An empowering red cape, a skin-tight bodysuit, and a large crest in the shape of an ‘S’ on his chest. An impenetrable body, blindingly bright heat vision, and super flight surpassing even the best fighting jets the world has to offer. Put these all together, and there’s absolutely no mistaking it–it’s Superman!
You may have heard of the new Superman movie coming out this summer on July 11th, 2025. (Or if you haven’t, where have you been?) As one of the most–or perhaps simply the most–iconic superheroes, Superman has gotten longtime fans and newcomers alike excited in anticipation of what has already been dubbed ‘Superman Summer’ on popular social media platforms.
Superman needs no introduction. He’s boasted appearances in several comics and movies since his creation in 1933, been a relevant fictional character in pop culture for decades, and is regularly mentioned in pop music, other superhero media, or even as a metaphor in daily conversation. It’s not uncommon for people, comic book fans or otherwise, to refer to the Man of Steel, whether by alluding an unhealthy sweets obsession to kryptonite (note: this is one of Superman’s only weaknesses), or by making a jealous comment about his convenient x-ray vision, which children have always gleefully imitated.
For decades since Superman’s creation, generations of children have been raised on several different adaptations of his story and adventures. The stories all follow a relatively similar path, but still never get old. One of Superman’s nemeses–manipulative Lex Luthor, fearsome General Zod, or cunning Brainiac–wreaks destruction in pursuit of their fervent motivations, the troubled citizens of Metropolis yell in alarm and fear, and just when all seems lost, Superman swoops in and saves the day.
Superman has always been a symbol of hope–continuously pushing past his limits, representing the best of humanity, and embodying the idea that everyone is safe as long as he is there. The sporadic blurs of blue and red that you see when Superman swoops in is not a cause for alarm, but a cause for celebration. He’s the very epitome of who a superhero should be–someone who makes you believe everything will be okay, someone who encourages you to strive to be your very best.
In an interview, Christopher Reeves–known best for playing one of the earliest movie adaptations of Superman–said this when asked what Superman represents to the people: “A friend, and that’s what people really need the most. They don’t need a strong arm, you know, one man vigilante force. They need a friend. We’re living in an age when people are basically afraid of contact with each other… And it’s like we, you know, we run around scared a lot, particularly those of us who live in cities. And America was founded on the virtues of a helping hand, of going five miles to lend your neighbor a donkey or whatever he needed. And I think it’s that kind of virtue that’s at the bottom, that’s the heart of Superman–the genuine love of people and you always know he’s your friend.”
However, this authentic, endlessly inspiring image of Superman has been lost to time. Instead of portraying Superman as the absolute justice and heroic hope that he is, some have lost the plot and emphasize the ‘super’ rather than the ‘man,’ warping the initial concept of Superman as a protector of the people and reconstructing the image of a man who holds power not to protect, but to destroy the Earth.
Take Zack Synder’s 2013 film, Man of Steel, for example. As the most recent of Superman’s movies, it has lent to the newer generations’ opinions on Superman since its production. The film was definitely a masterpiece in its directing, storytelling, and settings, but Superman’s characterization was its Achilles’ heel. The criticism the movie has received centers majorly around the characterization of Superman. In this film, Superman is dark, broody, and the audience is continuously reminded of his potentially destructive might. Zack Synder’s Superman seems more like someone who harms than protects. Some people might enjoy this portrayal of the Man of Steel, but it’s undeniable that this goes against almost everything Superman was intended to be. His power was not meant to serve as a tool of fear mongering or intimidation. His inhuman strength is meant to inspire, because even though he is so powerful, he remains, at his core, a champion for justice and hope.
James Gunn, CEO of DC Studios–a film and television production company–has risen to the challenge of rebranding this reconceived version of Superman. Known famously for his directing work in the Guardians of The Galaxy trilogy, The Suicide Squad, and many more movies in the DC and MCU universe, the experienced director carries a lot on his shoulders. The first announcement of Superman came on January 31st, 2023, declaring the movie would officially premiere on July 11th, 2025.
If you’re unfamiliar with this project, the question lingering on the tip of your tongue is probably this: who will be playing Superman? After all, whoever it is will have extremely large shoes to fill and an immense legacy to honor. On the day the project was announced, we received our answer: the man who will be playing Superman is David Corenswet, and the iconic, clever Lois Lane will be played by Rachel Brosnahan. Other notable roles include Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Corenswet is most known for appearances in TV shows like House of Cards or movies like Pearl, though Superman will arguably be his real rise to fame.
