Look up for ‘Superman’: As fans await trailer, what to know about the highly anticipated James Gunn movie

The DC Universe is soaring to new heights with Superman.

On Monday, writer and director James Gunn shared a striking motion poster featuring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel ascending into the skies with the tagline, “Look up.” The poster is a subtle homage to 1978’s Superman, starring Christopher Reeve, accompanied by a softer, reimagined version of John Williams’s theme.

Originally titled Superman: Legacy, the film was later renamed Superman by Gunn and marks a pivotal moment in the DC Universe as the inaugural project of the reimagined DC Studios, now led by Gunn and Peter Safran as co-CEOs.

Superman is one of the most highly anticipated films of 2025. As fans await the first trailer, here’s what to know about the upcoming film.

What we know about ‘Superman’

The film’s release date is July 11, 2025. The film’s first trailer is set to drop at 9 a.m. ET on Dec. 19, according to Warner Bros., and is expected to give more clues about the film’s plot — as well as a first look at Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.

After wrapping filming in July, Gunn shared on Instagram that the story is about a “good man in a world that isn’t always so much.”

In an interview in February 2023 with the Hollywood Reporter, Safran stressed that the film is “not an origin story,” but rather an exploration of Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, “balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.”

Who’s in it?

The movie stars Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. The cast includes Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, among others.

Meet the new Man of Steel

Best known for his roles in Netflix’s The Politician and Hollywood, as well as the blockbuster Twisters, Corenswet is entering his biggest role yet with Superman. But long before landing the role, fans noted his resemblance to Henry Cavill, who played Superman in previous film iterations.

In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Corenswet said it was his “pie-in-the-sky ambition” to play Superman. Offering his own vision of the character, he said, “I love the Henry Cavill dark and gritty take, but I would love to see the next one be very bright and optimistic.”

Corenswet and Broshnahan’s casting was announced in July 2023.

At New York Comic Con in October, Gunn had nothing but positive things to say about his star.

“David Corenswet is going to f***ing blow people away. He is the movie star that everyone just dreams he could possibly be. I don’t think anyone really understands the depth of this guy’s talent dramatically, comedically. He’s the best physical action star I’ve probably ever worked with…” he said.

Corenswet’s dedication so impressed Gunn that he called him “one of the best actors I’ve ever worked with,” telling the Hollywood Reporter in December that his performance is so good that it will “freak everyone out.”

Corenswet’s physical transformation

To prepare for the role, Corenswet underwent a dramatic physical transformation, bulking up to 238 pounds.

“I didn’t fit into any of my pants,” Corenswet said on the Manly Things (Sort Of) podcast in September. “It didn’t feel great, because I did it so quickly that my body just hadn’t adjusted to the extra weight, and I was still trying to eat a lot.”

Growing up, Corenswet said he “didn’t quite have the physical presence that I wanted to have.” Getting cast in Superman, he explained, was the perfect “excuse to really throw on some weight.”

Gunn’s vision and nod to the past

Gunn has infused Superman with callbacks to the 1978 classic starring Reeve — including the return of Superman’s red trunks, a staple of the Reeve era and the hero’s comic book roots that were not used in recent portrayals.

The motion poster also pays homage through its use of Williams’s legendary score, reimagined with modern elements to strike a balance between nostalgia and a fresh perspective. For the director, the story of Superman is personal.

“I completely relate to Superman, because he’s everything I am,” Gunn told the Hollywood Reporter in April. “He’s somebody who is an outsider who feels like an alien, but also the ultimate insider, because he’s f***ing Superman. And that’s kind of like what I feel like.”

What the cast is saying

Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane, told Variety earlier this year that she’s “always loved” the character, describing her as “smart,” “ambitious” and someone who “knows she’s the smartest person in the room more often than not.”

As for Hoult, who plays Lex Luthor, he described the character as “imposing and dangerous,” telling the Hollywood Reporter that Gunn “pushed me in exciting ways.” He told Entertainment Tonight, “I’m very excited for people to see David’s take on Superman as well, because he’s brilliant.”

Fillion, who plays Green Lantern, praised Gunn’s reverence for the original Superman theme in an Instagram post, writing that the motion poster “brings back incredible memories for me, and at the same time, brand new thrilling feelings.”

Merced, who plays Hawkgirl, told the podcast host Josh Horowitz that “the whole movie is very loyal to comic books but with a James Gunn twist,” calling it “clever” and “heartwarming.”

Why the film matters

Superman is more than just a reboot — it’s a litmus test for the future of the DCU.

After the critical and financial struggles of recent DC films like Black Adam and The Flash, Gunn’s film aims to restore the character to his roots while forging a path forward for the DC cinematic universe.