New Superman trailer hints at a brighter, more hopeful hero | CBC ...

Kevin Maimann · CBC News

· Posted: Dec 20, 2024 3:39 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Superman is back, and he brought his dog.

Fans of the legendary comic book superhero are buzzing on social media after a trailer dropped Thursday for the upcoming film, simply titled Superman, set for a July 11, 2025 release.

Many say the action-packed trailer harkens back to vintage Superman, with its bright esthetic, the return of his iconic red underwear and the prominent feature of canine sidekick Krypto, who appears in comics dating back to the 1950s but rarely in the movies.

"I can't remember the last time a trailer has caused so much excitement," said Hollywood Reporter film writer Borys Kit.

"Everybody is talking about it. This trailer has people who aren't even interested in comic books or superheroes checking it out."

Kit says he's surprised to see so much interest, but attributes some of that to the trailer being "stuffed" with Easter eggs, including a modernized, electric guitar-led version of John Williams's 1978 Superman score.

Reactions on social media have been largely positive, with fans excited about the new look and gushing over Krypto, a memeable sidekick who Kit says could be the film's "secret weapon."

It's the first Superman movie since writer and director James Gunn took over DC Studios, raising questions among diehard fans about what the future holds after Zack Snyder's 10-year run.

DC has struggled in recent years, with disappointing box office numbers and criticism from some fans for its darker tones and lack of consistency.

Gunn, who made the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy with Marvel Studios, took the reins at DC in 2022, along with producer Peter Safran. Gunn recently told the Hollywood Reporter that the new film is "a movie about kindness." 

A DC Studios press release called Superman a "singular blend of epic action, humour and heart," with a lead character "who's driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind."

David Corenswet's seemingly brighter portrayal of the superhero goes right down to his outfit, with the return of not only the red undies, but also a sky-blue uniform and a simplified logo, reversing recent trends of toning down some of the vibrancy and classic comic elements. 

Corenswet, who acted in Look Both Ways and Pearl, takes over the role from Henry Cavill, who played Superman in 2013's Man of Steel and several other Snyder films.

Kalman Andrasofszky, a Toronto-based illustrator, character designer and comic artist, says the new costume threads the needle between Christopher Reeve's classic 1970s and 80s outfit and the 2011 New 52 comic revision, rather than Snyder's darker, more low-key colour palette. 

"It's kind of cherry-picking a few different bits from different eras of Superman, but I think it's doing it really well. The costume looks great," he said. 

Andrasofszky says while comic fans can be salty and critical, he's seeing nothing but excitement for what looks to be a "more innocent, more optimistic Superman."

"This movie feels like it's trying to kind of reset the impression of Superman as something wholesome, which a lot of the last several movies kind of veered away from," he said. 

There's still plenty of action and tension, with snippets showing a fire-breathing monster, a dying robot and, of course, villain Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult. 

But Andrasofszky says the trailer highlights the compassion that was characteristic of classic Superman, from his playful interaction with Krypto, a gentle hug with his father, and some tender moments with his love interest, Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan.

"The trailer is so focused on two things," he said. "It's archetypal Superman moments, but all of them seem to be angled towards human connection, compassion and things that maybe have been absent from the Superman movies for a while but are kind of inherent to the character — restraint and warmth and humanity."