Yahoo Movies Everything we know about Superman as teaser trailer lands
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a reboot
Superman last led his own solo movie in Man of Steel 11 years ago — but after many false dawns, Kal-El will finally take flight again in James Gunn's Superman, with newcomer David Corenswet in the title role.
The fresh start for DC's crown jewel is coming to cinemas in 2025 and is being billed as the first entry in a planned universe of cross-platform storytelling — now known as the DCU. Following the lead of the MCU, the new Superman film will be the start of Phase 1: Gods and Monsters. Here's everything we know about Superman so far...
When will Superman be released?
Superman is slated to hit cinemas on 11 July, 2025 — 12 years after the release of Man of Steel.
The release date was announced in January 2023 when James Gunn and Peter Safran, the new bosses at DC Studios, revealed their ambitious plan to reboot the DC Universe. Filming took place between February and July 2024.
Although Superman will be preceded on the small screen by Creature Commandos and Waller, the movie is considered as the true starting point for the new DCU.
Is there a trailer for Superman?
The teaser trailer for Superman landed in December 2024, giving DC fans a first look at Corenswet's Man of Steel and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. The two-minute clip also includes glimpses of Kal-El's superhero dog Krypto, and X-Men star Nicholas Hoult as Superman's long-time nemesis Lex Luthor.
Watch the video below:
Who is in the Superman cast?
After months of searching and secret auditions, Gunn finally announced his two leads for Superman in June 2023. Newcomer David Corenswet will be our new Clark Kent, Kal-El and Superman, while The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan will be his Lois Lane.
Mad Max: Fury Road star Nicholas Hoult will be going bald once again to play Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor, while Skyler Gisondo will play Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen, and model Sara Sampaio will appear as Eve Teschmacher.
Alien: Romulus' Isabela Merced will play Hawkgirl, X-Men: First Class star Edi Gathegi will play Mister Fantastic and fan fave Firefly actor Nathan Fillon will play a Green Lantern. As far as the latter is concerned, it is not believed that Fillion will be the Green Lantern of Gunn's new DCEU.
Barry stand-out Anthony Carrigan will play DC hero Metamorpho, the alter-ego of Rex Mason, a comic-book adventurer and archaeologist who has his DNA super-powered after handling a cursed artefact.
Venezuelan actress María Gabriela de Faría has signed on to play the villainous Angela Spica, a character otherwise known as The Engineer. In the comics, The Engineer gains powers through nanotechnologies added to her body.
She's also featured in the comic arc The Authority, something which Gunn is reportedly eyeing to include in his upcoming film. Despite starring in a number of projects throughout her career so far, Spica is expected to be Faría's breakout role.
Former Saturday Night Live star Beck Beckett will reportedly play a big-wig reporter at Clark Kent's day-job, the Daily Planet newspaper.
When it comes to Superman's two main leads, Corenswet and Brosnahan secured their roles after impressing DC bosses Safran and Gunn during an audition in full make-up and costume, according to Deadline.
Gunn is also reportedly looking into introducing The Authority in the DC film, a supergroup that Clark is expected to join during the course of the film which will feature a number of different heroes.
Why isn't Henry Cavill coming back as Superman?
Henry Cavill, the British actor who donned the Kyptonian cape in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League and Black Adam has officially left the role.
In December 2022, Gunn tweeted an update on the Superman reboot saying: "In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill. But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.”
Cavill confirmed his exit, posting on Instagram: “It’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life.”
As for which other characters may appear, we don't yet know. However, as the film is rumoured to cover Clark Kent's early career at the Daily Planet, we can expect to meet new versions of Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White.
What is the plot of Superman?
A brief movie synopsis gives an idea of what we can expect from Gunn's blockbuster. It reads: "Superman, a cub reporter in Metropolis, embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.”
Unlike previous Superman films, it will not explore the Man of Steel's origins. The director said he was keen not to repeat the past, telling a fan: "I think we've seen his origin enough in film at this time!"
He also said the film would "[centre\ around Superman’s heritage — how both his aristocratic Kryptonian parents and his Kansas farmer parents inform who he is and the choices he makes."
Separately, Safran said: “It’s not an origin story. It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks that kindness is old-fashioned.”
Superman is coming to cinemas on 11 July, 2025.
