From Smallville to Fortress: Superman Trailer Highlights Dual Worlds

DC Studios has a new origin story, and it’s about time. After months of teasing, the Superman trailer has finally arrived, and it has more than enough hype-inducing moments to hold fans over until this July’s release. On tap for this rebooted version of the Man of Steel from writer-director James Gunn? A new Clark Kent, a snarkier Lois Lane, a big cast of DC characters, and yes, even one adorable scene-stealing superdog.

A Road Trip, Not a Road Story

First things first, this is not an origin story as we know it. Gunn confirmed in a recent interview that the film isn’t about where Superman is from so much as who he is trying to be. The throughline of Superman as told by Gunn centers around Clark Kent’s inner journey and conflict with himself over finding a balance between the Kryptonian royal blood he is and the Kansas-raised farmboy he feels like. The film is both emotionally specific and smartly understated in that way.

David Corenswet (Pearl and Hollywood) stars as 25-year-old Superman. He is both older and more grizzled than the big-eyed rookie we’re used to. Corenswet’s Clark Kent/Superman appears to be at the center of the film, particularly when we see him square off with Lois Lane.

Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) plays Lois Lane, depicted here as a sharp-tongued, uncompromising reporter whose sass is matched only by her search for journalistic truth. The trailer also confirms, for the first time, that Lois is in fact the reporter Clark runs around Metropolis, shouting “Stop the presses!” at the film’s opening. The pair seems flirty and at odds with each other, but it’s still unclear if Lois has managed to discover Clark’s secret identity (opinions are split on that one, with many fans arguing it’s a yes, and others, myself included, saying the faces on screen say more no). If she has, well, now we know why!

Nicholas Hoult (X-Men, X2, and the rest) also steps into a high-profile role to play the iconic Lex Luthor, looking and sounding evil as ever. Hoult is joined by Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher and Terence Rosemore as Otis, both minions of Lex to varying degrees.

Krypto, Kaiju, and More DC Villains and Superheroes

The early frontrunner for best character in the film, though, is none other than Superman’s white superdog, Krypto. First introduced in the early moments of the teaser trailer released last December, we see the powerful pooch pull a seriously injured Superman back to the Fortress of Solitude with his mouth. The full trailer just doubles down on that. Superman faces off Lex, Krypto does his best Lassie impression to protect the Man of Steel, and takes on a high-tech, multi-limbed villainess by the name of Angela Spica.

Spica (Maria Gabriela de Faria), aka The Engineer, appears to be wearing a nanotech body suit that looks part Terminator and part Power Ranger, and is leading a full-scale coordinated attack on the Fortress. She, like Luthor, looks and sounds like the mega-genius corporate villains we know and love in comic books. Fans are also looking at a cavalcade of lesser-known, but no less compelling, DC characters in the Superman trailer. Nathan Fillion (The Rookie) shows up as Guy Gardner, a Green Lantern with an iconic bowl cut; Anthony Carrigan (Barry) as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, a matter-manipulating hero who can assume the properties of any element via his blood, muscles, and tissue; Isabela Merced as winged warrior Hawkgirl; and Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, a super-genius inventor turned costumed superhero.

DC Films also confirmed Milly Alcock as Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, teasing the chance of a broader take on the larger Kryptonian family. Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell play the role of Clark’s adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent. This particular trailer also has at least one shout-out crossover moment for fans. Frank Grillo reprises his role from the animated series Creature Commandos as Rick Flag Sr., and of course, Sean Gunn shows up as Maxwell Lord.

Clark’s Convictions

For as many intense character moments as the trailer has, and there are several of those, it’s also packed with big-time heroics. From buildings being smashed through, to cities burning, to battle scenes that might as well be in space, Gunn balances the two. It’s Clark’s convictions being tested and argued against, namely when Lois questions how his work might be perceived by those like the U.S. Secretary of Defense. It’s no spoiler to say that Superman loses his cool at some point in the trailer, as he shouts at Lois, “People were going to die!” over and over again.

Beyond the action and the banter, though, this trailer does a nice job of showing the film to be, at heart, more warm and character-driven than might be expected. After all the colossal stuff, we’re treated to what might be a simple moment, and perhaps even just the film’s denouement, showing Superman resting peacefully on his bed, a dog happily content on his chest. It’s a small moment that’s packed with promise for a new kind of superhero blockbuster.