DC Studios’ upcoming film Superman is less than a year away, and countless comic book fans are anxious to see the new Man of Steel in James Gunn’s reboot of the DC Universe. Originally titled Superman: Legacy, this blockbuster will be the Last Son of Krypton’s first solo film in over 10 years, so the hype is palpable. For those excited to learn more about this superhero epic, here’s a breakdown of everything that’s been revealed about 2025’s Superman so far.
When does Superman come out?
Superman will premiere on July 11, 2025, making it one of the year’s most highly anticipated summer blockbusters.
What is the story of Superman?
According to Variety, the film “tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”
Though plot details are still scarce, Gunn revealed on Instagram that the story and its characters are inspired by comics across several eras. Gunn’s influences include the comics from writer Grant Morrison, particularly All-Star Superman, as well as Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come, Jeph Loeb’s A Superman For All Seasons, and Alan Moore’s Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Gunn also revealed that he was influenced by director Richard Donner’s Superman films, 1941’s animated movie Superman: The Mad Scientist, and Superman: The Animated Series.
Gunn even acknowledged how his old friend, director Zack Snyder, inspired this new interpretation of Superman with his divisive and still hotly debated string of DC movies surrounding the Man of Steel. Gunn remains controversial with “Snyderverse” supporters for rebooting the DC Universe timeline. However, based on the trailer, this new Superman movie should have enough to please fans of Snyder’s and Donner’s versions of the Blue Boy Scout.
What about Lois and Lex?
According to Collider, Superman will start right “in the middle of the action,” and Lois and Clark already know each other by the time the story begins. When discussing the duo in the film with Collider, Gunn revealed how Lois and Clark will have a much different relationship than anything seen before:
“It’s a complicated relationship, and we really get into it, and there’s long scenes that are about their relationship and the way they relate and what it would be like for a person who’s this incredibly intelligent, strong-headed, stubborn, skeptical journalist to have a relationship with someone who can lift a skyscraper.”
Likewise, Lex Luthor is already familiar with the Man of Steel and already hates him, but they still don’t know each other personally. Gunn also explained to Collider how All-Star Superman influenced his portrayal of Luthor:
“To take that sort of Silver Age feel, that sort of science fiction approach to it with gadgets. Lex [Luthor] is really sort of a sorcerer in a way. He’s a scientist, but he’s so good at science and I think of him as like a sorcerer.”
What’s the tone going to be like?
Gunn’s storytelling approach to Superman is very similar to those of The Batman and Spider-Man: Homecoming. These films also introduce their protagonists well into their superhero careers, as audiences are already familiar with their origin stories. The same goes for Superman, so it’s understandable Gunn wouldn’t want to do another repeat of the hero’s origin with this movie.
As for the story’s tone, Gunn added that Superman “is humorous, but it certainly is not as comic or as much comedy as either Suicide Squad or Guardians.” A wise decision, as this tone is far more fitting for a Superman story and should provide something more unique for audiences familiar with Gunn’s work.
Where will Superman take place?
Like most Superman stories, this film will take place in the Man of Steel’s old stomping ground: Metropolis. Cleveland was transformed into the iconic comic book city for the filming of Superman, featuring such notable landmarks as The Daily Planet. Allegedly, the film will feature the Hall of Justice, the base of operations for the Justice League.
In a post on X, the Greater Cleveland Partnership revealed photos of the blueprints for the Cincinnati Union Terminal, which was the inspiration for the Hall of Justice. They also confirmed that Superman did have scenes filmed in Cincinnati.
“Skyscrapers and Skylines: Architectural Marvels of Metropolis.”
The featured blueprint is the Cincinnati Union Terminal, which served as the inspiration for the Hall of Justice, the HQ of the Justice League.
The production of #Superman will head to Cincinnati later this month. pic.twitter.com/qv4nuOeCmZ
— Greater Cleveland Partnership (@GreaterCLE) July 3, 2024
This sprawling epic won’t be limited to Metropolis. The production seems to have conducted filming in LaGrange, Georgia, at what appears to be the set for Kent Farm, Superman’s childhood home on Earth. The appearance of the Kent Farm does fit with the film, as it will feature Ma and Pa Kent as characters.
Additionally, the film will include Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. Comic Book Resources reported that filming took place at Adventdalen (“Advent Valley”) in Svalbard, Norway, for scenes of Clark fleeing to his Arctic hideout. This will be the first time audiences see Superman have his traditional frozen fortress in a live-action film since 2006’s Superman Returns.
Who is the villain of Superman?
Since Lex Luthor will appear in this film, it’s pretty clear that the iconic villain will be a thorn in Superman’s side in the story. However, it looks like the Blue Boy Scout will have far more adversaries to contend with. For instance, set photos on X reveal Superman getting arrested and escorted away by the military in a scene reminiscent of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Next to him is Rick Flag Sr., the Engineer, and a tall, hulking figure wearing a mask and a black suit with what appears to be a “U” on the chest.
