Superman 2025: Trailer Shows How James Gunn Is Changing DC Universe

As a film enthusiast who has witnessed some of the most remarkable transformations in Hollywood, I must say that the dedication and commitment these actors demonstrate is nothing short of astounding. From Hilary Swank’s metamorphosis into Brandon Teena to Jared Leto’s harrowing journey into the world of a HIV-positive transgender woman, their life experiences have been dramatically altered to breathe life into their characters.

Up in the sky! Look! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the new Superman trailer!

For the very first time, fans have caught a glimpse of “Superman: Legacy”, set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025. As previously mentioned by its creator and director, James Gunn, this comic book adaptation is poised to kickstart a fresh perspective within the DC Universe.

The trailer opens showcasing David Corsenswet as Superman, sporting a costume similar to the character’s style from the New 52 comics, complete with Superman’s signature red shorts. Initially, it seems Superman is in trouble, but he receives swift assistance from his loyal friend and canine companion, Krypto, who is fondly known as Superman’s favorite good boy.

The teaser is accompanied by an electric guitar rendition of the iconic Superman theme composed by John Williams, originally featured in the 1978 film. It offers brief glimpses of Clark Kent (Superman’s alter ego), portrayed by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane – a journalist and love interest for Clark – Nicholas Hoult as the antagonist Lex Luthor, and various other DC characters such as Green Lantern Gardner (played by Nathan Fillion), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigain), and Jimmy Olsen (Skylar Gisondo).

Additionally, viewers witness a heartwarming scene featuring Clark and his father, Jonathan (Pruitt Taylor Vince), affectionately called Pa Kent. Alongside Martha Kent (Neva Howell), these two played crucial roles in raising Clark on their farm after he arrived there as an infant from the planet Krypton.

Alongside an array of fascinating characters, viewers also got a glimpse into various settings: Clark’s office at The Daily Planet, Superman’s icy hideout known as the Fortress of Solitude, their budding relationship unfolding between Lois and Clark, added layers to the storyline.

Even though we have to wait six months or so to witness it unfold on the big screen, as per Gunn’s statement – who took up the co-CEO role at DC Studios in October 2022 – “Superman: Legacy” signifies the genuine start of the DC Universe.

In a January 2023 video shared on X, previously known as Twitter, he emphasized that storytelling is paramount. It’s the essence of what we do. I am committed to honoring those stories. I aim to be authentic and offer something unique, unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

For Corenswet, stepping into the well-known role of Superman, previously portrayed by actors like Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, and more recently Henry Cavill, has been transformative for their life.

Indeed, portraying the Man of Steel has been “a truly fantastic experience,” he shared with Variety in a recent interview on December 19th. However, he continues to struggle when seeing himself on-screen.

Corenswet simply steps out of himself, he said. ‘It’s not really me on stage. It’s Superman, it’s Clark Kent. The exciting part is watching my friends alongside me.’

Absolutely, there was one clear benefit to portraying a DC Super Hero: he had the opportunity to physically change his physique for the character.

Speaking on the “Manly Things (Sort Of)” podcast in September, he expressed that his goal for gaining muscle, specifically for the character of Superman, served as a reason to add some pounds. He had believed that weighing 210 would bring him joy, but instead, he ended up at 238.

In a playful manner, the actor from Twister commented, “I slipped into a large or extra-large crewneck sweater and exclaimed, ‘This is fantastic!’ I couldn’t squeeze into any of my trousers anymore.

For a look at other stars who transformed for their roles, keep reading.

Was it a little eccentric, as his on-screen wife Emily Blunt playfully remarked “he lived off an almond a day,” true. However, the Irish actor was determined to accurately portray J. Robert Oppenheimer, stating in The New York Times that “Oppenheimer had a very specific physicality and silhouette which I wanted to capture. To achieve this, I had to shed a significant amount of weight and collaborated with the costume and tailoring team; he was extremely thin, bordering on emaciated, subsisting mainly on martinis and cigarettes.

In the 2021 movie, the actress shed nearly 40 pounds for the role of a legendary jazz singer, a performance that landed her an Academy Award nomination.

To create the authentic portrayal of real-life Appalachian grandmother Mamaw Vance in the 2020 film, makeup and special effects artist Matthew Mungle utilized a head cast from Close’s 2011 role in Albert Nobbs and crafted new prosthetics, including false ears and a nose. This was reported by Variety, and Close was recognized with an Oscar nomination for her exceptional performance.

In the 2004 Academy Awards ceremony, the stunning and renowned actress received the accolade for Best Actress due to her haunting depiction of the true-life serial murderer Aileen Wuornos.