Gunn is aware just how much weight is on Corenswet’s shoulders, but he said that he has absolute faith in his capabilities. “David has that optimistic boy scout quality that Superman has–both on screen and in real life frankly. He also has this real down to earthiness despite the fact that he is an incredibly good looking guy–he doesn’t have any kind of arrogance or ego in that way…I think the extreme dedication. I think he was willing to do anything for this role in terms of preparation–learning, reading the comics, working out.” Anyone who has kept up with the behind-the-scenes process of the movie can see how much Corenswet is putting into this role, and his dedication is nothing but admirable. What we have already seen of him so far has generated a lot of respect from fans, but it’s a huge burden to be casted as the Man of Tomorrow, and everyone will be waiting to see if Gunn has made the right call.
The exciting announcement has garnered attention from fervent fans of James Gunn’s work everywhere, which spans both comic books and cinematography fans. However, in spite of this anticipation, or perhaps because of it, the movie has swiftly received some less-than-positive feedback. When the first trailer officially launched on Youtube on December 19th, 2024, fans were quick to scrutinize and criticize, though reasonably so. Superman, the beloved superhero of several generations, has a legacy that is so respected that fans want to make sure everything, from the casting of our beloved hero down to the very details of his iconic supersuit, is spotless.
Still, the backlash the trailer received was unusually intense, especially when we delve into the reason why it received any booing at all. A short scene in the trailer, where Superman is hit on the back of his head by a can thrown by an angry civilian, stirred up such intense discourse that any unknowing bystander would be puzzled. How could such a scene, so brief and not nearly as eye-catching as the action-packed, CGI-based clips, stir up so much drama? The answer might clear up some of the confusion. In the clip, Superman flinches when he is hit by the can, and angry fans quickly protested, exclaiming it made no sense the invincible Superman would show any outward reaction to getting hit by a can. This tiny mischaracterization shows just how loyal fans are to their hero, going as far as to scrutinize a two second clip that had little to do with the rest of the trailer.
But critique is meant to encourage (most of the time). After witnessing all the backlash from fans, the production was quick to fix their mistake in the next trailer and Superman no longer flinched when being hit by the can, which fans were quick to acknowledge. The production’s immediate reception to feedback and their eagerness to make the movie as perfect as it can be points not only to the fan’s loyalty to the ‘Man of Steel,’ but also to the producers’ determination to bring justice to Superman.
This doesn’t mean that other parts of the film were free from complaint, however. Criticism ranged from Superman’s suit all the way to his character, and other small sections of the trailers received at least a little nitpicking. Some people were even upset at the movie’s addition of Krypto, complaining that it would bring an unwanted ‘goofiness’ to the film. Most of the other backlash came from fans of Zack Synder’s version of Superman, which opened up several debates over the right portrayal of Superman everywhere. From replies under the official Superman trailers to comment sections under Instagram and Tiktok posts promoting the new movie, nowhere was free from the onslaught of discussion over which director had a better understanding of who Superman is supposed to be.
The critiques may seem to be profuse, but the praise and excitement were even more so. Several fans expressed their relief with how Superman is being characterized in this new movie, with many in support of James Gunn’s undertaking of this project. The Superman so many of us knew and loved seemed to be making his return after what felt like decades. When a video of David Corenswet interacting with children on set was released, fans were particularly emotional to see what they saw as Superman’s final, official return. Joel Schumacher once said, “When a child meets a superhero actor, they aren’t meeting an actor, they are meeting the superhero. To them it’s all real..” To these children, this wasn’t Corenswet, or even another adult–this was the real, physical, genuine Superman.
Children will finally get to grow up with a Superman to look up to, who inspires them to reach out and to connect. Superman’s greatest power isn’t his flight, invincibility, X-ray vision, or even his super-strength–it’s his compassion. And the best part of that is, anyone is capable of compassion. In the end, whether you’re a fan or not, and whether you’re a supporter or not, it is undeniable that movie theaters across America will be filled to the brim as everyone finally watches Superman make his return this summer.
Joel Schumacher once said: “When a child meets a superhero actor, they aren’t meeting an actor, they are meeting the superhero. To them it’s all real..” To these children, this wasn’t Corenswet, or even another adult–this was the real, physical, genuine Superman.