Man of Steel, Dog of Fluff: Superman Trailer Delivers Heroic Duo

DC Studios is venturing into bold new territory with Superman, a rebooted look at the most famous superhero of them all. Written and directed by James Gunn, the July release has been the subject of months of buzz, but now that we’ve seen the first full trailer, fans have plenty of reasons to be hyped. Gunn has been teasing elements like a new Clark Kent, a mouthy Lois Lane, DC Comics’ biggest heroes and villains, and one huggable superdog, and the new Superman trailer has them all.

The film is a clear departure from some of its predecessors, as Gunn has clarified that Superman is not another by-the-numbers origin story. Instead, it’s an internal origin story of sorts for Clark Kent, one in which he grapples with the duality of his identity. He’s the lost, last son of Krypton, and he also, he’s just Clark. He’s from Kansas. He grew up poor, and now he’s trying to figure out where he belongs.

Pearl and Hollywood alum David Corenswet stars in the lead role, embodying the big blue “S” as a 25-year-old. He’s no wide-eyed, rookie Superman of days past. This version of the Man of Steel seems especially conflicted about the dual nature of being both Superman and Clark Kent, as evidenced by his relationship with Lois Lane, portrayed in the trailer by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan. Lois Lane starts the film with a major flair as Brosnahan’s take on the character is anything but milquetoast. The trailer opens with a playful bit: Lois running through a mock interview with “Superman” himself. The characters have great chemistry, but is Lois aware of Clark’s identity yet? Online speculation argues yes, she already knows. Others (this writer included) will make a case for the scene in question, based on the actors’ body language and expression, arguing she’s in the dark as of yet. Either way, it’s a great move, and one that places Lois as more than a sidekick or love interest, but as a major part of the film’s core relationship.

Nicholas Hoult is a big name to add to the high-profile cast, and the trailer does not hold back on his typical megalomaniacal swagger. He stars as Lex Luthor, and he’s not the only familiar face in the film. Sara Sampaio and Terence Rosemore are Luthor’s two henchmen, Eve Teschmacher and Otis.

Krypto, Kaiju, and More DC World-Building

Oh, and one more breakout star? Superman’s white dog. Krypto was first seen by fans in a dazzling moment back in the teaser trailer released in December, when the dog drags an injured Superman to safety in the Fortress of Solitude. But the new trailer doubles down on Krypto’s heroics, and shows him square up against Lex Luthor in a ferocious face-off, and also in a scene with high-tech villain Angela Spica, also known as The Engineer, played by Maria Gabriela de Faria. Dressed in black spandex and wielding deadly circular blades, which she uses to slice through everything in her path, Spica leads an all-out assault on the Fortress, thanks to her nanotechnological enhancements.

Action abounds in the trailer. Epic fights, Kaiju flashes, high-speed chases, and team-ups between familiar characters like Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Cyborg all crop up, but we also get the first look at some deep cuts within the DC canon. Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner, a no-nonsense Green Lantern with a distinctive bowl cut, and Anthony Carrigan portrays Rex Mason, also known as Metamorpho, who can shift elements in his body, allowing him to bend his form into powerful weapons and projectiles. Isabela Merced plays the winged warrior Hawkgirl, while Edi Gathegi plays Michael Holt, also known as Mister Terrific, an inventor-turned-masked-hero. And rounding out this early look at some of these characters is a younger addition to the Kryptonian family tree, Supergirl, portrayed by Milly Alcock as Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El.

Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell also join the cast as Clark Kent’s adopted parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.

Fans of other DC properties will also recognize Frank Grillo, who reprises his role as Rick Flag Sr. from the animated series Creature Commandos, while Sean Gunn appears as Maxwell Lord.

Heroism and Humanity

The trailer has more than its fair share of chases and clashes: we get high-speed rooftop runs, miniaturization mayhem, and jaw-dropping shots of Clark Kent moving between galaxies, but it’s not just cool CGI. Gunn smartly juxtaposes big action with some character beats. When Lois is questioning him about the effects his heroism has on people, she specifically asks how he’d feel if something like that were reported by the Secretary of Defense. An exasperated Clark counters by saying, “People were going to die!” It’s a cheeky exchange but gets at the heart of the film’s central themes: what does it mean to be a hero? Is there a right way to do the right thing?

Not everything in the trailer is high stakes. There are lighter, funny, and sweet beats sprinkled throughout as well. The trailer ends with what looks to be an extremely rare quiet moment in the life of Superman. As Krypto snoozes on his chest, Superman looks genuinely at ease lounging on his bed. It’s a small scene, but a defining one for the franchise, one that suggests an epic series with heart at its center.

Fans of DC have a lot to be excited about with Superman, as it promises to be more than just a reboot, but a full-on reset for the DC film universe. And if the trailer is any indication, it will also be a smashing success.