The last time a person was solely responsible for a creative vision of a big franchise, we got The Last Jedi, which has become ground zero for Star Wars fandom battles and very possibly permanently damaged the brand irreversibly. Unfortunately, DC Comics last slate of movies called for desperate measures. Time will tell if this 2025 Superman remix is going to cause a similar fissure in the Justice Gang, but at least I know the superhero fan director gave his all to make this movie as entertaining as it could be.
After an amusing running title card, we catch up with Clark Kent/Cal-El/Superman (David Corenswet) mid duel with his nemesis, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). And he’s losing. After recharging in the fortress of solitude, he returns back to Metropolis, and his girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), eager to strategize on how to beat the pissed off supergenius. A little super dog here, a little Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) there, and you’ve got yourself a potential DC Movie Universe reboot!
This Superman is a James Gunn movie first, Superman movie 2nd. For those who haven’t seen any Guardians of the Galaxy movies, or The Suicide Squad, here’s a little primer what you’re in for. Superman is gonna channel pure comic essence on the big screen. Meaning: we don’t just get a stripped down mono e mono Superman vs. Lex battle for the ages: this is going to be dense in DC Lore, using as many characters and creatures at his disposal. Like a puzzle, Gunn will use these pieces to service the story he wants to tell, with more than a few weird or unexpected diversions from expected superhero behavior. There will be all sorts of battles big and small, probably very entertaining across the board, likely accompanied by some pop song Gunn loves, providing the rhythm of the battle. And, most importantly, all of this is built around a deep understanding of the core of the superhero. In this case, Gunn has lasered in on the “alien” ness of Superman, and why Lex Luthor might rally a certain type of person to his cause, through shrewd, fear based messaging tactics. It’s timely, potent stuff when it wants to be, modernizing the antiquated Man of Steel for a new age, making him more interesting than just a bland hero type, Gunn’s biggest feat. This is Millennial and Gen Z Superman, which was a bold choice, but one I think is better in the long run for DC.
And the movie really works because it’s cast magnificently, top to bottom. David Corenswet walks the knife’s edge brillaintly: he’s charming, able to play both Clark Kent and Superman, but also emotionally vulnerable when the story needs him to be. Even better cast is Rachel Brosnahan, whose Lois I can’t wait to see more of; there’s a scene where she’s interrogating Superman for an interview that uses her Mrs. Maisel quick wit to inject something special into the film. Gimme more please! I was worried Nicholas Hoult was hidden from the marketing as Lex Luthor because he was bad; turns out, everyone was just really good around him. He’s not Gene Hackman, but he’s much better than the last batch of youthful Luthor’s, finding a more interesting take on the character. It’s the supporting cast though that really makes Superman pop. Nathan Fillion and Isabela Merced have a blast as Middle Management Green Lantern and Hawkgirl, putting in the day to day work as mandated by their corporate bosses. Skyler Gisondo and Sara Sampaio yuk it up on the human side of things, using their 10ish minutes on a full heater. And Anthony Carrigan might get the most emotional parts of the movie under his CGI/prosthetics. But the special ingredients of Superman are a terrific man and a not so terrific dog. Edi Gathegi makes up for his wasting in X-Men here; as Mister Terrific he gets one of the best arcs of the movie, while delivering all sorts of great jokes and showing his range as an actor. And, when Gunn has written himself into a corner, Krypto is right there to be strong and stupid…and funny almost every single time.
The more I think about it, this Superman is going to alienate the Richard Donner/Christopher Reeve acolytes. But hey, Batman had to go through this too; Christian Bale’s take on Bruce Wayne didn’t lesson Michael Keaton’s, plus it helped a new generation see something in The Caped Crusader that we previously didn’t see. I know you’re worried 1970 Superman fans. But this 2025 version is a good thing, capturing Superman’s essence in a new way. Let’s just agree and team up, supporting GOOD Superman movies where he DOESN’T kill people. Agreed?