James Gunn Says The SUPERMAN Trailer Captures The "Essence" of the DC movie: "Optimistic But Not Without its Darker Moments"

Fans are still reeling over the first trailer for Superman and director James Gunn recently shared his own thoughts on it saying that it captures the true "essence" of the movie.

When talking about his intentions with the trailer, Gunn explained: "I think I wanted the trailer to really get the essence of the film. You know, the film is optimistic, yet not without its darker moments.

“It's a big science fiction movie, but at the same time, incredibly grounded in the way we treat the characters and everything else.

“So I wanted it to be something that was the essence of Superman, that was the Superman that I grew up with, that I love, but also something new at the same time."

The filmmaker also said that taking on Superman has been "paradoxical," explaining that the "traditional aspects of Superman, the hope and the honesty and the goodness in the sort of gung ho qualities of Superman, in this day and age end up being pretty wild and alternative, almost."

Gunn continued: "So I think that that's really the heart of what the movie is. And get, you know, giving some semblance of the big science fiction moments you know, being able to catch a glimpse of Krypto, who's who's an important character.

“And, of course, seeing the relationship between Clark and Lois, which I think is unlike anything we've ever seen in any media, for Lois and Superman, being able to see that, get a glimpse of that and how amazing Rachel is."

Superman will tell the story of “Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas.

“He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”

"It's set in a world very different from ours and far removed from the DCEU. Heroes have been around for ages, and we'll see how it affected this world's history and has shaped the DCU."

Superman also stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane; Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor; Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern; Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl; Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific; Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen; María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica, aka The Engineer; Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher; and Terence Rosemore as Otis.

It’s scheduled for a theatrical release on July 11, 2025.