Family, Flight, and Fortresses: Superman’s Dual Life in Focus

DC Studios is already well into the next phase of its cinematic universe, with the release of Superman this July and other projects in development. For fans of the DC Comics universe, the months leading up to the release have been full of speculations and anticipation. Now, with the first full trailer officially released, there is no shortage of excitement.

Jumping headfirst into the reboot, Superman stars a new Clark Kent, a feisty Lois Lane, a bevy of DC heroes and villains, and at least one adorable, scene-stealing superdog. Gunn’s vision has been teased previously, and as the trailer gets underway, audiences will be pleased to find that it’s everything they could hope for in an emotionally resonant Superman reboot.

Origins, Ascent…Adventure?

In interviews, Gunn has been quick to point out that this film is not an origin story. Instead, it follows Clark Kent on his inner journey to make sense of his unique position in the world. On the one hand, there is his Kryptonian royal lineage; on the other, his childhood in the small town of Smallville, Kansas. The central emotional theme of the film, as a result, is Clark Kent’s struggle to reconcile these two parts of himself and to figure out where he belongs.

Played by David Corenswet (Pearl, Hollywood), the 25-year-old Kent is notably less fresh-faced and wide-eyed than some of his predecessors. He inhabits the duality of Clark Kent and Superman, a role that Corenswet wears well and, as he explains to Lois Lane, is fundamental to his purpose. We’ll see more of this when it comes to Lois and Clark’s relationship. For now, one thing is clear: when it comes to Lois Lane, Clark Kent has a lot to prove.

Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) stars as Lois Lane, who, if her bite is any indication, has had a bone to pick with Superman for quite some time. The trailer kicks off with a fun reversal on the classic Superman interview trope: in Lois’s crosshairs is none other than “Superman” (played, of course, by Clark Kent), as she runs him through a searing interview. There’s palpable flirtation and banter between the pair, but still no conclusive evidence that Lois has caught Clark’s secret identity (though many viewers are quick to assert that she has). The language is inconclusive in that scene, and the expressions on the actors’ faces, including this writer included. But regardless of the details of their relationship (or even if the relationship will be central to the film at all), Brosnahan and Corenswet make for an electric pairing.

Nicholas Hoult is another high-profile addition to the cast as DC Comics supervillain Lex Luthor. Known for his debonair villainy and tech-backed corporate criminality, Luthor gets his featured moments in the trailer, but he is not alone. As usual, Luthor has a cadre of allies and morally grey sidekicks on his side, including Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher and Terence Rosemore as Otis.

Good Boy. Superboy.

Speaking of sidekicks, one of the clear breakout stars of the trailer is a somewhat unexpected one: Superman’s trusty white dog, Krypto. Fans first caught a glimpse of Krypto in the teaser trailer that dropped last December, where the audience sees the dog dramatically drag a gravely injured Superman to the Fortress of Solitude. The trailer revisits the event and really doubles down on the dogged heroics, showing the adorable Krypto go paw-to-paw with DC Comics supervillain Lex Luthor, as well as the technologically advanced villain Angela Spica, a.k.a. The Engineer (Maria Gabriela de Faria).

Costumed in slick black spandex and deadly rotating blades (courtesy of nanotechnology), the formidable Spica leads a full-blown assault on the Fortress.

Building the World: Kaiju, Corps, and an Expanding DCU

Action and spectacle are not in short supply in the trailer, and between galaxy-spanning battles, kaiju flashes, and team-up teases, fans also get a first look at a broad cast of lesser-known but compelling DC Comics characters. Nathan Fillion (TV’s Castle) is introduced as Guy Gardner, a green lantern sporting a signature bowl cut; Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason, a.k.a. Metamorpho, whose shapeshifting powers allow him to control elements through his body; Isabela Merced (Idlewild, Zack Snyder’s Justice League) as the winged warrior Hawkgirl; and Edi Gathegi (Run Hide Fight, The Get Down) as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, a super-genius inventor turned crime-fighting vigilante.

Milly Alcock also gets a spotlight moment as Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El, better known in the comics as Supergirl, another potential addition to the film’s already well-populated DCU. (And while the inclusion of Supergirl also suggests that there is a much larger Kryptonian family in play here.) Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell are Clark’s earthbound parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.

Fans of DC’s comics (or animation series) will spot a few other familiar faces, including Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., reprising his role from the animated series Creature Commandos, and Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord.

Light in the Darkness

Heavy on drama, of course, is no surprise, but the trailer is also rife with humor and levity. The emotional highs and lows are balanced, too. Superman’s moral fortitude is tested when Lois presses him on whether people like the U.S. Secretary of Defense look favorably upon him. His impassioned defense of his role (“People were going to die!”) pits public perception of his actions against the reality, and the emotional consequences of such a decision. This is one theme that’s likely to run deep.

Near the trailer’s conclusion, the action winds down for a moment. We see Superman on his bed, lying down for a moment in relative peace. Krypto is on his chest, eyes crinkled in satisfaction. It’s a simple moment, but one that’s loaded with emotion. It’s also an excellent summation of the tone that Gunn is setting with Superman: big action, but grounded in characters that we care about.

In addition to a stacked cast, grounded tone, and a renewed focus on emotional storytelling, Superman looks like more than just a reboot. It’s the reset that the DC cinematic universe needs and, from the looks of this trailer, one that it deserves.