with Kent. It’s probable that she already knows he’s Superman at this point, as Gunn has already confirmed that this won’t be an origin story, so will likely skip over some of those earlier moments.

Superman gets to share what will likely be a touching moment with father Kent at their residence, which is only a small farmhouse. This is in keeping with his humble origins. Superman doesn’t come from riches or fame like Bruce Wayne, the guy has built everything up for him and showed that he’s a good person, one who strikes hope into people he saves and not fear into his enemies. 

One key shot in the trailer, one that above all shows that Gunn knows what he’s doing, is Superman saving a child from an explosion. It’s a moment that is core to who he is, showing that he’s willing to put himself in harm’s way for humanity. It’s a beautiful moment, one that will likely resonate more on the big screen. This hope is echoed in a further scene where a child desperately flies a Superman flag in a warzone, praying for the Man of Steel to come and save him.

The back half of the trailer shows off some other major characters that will be in the film, and other locations. Nicholas Hoult appears as the traditionally bald Lex Luthor, with his corporation and an appropriate-looking pistol. Here it seems he has Superman beat, and he might even temporarily trap him, as Superman has to escape a glass prison. He also watches Superman fly by Lexcorp, walking angrily away as though his latest scheme has just been foiled.   

Other characters that make an appearance are Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardiner as a Green Lantern, Anthony Carrigan’ Metamorpho. Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl and Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen. It’s unclear how these characters will feature in the film, but it indicates the presence of government-backed superhero teams, which usually never ends well. Gardiner appears to be associated with Maxwell Lord, a different take on the same character from ‘Wonder Woman 1984’.

One final moment worth touching on, is the scene where Superman is surrounded by an angry crowd as he goes into a building, likely a court or other legal space. This is of course reminiscent of a similar take from ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’, though hopefully Gunn is hoping to handle this delicate moment with more grace. It’s also something that clashes with the idea that Superman is an icon of hope, as here he’s instead a polarising and controversial figure. It’s a moment that audiences will have to wait for the release of the film to find out more about. 

‘Superman’ releases in cinemas July 11, 2025.