Bringing Superman Back Home: Superman (2025) Trailer Review

I like to write about things that make me feel- and I think a lot of other people do, too.

This week, one thing that made me feel, amongst all the horrors and apathy of the world, was the new trailer for Superman (2025).

If you thought the teaser trailer wasn’t it- this one is.

If you thought the teaser trailer was good - this one is great.

If you thought the teaser trailer was great - this one is mind-blowing. On the most human level.

Here’s my top takeaways from the Superman (2025) trailer - and why I’ll be seated this July ASAP:

8. Too much in one film?

DC Characters such as Mr. Terrific, Guy Gardner (a Green Lantern), and Hawkgirl are advertised for the film, even before this trailer. However, in this trailer, they feel almost like only surprise guests. This trailer is all about getting Superman back to his roots and humanity, and showcases this theme as the center point of the film. Yet, towards the end of the trailer, we see split appearances of these multiple other decently-known DC characters.

 Are they just thrown in willy-nilly? Is there a specific purpose they are included in to add to the plot? Will they clutter the film and overall story they are telling? Only time will tell. 

I’m excited to see more DC Characters get some attention, but don’t want it taking away from what this film is so clearly trying to do.

7. I’ll Give Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor a shot

Towards the middle and end of the trailer, we see and hear Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor. At one point, Luthor calls Superman an “it”, essentially attempting to de-humanize him. I’ve been hesitant about Hoult’s casting, not because he’s a poor or mediocre actor, but because I didn’t know if he fit the prime and charming Lex Luthor many of us are acquainted with. 

(I can’t bear another Batman V Superman Luthor of any form, okay??). 

While I can’t speak to Hoult’s charm as Luthor in this trailer, he definitely seems to hit on his prime evil, and I believe Hoult’s performance of the monologue we get here, painting Luthor to himself as justifiable when we as an audience know he is anything but. I am curious and eager to see if Hoult sticks the landing throughout the film as Luthor- and I definitely have more hope now!

6. Both parents in the film - just like Superman The Animated Series

Something that seems to be such an issue with Superhero characters is whether or not they get to have both parents- and if they don’t, who do they get to keep, and who do they not get to keep? Hell, if they don’t have both parents, do they even get to have 1 or more parental figures? (Looking at you, Peter Parker).

It’s so refreshing to see that Clark Kent gets both his parents in this film. Whether they both live or not, we will see (I optimistically predict yes). I love how so many of my friends pointed out this is like the Superman Animated Series.

Having both parents in the film allows us to see multiple sides of Clark’s humanity. Of course, anyone without one or both parents is still human, but being able to see how Clark is with his father and how he is with his mother gives us a fuller view of Clark and where he comes from. 

We as the audience are privileged to get such a near full-image of Clark that it is easy to forget we are not entitled to this, either in fiction or real-life. It’s truly a gift and a testament to James Gunn’s endeavor to bring Superman back home- not to corporations, not to money, not to one group of people, but back to us- the audience. The people.

5. The perfect Superman look

David Corenswet looks more like Superman than anyone I’ve ever seen. There, I said it. Others have gotten so close (Reeve and Routh, IMO), but Corenswet’s great balance between average good-hearted-good-boy and I-Will-Beat-Your-Ass-To-Protect-These-Innocents couldn’t feed us any better. 

I also think that having someone that clearly looks like a grown adult, yet younger, is a great choice by the casting department as well. Corenswet’s Superman already feels like one for this generation and a few more after- one to last, grow, and stay with us for a long time. This is part of the hope and comfort Superman brings as a character in fiction and is the hope and comfort we need as an audience right now.

4. Clark - Superman Shift

I’ve seen many people comment on this on social media and they just aren’t wrong to. From the start of the trailer, we see Corenswet go from being lighter-hearted, higher-pitched, leaning-back-relaxed with Lois as Clark, to leaning forward, deepening his voice, becoming more directive, commanding, dominant, yet with honest intent with Lois as Superman. 

