DC Studios finally released the much-awaited trailer of James Gunn's Superman, and it is assuring us of a fresh and new approach to the legendary superhero. With David Corenswet originally playing the red cape role, the trailer introduces us to a mix of idealism, action, and actual political tension in the actual world, taking the DC Universe in a new direction and tone.
Storyline
The trailer begins in close-up but tense form — Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) interviewing Superman. She is asking him why he has been getting so much criticism. Superman responds, "I stopped a war!" We know then that we are going to get a politicized film. Superman appears in the war zone of a foreign nation without its permission to avert a war. His bold action, intended to be life-saving, ignites worldwide firestorm. The story sets Superman as an unconscious symbol of American power, playing the inadvertent diplomatically, and open to praise and criticism. Nicholas Hoult is a cold-blooded, calculating Lex Luthor, firmly grounded as the ideological and strategic opposite of the story.
Positive Points
- David Corenswet appears real and suave as Superman, finding a balance between vulnerability and power.
- Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane adds the journalism sensibility and emotional depth.
- The color grading and the cinematography, a James Gunn trademark, provide the film with a glossy, feel-good aesthetic.
- The story comes across as brazen, with moral issues regarding heroism, world responsibility, and accountability.
- The action scenes, Superman bursting through the ground torn by war and being swept up by the people, are breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreaking.
Negative Points
- The political statement might not be to the taste of all those who like a no-frills superhero story.
- A lot of the plot is laid bare by the trailer, which might detract from the shock factor on some of the film's most crucial scenes.
- The cameo of Lex Luthor can be anticlimactic to some audiences in the teaser, not quite making it as a threatening figure from Superman's greatest foe.
Overall: The Superman trailer promises a bold reboot of the iconic hero. It's a considered, high-octane, and emotional interpretation of the character that grapples with the contemporary mysteries. James Gunn seems to be steering DC into a new and exciting direction — and judging by the trailer, there's plenty for fans to get excited about.