CinemaCon got its first taste of James Gunn’s upcoming Superman, and if the footage is any indication, the DC Universe may finally be ready to trade its gloom for a little sunshine—and a slobbery superdog.
Presented during Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated slate reveal, Gunn’s Superman (flying into theaters July 11) promises a hopeful, big-hearted reboot of the iconic hero. And while David Corenswet looks every bit the red-caped beacon of optimism, it’s Krypto, Superman’s loyal superpowered pup, who just might steal the whole movie.
In the trailer, Krypto is seen licking a bruised and battered Superman back to consciousness before dragging him—yes, dragging—to the Fortress of Solitude, where a team of robots nurses him back to health. And true to form (and true to Gunn’s real-life inspiration, his rescue dog Ozu), Krypto continues nipping at his hero’s heels long after he’s standing. Watch below:
“This is a movie that celebrates kindness and human love,” Gunn told the crowd in Las Vegas. That message was baked into every frame shown—from scenes of Superman saving civilians from crumbling buildings to Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) interviewing the hero in classic Daily Planet fashion.
Also spotted in the footage: a menacing Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, wielding a comically oversized pistol (likely loaded with Kryptonite), and a color palette bursting with bright red, white, and blue—Gunn’s cinematic rebuttal to the Snyder-verse’s brooding tone.
“I auditioned for Batman and Superman—I didn’t get either,” Hoult confessed onstage. “Then James said, ‘How about Lex?’” (Not a bad consolation prize.)
Gunn, who was originally offered Superman back in 2018 but opted for The Suicide Squad, said it wasn’t until years later that he cracked the emotional core of the story: a tale that’s both “utterly human and utterly fantastic.”
With a stacked supporting cast—Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced—and a fresh sense of optimism, Superman is shaping up to be more than just a reboot. It’s DC’s best shot in years at taking flight.
And if it works, don’t be surprised if Krypto gets his own spinoff. Or at least some very well-deserved treats. I am a believer in Gunn.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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