Superman 2025 Trailer: Every Major DCU Detail & Character Revealed

As a long-time fan of Superman comics and movies, I must say that the upcoming film seems to be a promising blend of old and new elements. The inclusion of lesser-known characters like Metamorpho and Sun-Eater is an exciting twist, and it’s intriguing to see how they will fit into the story.

James Gunn’s Superman teaser trailer served not only as a refresher for the Man of Steel, but also as an initial glimpse into the broader realm of the upcoming DCU franchise. Prior to its release, Gunn made it clear that his story would be deeply rooted in the characters of Superman/Clark Kent (David Corenswet), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). This narrative happens to unfold within a cinematic universe teeming with various superpowered beings, as well as an extensive backstory of past occurrences.

The first Superman trailer certainly proves that to be the case, offering us significant brushstrokes and crossovers from all sorts of corners of the DCU. Here are the ones we’ve picked out!

Superman Trailer: Every DCU Easter Egg & Cameo Explained

Luthorcorp

In this scene, the depiction of LuthorCorp clearly showcases Lex Luthor’s corporation as a dominant force within Metropolis. The lack of the frequently-used “LexCorp” logo in this setting might be something further explained in the movie.

The Daily Planet

As a film enthusiast, I’ve just found out that the newspaper office where Clark Kent and Lois Lane work has undergone a modern facelift, yet it still feels like home with familiar faces around. For instance, Beck Bennett is now our colleague Steve Lombard, sporting his signature red-white striped shirt. Syler Gisondo steps into the role of Jimmy Olsen, always ready with his camera, dressed in an orange shirt and green pants. Mikaela Hoover plays Cat Grant, a vibrant reporter always seen in her eye-catching orange dress. And of course, Rachel Brosnahan continues to shine as Lois Lane, taking center stage.

The New Clark Kent

Viewing the first full costume appearance of the new Superman actor certainly generates excitement, yet it’s equally intriguing to see how that same actor portrays Clark Kent. Some fans have voiced opinions about David Corenswet’s hairstyle as Clark Kent, but many others are praising the stark contrast in acting and demeanor when Corenswet is playing Clark at work, at home, or while assuming his Superman persona.

Krypto the Super Dog

In the 1950s, Krypto the Super Dog started appearing alongside Superman, but it’s James Gunn who first significantly incorporates this super-pet into a live-action _Superman_ movie. As shown in the trailer, Krypto is guarding Superman’s temporary residence, and he isn’t alone!

Kelex & The Fortress of Solitude

A brief but ominous scene sees a battle-worn Superman holding onto a robot caretaker of the Fortress of Solitude, who is most likely the DCU version of “Kelex” the former robotic assistant of Superman’s father Jor-El, who (in the comics) was recreated by a malevolent Kryptonian AI weapon (and Superman Impersonator) The Eradicator as part of the Fortress of Solitude’s ode to Kryptonian culture. If Kelex is down (or dying) as this scene suggests, it will be like Superman losing one of the most important final connections to his true home and culture.

Pa Kent

As a dedicated cinephile, I can’t help but notice the poignant portrayal of family bonds in the latest film installment. Pruitt Taylor Vince, an actor I admire, gracefully steps into the role of Pa Kent, maintaining his presence on the Kent family farm. The scenes suggest a deeper truth about Jonathan Kent’s health than initially perceived – a vulnerability that his extraordinary adopted son, Superman, would be attuned to. This narrative twist presents a compelling challenge for Superman: grappling with the realization that he may not always be able to save everyone, a struggle subtly hinted at by Zack Snyder in his direction.

Do You Bleed?

This trailer strongly implies the central struggle of the movie will revolve around Superman not being able to save everyone he must, even hinting that Superman himself may be in peril. Unlike previous instances where Batman posed the question, this time it’s obvious that the DC Universe’s Superman is capable of bleeding – the mystery lies in who inflicted those wounds and how.

The Man With the God-Killing Gun

In simple terms, James Gunn’s movie “The Suicide Squad” introduced a significant aspect in the DC Universe by having Idris Elba’s character, Bloodsport, fire a Kryptonite bullet at Superman. The scene where Lex Luthor is seen with a gun might suggest that he is investigating what Bloodsport achieved, potentially planning to use this new threat against Superman himself. Alternatively, it could be a flashback revealing that Lex provided Bloodsport with the weapons necessary to take down Superman.

