The official trailer for the new Superman (2025) movie is out and hell yes, we’re going to talk about it. Maybe scream about it a little. In any event, we have lots of FEELINGS and we needed to get together in this roundtable to share them!
Using a gif, how did the official Superman (2025) trailer make you feel?
Jade:
Diane:
Ashley W.:
Lizzie:
Lyra:
What is it about Superman that means so much to you, as a character?
Jade: Superman was the first character that ever captured my imagination and heart and really made me want to be a part of “fandom.” He might have also been my first crush. I joke that I’m pretty sure I married him. (It’s not entirely a joke.) So it’s safe to say that I’ve held a very special place in my heart for Superman for a very long time. As for why? I’m not entirely sure – though I’ll be honest that his love affair with Lois Lane (possibly my favorite fictional character of all time) has a role to play in that.
But also, I think I’m – fortunately or unfortunately – an optimist at heart. Maybe deep down, I believe the world can be better than it is, and that people can be better than we are. I guess I just internalized that Superman (1978) quote when I was growing up: “They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you…my only son.” It’s hard at times nowadays to feel like we would be deserving of such a gift, but I’d like to think that goodness like Superman exemplifies is still out there, and that our capacity for good is as great as ever.
Diane: I’ve always loved the fact that Superman embodies humanity’s best qualities. In a world where people in positions of power often abuse that power for their own personal gain, Superman is the opposite: he uses his unique powers and abilities to save lives and protect other people. This doesn’t mean what he does is easy, because it’s not. Despite being faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive, he can’t be everywhere at once and can only respond to situations as they happen. He knows he can’t save everyone, and that does weigh on him, but he still continues to do what he feels is right, anyway — even when he knows the odds are stacked against him. He embodies the love and empathy for all life that we should all aspire to possess.
Rachel: At the risk of sounding cheesy and obvious, Superman represents hope to me. He’s an alien and witnesses firsthand the worst that human beings can dish out to each other. We’ve seen him experience it himself, too. And yet he still chooses to use his abilities to help his adopted planet. He could easily hide what he can do and let us sort ourselves out. He makes the choice to reveal who he is and what he can do. As Jonathan Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince) says in the new trailer, our choices are part of what makes us who we are. Clark’s choice to be Superman says a lot about humanity’s potential to be good. That’s what hope is to me.
Ashley W.: Superman was one of my first favorite superheroes, so I’ll always have a special place in my heart for him. Simply put, I like that he just wants to be and do good. Doing so isn’t that simple, but it doesn’t change his will to be a hero. He wants to help people. He has special abilities that allow him to help others in ways no one else can, so he does whatever he can to be of service. What I especially like is how he, as a literal alien, shows how everyone can have empathy and embrace the good side of humanity.
Lizzie: I think there’s a lot of nostalgia to this answer, because Superman was one of the first superheroes a lot of us saw and felt connected to. I also think he feels like the kind of superhero that, even though he’s outwardly perfect as Superman, has a human side in Clark that’s easy to relate to. And as absurd as it sounds, the story of this alien not fitting in ends up being very universal. We all feel like we don’t fit in at times, and on this day and age, there’s a lot of his story of being an immigrant that just resonates.
Lyra: Superman is a superpowered alien that grew up as a human. So he has empathy for life on planet Earth that is different from other Kryptonians or aliens. And he uses his powers to help people first. It’s not about what country he’s from or what political party he’s part of. It’s about doing the right thing and helping people first. Within that humanity Superman is also funny, a bit goofy, and a boy scout. That’s what I feel like his movie counterparts have been missing lately. Because he is a superhero but he’s also a human at heart with distinct regular ol’ human things that he wants in his life.
If Superman (2025) could get just one thing right, what do you hope that would be?
Jade: For me, the biggest mistake people make – and not just show runners/directors but fans – is thinking that Superman is “boring” because he’s so powerful and always tries to do good. Maybe it’s just my cynical little heart today, but I really think that, more than ever, that’s the most interesting thing about him.
I don’t think you really need to reach too hard to write an interesting Superman, because the premise that his powers and good heart equals “boring” rests on the assumption that a good heart is in some way easy or the default for someone as powerful as he is. If there’s anything that today’s day and age proves, it’s the exact opposite.
