Cape, Kaiju, and Krypto: Superman Trailer Teases a Wild Ride

DC Studios is boldly going where it has never gone before with Superman, a reboot of the DC Comics superhero franchise from writer-director James Gunn. First announced more than a year ago and coming to theaters this July, the movie has been hyped for months. Now that the first full trailer is out, fans finally have plenty of reason to hype. While Superman introduces a new Clark Kent, sassy Lois Lane, a bevy of DC heroes and villains, and all-super-dog Krypto, the trailer offers a big dose of the fresh, down-to-earth reboot fans can expect from Gunn.

Superman is a superhero movie, but it’s not an origin story, Gunn has said. The movie leans into themes of Clark Kent trying to find his place in the world, to make peace between his Kryptonian royal heritage and Kansas hometown. It’s a change of pace from the usual Superman origin story, but one that should give the movie an emotional core.

David Corenswet, who has previously appeared in Pearl and Hollywood, plays the titular hero. Corenswet’s Superman is 25 years old, a bit older and more experienced than the wide-eyed, doe-ladling dork of yore. His character appears to straddle both the Kent and Superman sides of the story. He’s a man in two worlds, not just a journalist with a secret identity. In particular, Clark has interesting cat-and-mouse chemistry with Lois Lane.

Played by Rachel Brosnahan (best known for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Lois kicks the movie trailer off with an unorthodox interview—run, in fact, with Superman (Clark Kent). The two play coy throughout, though it’s not clear if Lois has figured out Superman’s secret yet. Plenty of viewers are convinced she has. I’m in the camp that she hasn’t. Without spoiling things, I think the scene with Lois and Clark is a powerful moment of intrigue and connection that lies at the heart of the film.

Nicholas Hoult is among the slew of high-profile cast members added to Superman since first announced, including the infamous villain Lex Luthor. The trailer teases his evil banter and high-tech corporate villainy, but he’s not the only one. Playing Lex Luthor’s henchmen are Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, and Terence Rosemore as Otis.

Dog! Kaiju! Villain Ensemble!

It’s hard to imagine what element of the movie trailer may surprise viewers the most, but I offer one possibility: Superman’s loyal white dog, Krypto the Superdog. Fans of the character first caught a glimpse of him in the short teaser from December, in a heart-stopping moment in which he drags a grievously wounded Superman to safety in the Fortress of Solitude. In the full trailer, the dog steals the show, square-pawing both Lex Luthor and the nanotechnology-wielding evil villain Angela Spica, aka The Engineer (played by Maria Gabriela de Faria). Dressed in black spandex armor and a sleek helmet with outboard rotating blades, the Engineer leads the assault on the Fortress from all angles.

In addition to The Engineer and Luthor, the trailer offers a quick look at an array of other villains and threats to Superman’s heroism. Comic fans have been following with bated breath to see which established heroes and villains cut through Gunn’s vision of the movie. Between the big set pieces of epic heroics and hints of kaiju, the trailer shows several lesser-known but just as compelling DC Comics characters.

Gunns has recruited a cast that gives his vision an interesting and earnest blend of humor and heart. Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner, the Green Lantern known for his bowl-cut hairdo. Anthony Carrigan (Deadly Class, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) is Rex Mason, aka Metamorpho, a human powered to control elements through his shapeshifting body. Isabela Merced is the winged warrior Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi plays Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, the gifted scientist turned masked crimefighter. The list goes on, from powerful to puzzling.

Completing this first look at Gunn’s Superman is Milly Alcock, who plays Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl. Having Superman’s cousin around in the first movie raises interesting questions about Krypton’s family dynamics. Another note for Supergirl fans: veteran actors Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell play Clark’s adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.

Another pop culture crossover moment for DC fans: The character of Rick Flag Sr. is played by Frank Grillo, reprising his role in the animated series Creature Commandos. Sean Gunn also makes an appearance as Maxwell Lord.

Saving the Day and All That Fun Lies in Between

The trailer is jam-packed with Superman heroics, from dashing over rooftops to battling in space. Gunn leans into superhero stakes and big blockbuster set pieces, but the movie is sure to keep an emotional tether. Clark is first pulled back to earth by Lois herself, questioning the motivations and assumptions of his heroics from the perspective of her journalism, and of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, no less. Clark’s response? “People were going to die!” That inner conflict, that duty of heroism against the perception of it, could be a big theme in the movie.

Superman’s trailer is packed with big action set pieces, intense characters, and heartfelt quiet moments. The final moment of the trailer, in particular, gives a brief look at what the movie might bring: Superman lying in bed, peaceful and relaxed in the one place he can truly rest. Krypto, his loyal superdog, rests his head on top of his chest, content and proud of his work, well done. It’s a quiet moment in the trailer, but one that speaks volumes of what fans can expect from this movie: big superheroics in all senses, tied together by an epic sense of heart.