BREAKING: Superman appears to have met his match during a fight scene being filmed in front of city hall on Tuesday.
Photos: David Petkiewicz, https://t.co/a4YA4W2Cro pic.twitter.com/VbFzRAu7US
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) June 25, 2024
According to insider Daniel RPK, this large mystery man is allegedly Ultraman, a clone of Superman created by Lex Luthor and the film’s main villain. In the comics, Ultraman is a dark version of Superman from an alternate universe, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Gunn took liberties with this Ultraman’s multiversal original story.
Though Gunn stated on Threads that Luthor would be the film’s main villain, he didn’t deny that Ultraman is in the film. The latter villain could just be the one who fights Superman on Luthor’s behalf.
What will the film look like?
An important factor in making a Superman film is how to depict him in flight. Gunn revealed that the film’s flying action sequences are shot with drones with inspiration from Tom Cruise’s recent blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick. Based on the flight scenes from the latter film, Superman should make audiences feel like they’re soaring through the clouds alongside the Man of Steel.
“I wrote up this big document on action and what our philosophy is of action and how we shoot it and what is is, and keeping it alive in the air, as well as on the ground,” Gunn said to Comicbook.com. “And to be able to shoot stuff in the sky as if we were shooting it…. Because everything was rougher, like, it’s in Guardians [of the Galaxy], like it’s in The Suicide Squad. And being able to shoot stuff in the sky like that is really hard.
“So we took a lot from films like Top Gun: Maverick, which, we are shooting flying things. 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, 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. And so we use those guys a lot, and everything’s planned out with me, as it always is. But at the same time, I’ve gotten even more into finding new stuff and new moments and exploring that stuff, finding magic where it is.”
Who is in the Superman cast?
As the first film in Gunn’s cinematic universe, Superman has assembled a large cast of notable comic book characters to bring this new franchise to life. The movie won’t just feature characters from the Man of Steel’s corner of the world. Superman will also feature characters more often linked to other notable DC heroes and teams, including Wonder Woman, the Justice League, and the Green Lantern Corps. Many of them haven’t even appeared in a live-action film yet, displaying Gunn’s knack for taking overlooked comic book characters and turning them into household names.
“These characters all get their moment in the sun. They all have their moments,” Gunn said to Collider. “They’re not just cameos, these are the characters. They’re supporting cast, but Mr. Terrific is the main character of those characters. He actually has a big part of the plot. And so that was fun. And, of course, getting to work with Nathan [Fillion] is always something, and putting him in a stupid look and then Isabela [Merced] is great. I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time. But it was all about balance.”
Here’s a quick overview of the confirmed cast members and their characters so far:
- David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman
- Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
- Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
- Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific
- Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern
- Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho
- María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica/The Engineer
- Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher
- Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
- Terence Rosemore as Otis
- Wendell Pierce as Perry White
- Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent
- Neva Howell as Martha Kent
- Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord
- Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard
- Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant
- Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe
- Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.
- Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl
The film will also star Will Reeve, son of late Superman actor Christopher Reeve, as a news reporter. Harley Quinn actor Alan Tudyk has also been cast in an unknown role.
Given that Tudyk voices Doctor Phosphorus in Creature Commandos, there is a chance he will reprise this respective role from the show in the film alongside Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. As recently revealed on X, Clark’s alien pet, Krypto the Superdog, will make his first appearance in a live-action film.
Who is directing Superman?
Unsurprisingly, James Gunn has signed up to both write and direct Superman. A movie about the Blue Boy Scout will surely be a departure from the more vulgar, comedic projects in his filmography, which include The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. However, Gunn is the one who laid out the overarching story of this DC Universe, so it makes sense that he’d be the one to introduce it in theaters.
Is there a trailer for Superman?
Gunn first revealed on Threads that he had considered showing a teaser or trailer to the public before the end of 2024. On December 16 of that year, DC shared a video announcing that a teaser trailer would be released on Thursday, December 19 at 6 a.m. PT.
The video itself features a spinning shot of the Superman symbol with the wind howling in the background, implying that this is the entrance to the hero’s Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic. And with the simple caption, “Look Up,” the video sets the stage for the Man of Steel to take flight once more in theaters.
Finally, on December 19, DC shared its teaser for Superman, which begins with the Man of Steel crashing into the Arctic, lying beaten and bloodied in a crater similar to Yamcha in Dragon Ball Z. The fact that Superman was left in such a battered state is enough to hook the audience, implying that he will face an incredibly powerful threat in this movie.
The trailer also presents shots of characters like Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Pa Kent, as well as superpowered allies like Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, Mister Terrific, and the dog Krypto. It also shows shots of Superman trying to rescue people and facing a crowd of angry protestors, similar to Henry Cavill’s character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
There’s even a giant, fire-breathing monster rampaging through Metropolis, continuing Gunn’s trend of presenting giant kaiju in his comic book adaptations. And with people chanting “Superman” in the background, the video effectively builds up hype for the hero’s long-awaited return to cinemas.