The British actor packed on more than 40 pounds for his Oscar-nominated performance as a beer-bellied con artist in 2013’s American Hustle. He put on the same amount to play former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in the 2018 movie Vice, which also earned him an Oscar nomination. The star dropped 70 pounds for the 2019 movie Ford v Ferrari, in which he plays slender race car driver Ken Miles. For the 2011 film The Fighter, which earned him his first Oscar, he lost about 30 pounds while gaining muscle.

The actor shed a total of 52 pounds in order to convincingly portray Arthur Fleck, a character marked by deep distress, who eventually became Batman’s nemesis.

2002’s Best Actress winner was made virtually unidentifiable in a three-hour transformation, with the help of a notably large prosthetic nose and expert makeup artistry.

The actor shed 35 pounds and shaved his head to play an HIV-stricken attorney suing his former firm for wrongful termination. Hanks took home Best Actor at the 1994 Oscars, and made a similar transformation for his Oscar-nominated performance in 2000’s Cast Away

In the movie “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” the actress is known to have gained approximately 17 pounds to embody the title character. However, when portraying Judy Garland in the 2019 film “Judy,” she didn’t need to alter her body shape. Instead, the magic of makeup and costumes were responsible for her transformation, which earned her her first Oscar.

In an interview with Vulture, Jany Temime, the movie’s costume designer and a previous collaborator on the Harry Potter series, expressed that Renée was deeply immersed, both emotionally and artistically, in her role as Judy. She stated that it was as if Renée had fully embodied Judy.

In an interview, Zellweger explained that the costumes were tailored to match Judy’s posture, which meant they didn’t quite fit her unless she stood in a specific way. As a result, the zippers on the dresses wouldn’t fasten properly.

In a stark contrast to her seductive role in “The Wolf of Wall Street”, numerous makeup effects, dental appliances, and wigs enabled the Oscar-nominated actress to convincingly portray the downfall of the troubled figure skater in the 2017 film.

At the 2014 awards ceremony, McConaughey was honored with the Best Actor award for his exceptional dedication in portraying an electrician struggling with HIV/AIDS.

In 2008, I had the extraordinary honor of receiving a posthumous Oscar for my captivating and chilling portrayal of The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, specifically the second film. My interpretation of this iconic villain deviated significantly from previous on-screen portrayals, offering a unique twist to the character that resonated with audiences worldwide.

John Caglione Jr., a makeup artist, shared with IGN that if this individual continued to sleep while wearing his makeup, one might question his sanity. If he went without refreshing his makeup for two or three weeks, it’s worth noting that he rarely changes his clothes. Such genuine details significantly contributed to the authenticity of his portrayal.

He continued, “You think of a clown’s makeup and for the most part, they’re pretty detailed with sharp lines. But this had to be the opposite of that.”

In a remarkable transformation, the twice-Oscar-winning actress drastically changed her look to portray the real-life transgender man Brandon Teena in the 1999 drama, and later did so again in Clint Eastwood’s 2004 Academy Award-winning film.

In order to play British prime minister Winston Churchill, the 2018 Best Actor nominee spent upwards of four hours in the makeup chair every day and wore a “Victorian corset” style bodysuit. 

Prior to winning the Best Actress award at the 2011 Oscars, this small actress lost about 20 pounds and dedicated up to 16 hours each day to prepare for her part as a ballet dancer suffering from mental illness.

2014’s Best Supporting Actor winner, much like a chameleon, was ready to embody a HIV-positive transgender woman. This involved shedding about 40 pounds of his own weight and maintaining the character’s persona only while on set.

In 2013, Leto shared with TopMob News that while he had taken on similar tasks involving weight, this experience was unique. He expressed that the role required such dedication… It wasn’t just about changing his physical appearance or speech, but rather understanding how it affected his entire being – his emotions, thoughts, and even sense of safety. In other words, he felt vulnerable and delicate while embracing this transformation.

The Oscar-winning actress bulked up with 15 pounds of muscle to portray a mother who breaks free from years of confinement alongside her 5-year-old son (Jacob Tremblay) in the 2015 movie. Larson shared that she deliberately minimized her interactions with the outside world, reduced essential nutrients such as Vitamin D, and altered her diet to simulate what her character endured.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: In 2012 at the Academy Awards, I was astonished by the radical transformation of a young actress who was usually known for her fresh-faced charm. This time, she was nominated for Best Actress due to her gripping performance in a thriller. To embody the character of Lisbeth Salander, she took drastic steps such as piercing various body parts, bleaching her eyebrows, and even chopping off her hair.

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2024-12-20 02:49