It would actually be pretty darn easy for someone with an immense amount of power to turn to the “dark side,” so to speak. Standing up for what’s right, giving hope to people that the world can be a better place than it is right now? Serving as a symbol of Good, knowing that it takes years to earn people’s trust and mere seconds to lose it forever? That’s pretty damn hard, actually. I don’t want the ever-repetitive Batman-ifications of Superman. Let Superman be Superman. That’s what I want.
Diane: I’m already seeing this in the trailers and sneak peeks alone, but I do want Superman (2025) to fully embrace the Man of Steel’s world, including superspets, aliens, monsters, and all the outlandish tropes of comic books. Whilst most previous live-action Superman adaptations have done a great job at capturing the hero’s optimism and warmth, there was also a tendency to ground the character to make him more appealing to the general audience.
This even reflected in the types of villains that were used — namely Lex Luthor and General Zod. Though Zack Snyder did use the Fourth World characters in his cut of Justice League, and Doomsday has already been adapted a few times in live-action, I’m still waiting for a filmmaker to use Superman’s more outlandish villains. I’d like to see a more comics-accurate portrayal of Mr Mxyzptlk, Ultra-Humanite, and Parasite, for example. I especially want to see a more Silver Age take on Brainiac with Koko the monkey. With James Gunn introducing Krypto the Superdog and Kaiju, I’m confident we’ll see more of that. With Supergirl (Milly Alcock) also about to make her DCU debut, I look forward to seeing Gunn’s version of Streaky the supercat and Comet the superhorse.
Rachel: I agree with Jade about making sure Superman avoids the “boring” accusations. Another thing I will say is that I’m a shipper by nature. I always want Lois and Clark to work. They are the most iconic comic book couple to me, by far. I have liked most of the actors who have played these two characters in the past. However, they don’t always have chemistry together. It looks like David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan totally do, and that is SO EXCITING. When a romance is done well, it’s always something to celebrate. But if Lois and Clark is successful, that’s even more special. I hope when the new film is over, it makes me love this couple all over again.
Ashley W.: I, too, hope that Superman (2025) shows how the character isn’t boring just because he wants to do good. Being good, in theory, perhaps seems boring, but it’s far from it. Being good requires time, effort, thought and energy. Those are things we need to see from Clark to show how he actively chooses to be good. After watching the trailer, I’m hopeful that’s the direction DC is taking with this new iteration. Like Diane, I also hope the movie embraces Superman’s world. I want it to feel lively and true to all that the DC universe offers but in an innate manner that’s still real and grounded.
Lizzie: I think the thing most Superman adaptations haven’t gotten right is Clark, the human side of Superman. His relationship with Lois is also part of this, but I think we’ve gotten a lot of Supermans that have been about the super part and not the human side, which I think is a mistake. We might look up to Superman, but we relate to Clark, and if that side of the character doesn’t work, or if it’s only there to distract people, then the character feels hollow. The movies in particular have also failed at depicting the romance in a way that makes sense, and that hurts Lois Lane as a character. So, just show me the humanity.
Lyra: Other iterations of Superman have forgotten that he’s also Clark Kent. Within his identity as Clark Kent he has hopes and dreams and a regular life. He also has a strong connection with his parents and Lois Lane. He’s dimensional. And just because he’s a good guy doesn’t mean he is boring or doesn’t have frustrations. Superman does and always will because he grew up like us. And knowing that he has these frustrations and lines within himself, makes him feel like a more real character. That’s what his movie counterparts, specifically the Snyder version, absolutely forgot. Not the Superman CW series though. They’re perfect and understand that Superman is also Clark Kent.
Also, other iterations of Superman have forgotten that making Superman hot is more than just looks. His confidence, dedication to helping others, and how he unapologetically loves and works together hand in hand with Lois, that makes him hot too. Always has been, always will be.
Do you have any thoughts on the supporting cast (outside of Lois Lane), from what you’ve seen?
Jade: I really want to see the concept of Superman as the “superhero of superheroes.” He’s the superhero that even other heroes look up to. (I’m reminded of an old issue of Young Justice, where Arrowette got angry and yelled at him. Then she had a panic attack because, to paraphrase, “I just yelled at Superman. I think I’m going to throw up.” We haven’t really gotten to see that before.
I really hope this new film leans into that concept. There’s a lot of humor in that, as we saw with Ant Man’s hero-crush on Captain America. But there’s also a lot of responsibility there, too, for Superman. The knowledge that he is the Good that even other heroes look up to.
If all else fails, though, there’s a really cute dog. You can’t go wrong there.