How long is Superman?
No runtime has been revealed at this time. Given the scale and scope teased for the film, it is safe to say Superman will clock in somewhere between two and three hours long to do its vast story and numerous characters justice.
What music will be in Superman?
Gunn’s more popular pictures, particularly the Guardians of the Galaxy films, are known for featuring soundtracks filled with classic songs. However, Gunn revealed to Comicbook.com that Superman will prioritize the score composed by John Murphy with this statement:
“It is a score, not a soundtrack. So it’s not about the songs. There’s a few songs in it, and of course, I chose those songs beforehand, but it isn’t like any of my previous movies, really…. The score is what drives it. It’s a much, much more of a score film.”
Murphy previously worked with Gunn creating the music for The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The film’s teaser trailer gave audiences a sample of the rock-heavy score, which clearly pays homage to composer John Williams’ iconic theme song from actor Christopher Reeve’s 1978 Superman movie.
Are there posters for Superman?
Along with the film’s teaser trailer announcement, DC released a colorful motion poster of Corenswet flying upward as the Man of Steel, also telling its audience to “Look Up.” Such an image presents a traditional, hopeful vision of the film’s titular hero, teasing a long-awaited comeback for the character in theaters.
Likewise, a handful of promotional stills have circulated online, many of which depict Corenswet in the Superman suit. His suit also bears Superman’s trademark “S” symbol, which is based on the suit design from Kingdom Come.
The images released so far include behind-the-scenes photos of filming in Metropolis, the Kent Farm, and possibly Superman’s Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic. All these images hint at an epic, expansive sci-fi blockbuster just waiting to be unveiled in theaters.
What’s up with Superman’s costume
Whether this film’s version of Superman would wear his classic red trunks was the subject of hot debate by fans. It is now clear that Superman’s costume will include trunks in the film. Though Gunn was initially against the trunks, the director told Collider that actor David Corenswet convinced him otherwise with an idea that adds a clever, psychological nuance to his outfit:
“We were trying on all these different versions, and we screen-tested with trunks and no trunks. And one of things David said is that Superman wants kids to not be afraid of him. He’s an alien…. He’s this incredibly powerful, could be considered scary individual, and he wants people to like him. He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity. So he dresses like a professional wrestler, he dresses in a way that makes people unafraid of him.”
While some may feel the trunks are a goofy design choice, this is actually an ingenious way to subconsciously make Superman appear more like a hero. By presenting himself as something more familiar to children, he seems less frightening. This reasoning is also a reference to how Superman’s classic costume was inspired by the outfits worn by wrestlers in the 1930s.
What’s the deal with Krypto?
Right now, audiences are buzzing over the reveal of the DCU’s Krypto, which shows the Kryptonian canine sitting on the moon, looking down on the Earth next to Superman. It’s a far cry from anything audiences have seen from the Man of Steel in the DC Extended Universe, yet it harks back to the days of Christopher Reeve’s more whimsical Superman movies.
All in all, the image implies that the studio has embraced the wondrous, lighthearted nature of the source material, which should please die-hard comic book fans.
The film’s teaser trailer also showed the wounded Superman calling to Krypto, who appears to drag him across the snow to “home,” which is most likely the Fortress of Solitude. Gunn has always had a penchant for depicting characters bonding with adorable animals, such as Peacemaker and his pet eagle, Eagly. Considering they are both Kryptonian survivors trying to live on another planet, Superman’s bond with Krypto should add plenty of heart to the story.
How does Superman tie into the new DCU?
Superman will be the initial film in the DC Universe’s first phase, dubbed “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters,” meaning it will help lay the groundwork for multiple future stories. DC Studios has already greenlit projects for Chapter One centered around Supergirl, the Authority, and the Green Lantern Corps. The appearance of Supergirl, Guy Gardner, and the Engineer will likely help set up the events of these upcoming projects, with the former most likely debuting in a post-credits scene.
Rick Flag Sr.’s appearance in the film will also tie into the animated series Creature Commandos, which will debut the character a year before this film’s premiere. Due to Flag’s relationship with Amanda Waller through the Creature Commandos, his presence should even link Superman to characters like Waller, Peacemaker, and the Suicide Squad.
Despite the presence of several other iconic characters from the DC Universe, Gunn explained to Collider exactly how much of Superman will set up other projects:
“Zero. Zero. I mean, maybe two little things, two moments, but basically if something’s there just to set up something else, f*** it. I even say that. And for all I know, those things can be cut by the time we get to the editing room because something has to exist for this movie. And if that works in tandem with setting up characters that exist in other media, then that’s great. If this sets up stuff in Peacemaker, which it does, then that’s great. But that is never, ever, ever, with me, going to be something that I’m going to sacrifice even a moment or a beat in a story for, especially a movie. With TV, you’ve got a little bit more leniency to be able to do that. But in a movie, every beat has to be in there for the movie itself.”