Superman vs Monsters

Although we’re unsure about the origin of this massive, fiery beast, its appearance seems tailor-made for Superman’s abilities. Hypothesis: Given its design and color scheme, it appears to originate from the ocean depths, potentially linking it with Aquaman’s corner of the DC Universe. (However, this is just a theory.)

The Green Lantern

In a humorous nod to Uncle Fester, Nathan Fillion portrays the brash and self-centered Guy Gardner, a member of the Green Lantern Corps., who seems to be working under the questionable supervision of Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), a shady businessman/villain. This employment situation casts doubts on Guy’s standing among his fellow Green Lanterns, especially since Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) are set to star in their own ‘Lanterns’ series on HBO.

Hawkworld

In the Superman trailer, Isabela Merced’s character, Hawkgirl, soars in dramatically, while also briefly appearing on sneakers during a scene with Guy Gardner and his power ring. This version of Hawkgirl is part of Maxwell Lord’s team of heroes, but her wings and equipment hint at a more extensive Hawk-lore narrative that stretches across both time and the universe.

The Genius

It appears that Mister Terrific, whose real name is Michael Holt, has joined Maxwell Lord’s team of superheroes. An extraordinarily intelligent inventor and athlete, Holt was left devastated when he lost his family in a tragic accident. Taking on the legacy of the former “Mister Terrific,” he employs advanced technology and gadgets to combat villains while also serving as a tactical mastermind for other DC heroes and groups. The teaser suggests that Terrific is essentially a one-man force, utilizing his signature “T-spheres” in battle.

Going Stagg

In the upcoming Superman film, there will be various conflicting agendas involving Lexcorp, Maxwell Lord’s shady dealings, and Amanda Waller. However, one Superman trailer scene shows Kal-El/Clark Kent visiting a different corporation: Stagg Industries. This wealthy industrial conglomerate, led by Simon Stagg, is renowned for its cutting-edge work in engineering, chemistry, and genetics. Interestingly, Simon Stagg had once hired someone to retrieve an object of great value; however, when he betrayed that individual and left him for dead, he unwittingly set the stage for a new DC Universe hero.

Metamorpho

Rex Mason, a hired mercenary, was tasked by Simon Stagg to recover the “Orb of Ra.” However, Stagg’s bodyguard abandoned him instead of helping. A meteor’s light then granted Rex the ability to manipulate his body on a molecular level, allowing him to stretch, bend like Elastic Man or Plastic Man, and transform certain parts into various states such as solids, liquids, gases, or chemicals. Despite anticipation that comedic actor Anthony Carrigan would embody Barry‘s character in the DCU, the trailer’s depiction of Metamorpho and Superman’s visit to Stagg Industries hint at a more significant role for Metamorpho’s extraordinary powers.

The Sun-Eater(?)

One threat that comes to mind and possibly needs a Metamorpho solution is this giant ball of energy seen attacking Metropolis. Since Gunn has made this image part of Superman‘s marketing from the very first official teaser image, we know it’s going to be a pivotal moment in the movie. Sun-Eaters are sentient weapons that consume stars and absorb their resulting energy, in endless repeat. A Sun-Eater was part of the climatic storyline of the famous All-Star Superman series, which Gunn has openly cited as an influence on his film.

War in Boravia

In the trailer for Superman, the depiction of internal strife mirrors an influential comic book storyline from Superman #2 (1939). This narrative, set in a fictional European nation called Boravia, finds Superman stepping into a domestic conflict, where he uncovered a plan to employ chemical weapons. He prevented the catastrophe and leveraged his supernatural influence to oversee peace negotiations, eventually resolving the civil war permanently. It’s intriguing to speculate if the universe created by Gunn for Superman will tolerate such independent actions during global conflicts.

Big Sad Lex

It appears Lex Luthor is taking a heavy beating in this scene; the curiosity lies in understanding why. Typically, we don’t witness such physical vulnerability from Lex in any context, so something significant must have occurred. Given that this could be a critical scene near the end of the movie where Lex not only loses to Superman but also fails to maintain his favorable public image against him, one might speculate that this is the instance where Lex Luthor’s invincible ego succumbs. If indeed this is the breaking point for Lex Luthor’s ego, then Nicholas Hoult’s performance in this film will undoubtedly be remarkable.

Superman will be released in theaters and IMAX on July 25, 2024.

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2024-12-20 00:40