Just when the audience at CinemaCon had thought they’d witnessed it all, director James Gunn ensured everyone was discussing Superman. The head of DC Studios just released a four-minute clip of his new Superman movie on the internet. The release comes just ahead of Marvel’s major Las Vegas presentation. “Check out this Sneak Peek of #Superman, flying into theaters July 11,” Gunn posted, letting fans know the footage is finally public.
An Injured Superman, a Devoted Krypto and a Secret-Filled Fortress
Following the initial airing on April 1 and all the hype around Superman’s devoted dog Krypto, we finally get to see the teaser in detail. It begins with an injured and battered Man of Steel crash-landing in a snowy, barren area close to the Fortress of Solitude. He’s bruised, hanging by a thread. You can watch his breath blowing out small puffs of snow as he lies there, dead. That’s when he releases a faint whistle, and Krypto, his sweet loyal dog, bursts in. He immediately senses something’s wrong. Superman’s not all right. So, he picks him up and hauls him into the Fortress, where Kryptonian robots stand by.
One of them, Robot 4, is voiced by Alan Tudyk. You’ll probably recognise the voice if you’ve seen Rogue One or I, Robot. The robots take one look at Superman and hit him with a strong blast of concentrated sunlight to speed up his healing. The treatment clearly hurts Corenswet’s Superman lets out a deep, painful scream as his broken bones and damaged organs begin to heal.
Check out this Sneak Peek of #Superman, flying into theaters July 11. pic.twitter.com/hqLYhFG0Ur
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 3, 2025
Fans React to Gunn’s Nostalgic and Emotional Take
“DC has never been more back, oh my god,” a fan commented. “Absolutely stunning! And what an inspiring song. Thank you, @JamesGunn, for bringing back a Superman we can truly believe in. Up, up, and away!” Another wrote, “This trailer has a 1970s retro vibe with a touch of Christopher Reeve’s Superman. The bright look adds to its nostalgic charm,” a third added. The teaser on X has garnered 21.3 million views already (at the time of writing).
Here you go: the #Superman trailer. Krypto, take us home.
Watch the teaser trailer now and ❤ this post to get updates from @superman before it hits theaters this July. pic.twitter.com/w77kiKef54
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 19, 2024
James Gunn Reflects on Choosing Superman Over Suicide Squad
Before CinemaCon released the footage, James Gunn spoke about how close this Superman story is to his heart. He was offered Superman and The Suicide Squad back in 2018. He chose the latter. “It was an R-rated movie about a bunch of ragtag heroes,” Gunn said, according to Deadline. “That was the easy way.” But the idea of Superman never left him.
A Story of Kindness, Heart, and Classic Inspiration
“It stuck with me. How can you take a character seen as old-fashioned and make him feel real today? One day, it hit me—I wanted to tell a story that was utterly human and utterly fantastic,” he explained.
For Gunn, this is not merely a superhero movie. It’s about heart. About love. About kindness. In his own words: “This is a movie that celebrates kindness and human love. I want people to walk out feeling more connected to the person they came in with.” Gunn took inspiration from classic Max Fleischer cartoons, his own late dog, and his signature blend of sincerity and spectacle. “I want people to have that magical feeling when they come out of the movie and they love the person they came with a little more than when they went in,” he said.
Superman to Lead the New DC Universe Launch
The CinemaCon event also hosted Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), David Corenswet (Superman), and Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane). The upcoming film is the launchpad for the new DC Universe, which kicks off with “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.” With risky, lesser-known characters like Clayface, Swamp Thing, and Supergirl following, it’s clear DC is counting on Superman to set the tone and bring back fans in a big way.