Diane: So far, I like that Nicholas Hoult looks menacing as Lex Luthor, but is also somewhat over-the-top. He appears to be largely inspired by the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths version of the character, with some aspects of his Bronze Age and Silver Age histories grafted on. Similarly, Guy Gardner appears to be every bit the blunt instrument that he is in the comics, and Nathan Fillion is perfect casting for him. Likewise, Isabela Merced looks absolutely stunning as Hawkgirl. Edi Gathegi also looks — dare a say — terrific as Mr Terrific? I’m very much looking forward to seeing him in action.
I’ll especially be curious to know if both Mr Terrific and Hawkgirl will have ties to the Justice Society of America in Gunn’s DCU, or if the Justice Society will be introduced as the residents of Earth-2. Since Gunn already confirmed the multiverse (maybe Hypertime?) will have a place in his DCU thanks to Peacemaker‘s Season 2’s trailer, there’s a good chance Mr Terrific will be the character who discovers the JSA on Earth-2 like he did during DC’s New 52 era.
Rachel: Hoult is following in the footsteps of some award-winning actors playing Lex. His performance seems to be not only good but distinctive. It feels modern, like the term “broligarch” was made for him. I have a feeling that the “world’s conversation” that Lex mentions in the trailer might be focused on him. At least partially.
Fillion is the other actor here that I am geeking out about besides Brosnahan as of right now. As a long-time Browncoat (that would be a fan of the short-lived but awesome show Firefly and its movie continuation Serenity), Fillion is always good value for me. If anyone can act through that horrible hairdo, it’s him. I’m also deeply curious to see some of the characters we haven’t really seen yet, like Jimmy (Skyler Gisondo) and Perry (Wendell Pierce) at the Daily Planet.
Ashley W.: I’m excited to see how a larger cast of DC characters make up the supporting cast! It’s a great way to better establish Superman’s world and offer something more that we haven’t seen in recent versions of Superman. Having all those supporting characters also opens the door to showcase how Superman’s dynamic is with various characters beyond the obvious in Lois and Lex. Kind of going off what Jade said, too, it also lets us see how Superman is perceived by other heroes, offering that extra perspective we don’t often see.
Lizzie: I’m just really excited to see the Superman world grow. I feel like we’ve seen the same people, over and over, and here we’re giving a chance to new things. That’s good! The Superman mythos has a lot more characters than people are familiar with, and this feels like it will really not just showcase that, but that it appreciates it.
Lyra: I only have three thoughts about the other cast members, particularly the villains. I’m pretty sure Nathan Fillion might be a villain only because of that hair. It’s diabolical. Then there’s Lex Luthor. Very diva entry there. Good on you. There’s a vibe. I feel it. And then The Engineer. I hope she’s more than just a side character to whatever Lex Luthor is doing.
We also got to see a glimpse into Superman (2025)’s iteration of Lois Lane. What is your impression so far?
Jade: AAAAH! You ever see a glimpse of a character and you just feel like they’re perfect? I got that with Erica Durance in Smallville and I got that same feeling watching the trailer. We didn’t see much of Lois in it, but I adore her already. I love the differing viewpoints that we got to see in just this short clip. You know, it’s easy to forget sometimes that she grew up as an Army Brat. She probably does have a different socio-political viewpoint of Superman’s actions in overseas conflicts than he does. He’s focused on the individual lives and the good he can do. She would be more in-tune with political and diplomatic ramifications of his actions than him. Those considerations just aren’t his priority.
So in this clip alone, I think Brosahan nails the character. I’ve written before that Lois one of the most important parts of they mythos. Superman is the hero we wish we could be. Lois is the hero we can be if we’re brave enough. I really love what I’m seeing so far of the character. Also? Her chemistry with Corenswet? Electric.
Diane: I think Brosnahan has this. She doesn’t just look like Lois Lane — she also captures the character’s determination and journalistic integrity. The thing that always made Lois a great character in Superman’s world was her dogged pursuit of the truth. She always understood the power of the press to influence change and always used that to hold people in positions of power accountable. In other cases, she exposed white-collar crimes that often flew under the radar, and prevented more abuses of power that way. From the trailer alone, we can see Brosnahan is bringing those qualities to the table, along with her wholesome romance with the Man of Steel.
Rachel: My fellow Rachel is going to be a great Lois, I just know it! Everything she’s doing so far works for me and I can’t wait to see more.
Ashley W.: With every new glimpse we get of Lois, the more sure I am that Rachel Brosnahan will be terrific. She just has the energy and demeanor for the role and meshes well with David Corenswet’s Clark Kent/Superman.