Corenswet knows exactly what he’s doing here and makes it look and feel natural. So often, we see people portray Superman and Clark as one-dimensional and one-in-the-same (Cavill’s IMO) or we see such drastic and CLEAR distinct differences that it’s like.. How do people NOT see it? (Reeve’s, IMO- but it is still great!). 

Here in this trailer, Corenswet gets that perfect balance of subtle and drastic and meshes them together to get a Clark and Superman that feels more like a real person than a robot or two entirely different people put together.

3. Lois-Clark relationship

I love the brilliance of the first scene in the trailer, where we see Lois interview Superman about his heroic (or “heroic’’) actions. Not only is she interviewing to see his perspective, it’s almost like she’s personally grilling him on his actions, why he did them, and why they are questionable at minimum. It’s fantastic to see that, while Lois and Clark are a couple and team, Lois doesn’t throw her journalistic integrity or curiosity away just for Clark. Instead, this shows a clear place of conflict for Lois and Clark as a couple. 

Clark gets defensive and, while he notes in his sighs and body language that maybe he didn’t do things the “right” way, he grows passionate and frustrated that Lois doesn’t understand that to him the ends justify the means here. “People were going to die!” he shouts. Even though I’m sure he in his heart knows and believes Lois understands this and also agrees people didn’t need to die, Clark is so consumed here that it doesn’t matter- not when he’s being accused of not doing things “right”. 

I’m excited to see Lois and Clark as a strong but passionate union- even as often as that may lead them to disagree. THAT is a real couple. THAT is a couple where each person maintains their values as individuals no matter what, while still doing everything they can to be a great partner to the other.

2. Krypto

I was originally not a fan of the new look for Krypto, but I’ve fallen in love with him. He’s baby. Also, he tears off part of a bad guy’s face in this trailer?? SAVAGE BABY KRYPTO! I love him so much. 

And yes, he deserves to be number two in this list, simply because Krypto is an essential heart to Superman. The last part of the trailer where Lois is talking about Krypto as he just lays on top of Superman is perfect. Man’s best friend. 

I fully expect and hope we have a moment where Lois and Clark don’t see eye-to-eye and Clark goes to Krypto for comfort. Sometimes, you just need your baby. Especially your baby who will protect you till the very end. 

(Gunn, if I have to see Krypto take too much damage in this film, or worse, d*e, I’m sending you my therapist’s bill for emotional damages. This also extends to Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow… even when I know how that story goes.) 

1. Superman: For the People, By The People

The best thing about this entire trailer is seeing Clark/Superman’s passion for the people. It’s seeing ordinary people help him up, even while other ordinary people put him down and throw things at him. It’s seeing him get so frustrated that just because he didn’t do something by the books, he’s now in trouble for doing what is morally right and protecting and saving people.

It’s hearing him say something far more ordinary and human than ever, “Hey buddy, eyes up here”, and then flying away like he didn’t just say the most normal thing and then do the most abnormal thing ever.

This is the biggest Superman element we’ve been missing for so long and the piece that makes him the MOST human- connecting to us. I have absolute chills thinking about this and always get chills when I see and hear him say “Hey buddy, eyes up here” and fly away. And yes, by always I mean I’ve watched this trailer more times than I’ve watched any movie trailer this year so far. And I don’t re-watch trailers. But this one spoke to my heart and soul. 

Superman (2025) looks to deliver on the 2 most important “H’s”: Hope and Heart. 

I’m interested to see if they will bring in his new saying from modern comics “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow”, or if they will use a brand-new or old one. 

Based on this trailer, I'd like to propose a new saying for Superman: Hope, Help, and a Better Tomorrow. Maybe that’s a stretch with truth and justice being so intertwined with Superman, and maybe I am inspired by Supergirl… but I can dream.

Superman (2025) is out July 11, 2025 in theaters.

You can find Your Friendly NBHD Bi, Lauren, at all her links here