The upcoming trailer for director James Gunn’s take on Superman, slated for release on July 11, 2025, has sparked excitement amongst DC enthusiasts as it paves the way for a groundbreaking new phase in the DC Universe. This sneak peek offers a glimpse into a revitalized interpretation of the legendary hero, with Gunn’s leadership poised to reshape Superman for modern times. Featuring breathtaking visuals, profound emotions, and subtle hints at an intense superhero conflict, the trailers introduce an intriguing character: a shadowy Superman duplicate engaged in a heated heat vision battle with David Corenswet’s Man of Steel. The ominous, scarred appearance of this figure suggests a tragic being brought to life through Lex Luthor’s machinations.
Unofficial sources have nicknamed this mysterious duplicate “Ultraman,” which bears a resemblance to Frankenstein and is reminiscent of another famous DC villain, Bizarro. Could it be that director Gunn is creating a stunning film moment by combining these two classic DC villains into one complex adversary? This composite antagonist may test Superman in ways that could strain his limits.
Why Superman’s Clone’s Look & Origin Scream Bizarro
DC Comics enthusiasts are familiar with Bizarro as Superman’s imperfect, genetically-altered counterpart. A sorrowful character with chalky, fractured skin, a distorted visage, and a topsy-turvy perspective on life, Bizarro is typically the result of Lex Luthor’s failed genetic experiments. The clone depicted in the Superman trailer, featuring its pallid, misshapen appearance and unsettling demeanor during the heat vision confrontation, bears a striking resemblance to this grotesque image.
The trailer further suggests that the storyline of Bizarro will revolve around Lex Luthor’s manipulation, as portrayed by Nicholas Hoult. In the trailer, we see Lex Luther, filled with anger towards Superman, masterminding disorder, even going so far as to create the chaos that leads to Bizarro’s existence.
In keeping with the original spirit of Bizarro comics, where Lex Luthor’s attempts to duplicate Superman lead to a misshapen, inhuman creature, this is consistent. The grotesque, abnormal appearance of the clone, fashioned from Kryptonian DNA by Lex Luthor, reinforces this link.
Trailer Unveils Ultraman’s Dark Traits
Although this character resembles Bizarro, its actions and characteristics are more in line with the story of Ultraman. In DC comics, Ultroman is Superman’s villainous counterpart from Earth-3, a Crime Syndicate leader who gains power from Kryptonite but is weakened by Earth’s yellow sun.
In the trailer for Superman, his duplicate is consistently kept away from bright light, either concealed in shadows or dressed in dark attire. This understated aspect implies that daylight could harm him, reminiscent of the characteristic vulnerability of Ultraman.
In the trailer, I found myself captivated by the intense heat vision battle between the clone and Superman – it’s as if they were two equally matched titans squaring off. The way this clone mirrored Superman’s powers with chilling accuracy reminded me a bit of Ultraman’s calculated threat. Unlike Bizarro, who embodies clumsy chaos, this villain fights with an almost surgical precision, suggesting not just a physical adversary but a psychological reflection of Superman’s values and ideals.
Instead of portraying Ultraman as a villain from another universe in the DCU, Gunn could be reinventing him as a clone created by Luthor that serves as a sinister counterpart to Superman, lacking his kindness and empathy.
Merging the sorrowful, Luthor-created background of Bizarro with the dangerous nature of Ultraman results in a villain that’s both deeply moving and visually captivating for Gunn. This blend makes the clone a formidable opponent capable of testing Superman on various levels.
- Physical Threat: The trailer’s heat vision duel and action scenes show the clone nearly matching Superman’s power, with Ultraman’s calculated attacks posing a serious threat. This may push Superman to rely on strategy and not just brute strength.
- Emotional Depth: Bizarro’s Frankenstein-like tragedy, being a flawed creation yearning for purpose, presents Superman with a being crafted solely for vengeance yet haunted by its own existence.
- Thematic Depth: By combining Ultraman’s calculated ruthlessness with Bizarro’s tragic origins, the clone serves as Lex Luthor’s weapon to discredit Superman’s moral authority. The trailer’s scenes of public distrust show the clone exploiting fears about Superman’s power, pushing him to prove his commitment to justice in a world ready to turn against him.
Watch the full trailer below:
In a more straightforward rephrasing, this hybrid villain aligns with Gunn’s narrative approach, as demonstrated in films such as “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Suicide Squad.” Characters like Ego or Starro in these movies combine grandeur with emotional depth.
If it’s true that Gunn is combining Bizarro and Ultraman, this fusion establishes a daring precedent for the first chapter of the DC Universe: Gods and Monsters. By reinterpreting well-known antagonists with emotional and thematic complexity, Gunn indicates that the DCU intends to stay true to its comic origins while carving out a unique cinematic direction.
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2025-06-14 20:04