Lizzie: I’m excited. I think we’ve had good iterations of Lois, and we had a great one lately in Superman & Lois, but I don’t think Amy Adams, for example, was given a chance to be a good Lois, mostly because we saw her interact with Superman more than Clark. This movie already feels like it understands the importance of Lois Lane to the Superman story, and though I wasn’t sure about Brosnahan when she was cast, now I’m really excited.
Lyra: I don’t know about this Lois Lane, particularly because I don’t know as much about the actress. But I have been surprised before by other Lois’s that I didn’t think we’re going to do well. I’m looking at you Bitsie. You absolutely killed it as Lois on Superman & Lois. But I do think that Rachel has sold me a little bit on her version of Lois because of the confident way that she carries herself and how she looks at Clark. That’s love.
It’s seems that Lois will know Clark’s secret identity pretty early on. Will you miss the “triangle for two” or are you excited to see this twist on the mythos?
Jade: I completely understand why it’s a controversial plot. It’s hard to write a “triangle for two” plot that pays full respect to Lois and Clark as characters. It’s also a really hard plot to sustain for any period of time. At least not without Lois coming off as foolish and/or Clark as something of a jerk. But I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the “triangle for two” on some level. It’s my problematic favorite plot. That said, I really loved Superman and Lois‘s take, in which Lois had a crush on Clark first and wasn’t all that interested in Superman as a man or as a story. Honestly, I love Lois and Clark – individually and together – so much, I’ll take them however I can get them.
Diane: I do not miss it at all. The Lois-Clark-Superman triangle was an idea DC Comics started moving away from as early as the Bronze Age, when the original Golden Age Superman married Lois. This especially stopped being a thing in the early post-Crisis continuity, with Lois eventually marrying Superman in 1996. The fact that Lois and Clark have largely been a married couple for almost 30 years (50+ if we count the original Golden Age couple) means the status quo has changed for the better.
Even when DC temporarily dissolved the marriage during the New 52 era (2011-2015), this didn’t last. Pairing off Superman with Wonder Woman during that time was not as popular a concept as DC executives thought, and the post-Crisis marriage between Lois and Clark was eventually restored. This has been the status quo ever since, with Lois now serving as the Daily Planet’s EIC in the comics. She is now even active in her husband’s superheroics since she now has superpowers herself. James Gunn skipping the ‘love triangle’ and jumping straight to the romance is honestly refreshing and is keeping up with the times.
Rachel: I’m SOOOOOOO happy the “triangle” thing is not a factor here. And not just because ANY form of the triangle trope is overrated. It just makes more sense for these characters that she knows and they are moving forward. “Will she find out?” is only one level of conflict to explore. If she knows, a lot more storytelling layers open up. In other versions of this couple, things were more interesting to me after she found out. I’m completely on board with establishing truth between them from the get go.
Ashley W.: Love triangles are typically overdone. Giving us the Lois/Clark/Superman love triangle wouldn’t be anything we haven’t seen before. From what we’ve seen from Superman (2025) so far, the movie seems to be doing well with staying true to what makes a Superman story while offering a refreshing take and not using overdone concepts. While the general idea of Lois finding out Clark is Superman and vice versa is important, it isn’t something DC needs to linger on. So I won’t miss it whatsoever.
Lizzie: I’m actually so excited about this. I feel like we’ve seen too much of the “triangle for two” storyline, and this will give us a chance to explore the relationship in a different way, one that lends itself to more romance. And we have been missing romance from the Clark and Lois relationship in most of the recent iterations outside of Superman and Lois. So I think this is a good decision, not just because it’s doing something different, but because by doing something different it’ll showcase characters in a different way.
Lyra: I always thought it was ridiculous that an intrepid reporter like Lois Lane didn’t realize that Superman was Clark Kent. So I love that recent versions have done away with that. Lois is a ride or die girl and I’ll stand by the fact that she would have solved it in 2 seconds. Plus I think having Lois know has always made Superman’s story more interesting. Yes he is a superhero. But he’s also a human who fell in love with one of the strongest women in the DC verse. And contrary to what the Snyderverse would make you think, love is an essential part of life and makes your story stronger.
In gif form, what are your thoughts on the Clois (Clark and Lois) you’ve seen so far in Superman (2025) ?
Jade:
Diane:
Rachel:
Ashley W.:
Lizzie:
Lyra:
