Superman explores Clark Kent/Superman’s (David Corenswet) journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his adoptive human family in Smallville, Kansas.

The Man of Steel returns, and this time, it’s under the offbeat, kaleidoscopic gaze of James Gunn. With Superman, the first official entry in the newly minted DCU’s Gods and Monsters chapter, Gunn lets loose with his signature flair, and while it doesn’t quite soar into the stratosphere, it’s still a breezy, above-average watch packed with pop, colour, and a whole lotta heart.

Gunn’s Superman isn’t aiming for dark and brooding. Instead, it’s a bright, candy-coloured comic book romp that feels like a four-colour splash page come to life. Drawing heavily from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman, Gunn embraces the mythic optimism of the character while layering it with his trademark ensemble-centric style, punchy humour, and an eye for oddball detail. While it gives you the broad strokes of Superman’s origin and classic good vs evil storytelling, this version leans more into Gen-Z sensibilities and kid-friendly charm than gritty pathos.

David Corenswet steps into the red cape as Clark Kent/Superman, and he’s a solid fit. He’s not trying to be the next Henry Cavill, nor is he echoing the operatic weight of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Instead, Corenswet channels a bright-eyed sincerity more reminiscent of Christopher Reeve, with a wholesome dose of the Big Blue Boy Scout energy. He’s got charm, warmth, and a slightly goofy likability that works, especially in his banter with the ever-intrepid Lois Lane, played with wit and spark by Rachel Brosnahan. Their chemistry is playful and grounded, giving this version of Superman a throwback romantic energy that’s endearing, if a little stylised.

Nicolas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is bound to divide fans. His take on the iconic villain is less cold mastermind and more tech-bro megalomaniac — think Elon Musk with a Messiah complex. Some will find it a refreshing update; others might find the smugness grating. Still, Hoult holds his own, giving Superman a worthy, if not exactly terrifying, adversary to clash with.

Where Superman really feels like James Gunn’s sandbox is in the sheer number of characters he introduces. This is less a solo movie and more a launchpad for the DCU. Standouts include Nathan Fillion’s hilariously obnoxious Guy Gardner (his Green Lantern is pure chaos), Edi Gathegi as the brainy and composed Mister Terrific, and Isabela Merced’s fierce Hawkgirl. Cameos from John Cena’s Peacemaker and a surprise Bradley Cooper as Jor-El are sure to get fans buzzing. And yes, Milly Alcock’s Supergirl makes an appearance, teasing a future that looks mighty exciting.

Special mention must go to the Daily Planet newsroom, which feels lifted straight from a comic panel. Wendell Pierce is pitch-perfect as Perry White, Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen is full of eager charm, and the ensemble, including Beck Bennett, Mikaela Hoover, and Christopher McDonald, rounds out what could easily carry a spin-off series of its own. Seriously, give these journos their own show!

But let’s be real — the MVP of this film? Krypto the Superdog. Bratty, powerful, and full of doggy attitude, Krypto steals every scene he’s in and might just be the breakout star of the entire movie. If you weren’t already begging for a spin-off, you will be once the credits roll.

The tone of Superman is somewhere between Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: Love and Thunder. It’s got action, yes, but also plenty of quips, comedic beats, and that wink-at-the-audience tone that’s become a Gunn staple. Some of the humour lands, some doesn’t. The action is solid but not jaw-dropping, with a few standout set pieces balanced by more modest skirmishes. The visual effects and animation are decent, and there’s a definite comic-book logic to how the world functions.

Ultimately, Superman is a film that doesn’t try to out-muscle the past—it sidesteps it completely and carves its own lane. It’s fun, colourful, and a sign of interesting things to come. James Gunn clearly loves these characters, and while not every choice lands, there’s heart here. And with Corenswet flying high, the DCU looks like it will have plenty of room to grow.

Image: Warner Brothers Pictures

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Hitting the button to turn on the Superman lighting activation was one of Auckland’s own local heroes, a super-dog from Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs, inspired by Superman’s sidekick Krypto.

Check out the light up and the adorable doggo below:

This Superman lighting activation honours DC Studios’ entering a bold new era in the DC universe and reflects the ambitions of writer/director/producer and DC Studios’ Co-head James Gunn (Director of Guardians of the Galaxy franchise), taking everyone’s favourite original Super Hero to new heights.

This spectacular lighting show garnered the attention of fans and onlookers all across Auckland, and resulted in a flurry of social media activity, and anticipation for the newest Superman movie, with many going ‘LOOK UP!’ to see Superman flying onto the Sky Tower.

Superman, DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into cinemas worldwide this July from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humour and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.

DC Studios heads Peter Safran and Gunn are producing the film, which Gunn directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

The film stars David Corenswet in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell.

This new Superman begins a bold new age for the DC Universe and DC Studios, and fans are flocking to cinemas to see it, with the excitable super fluffball, Krypto, being a standout for audiences.

Superman is in cinemas NOW!

Image: Warner Brothers Pictures

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And the official trailer has now arrived. Check it out below:

Here’ the official synopsis:

Following the death of Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman and Wonder Woman recruit the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg to form the Justice League and protect the world from Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons, who seek the three Mother Boxes.

This new trailer is nothing short of epic and presents a completely new vision on behalf of Snyder. Not only do we finally get to get Henry Cavill’s Superman in the Black Suit, but we also get to see a newly designed Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), alongside the appearance of Darkseid, and audiences also get their first look at a confrontation between Ben Affleck’s Batman and Jared Leto’s Joker in a hellish new landscape.

hile the basic framework of the story is the same, dozens of additional scenes, backstories, mythos, worldbuilding elements, new characters, and teases for upcoming films are present in Snyder’s version but not the theatrical release. This includes new scenes with characters including Iris West (Kiersey Clemons), the love interest to Barry Allen/The Flash, alongside Slade Wilson/Deathstroke (Joe Manganiello), who will be given new material to work with by Snyder.

This first glimpse of Zack Snyder’s Justice League is incredible to behold, and Snyder has also confirmed that the film will be presented as a one-shot event movie, instead of the four-part series that was initially rumoured.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League will arrive on HBO Max on March 18.

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The new minute-long trailer reveals some new footage of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Lex Luthor, and even includes a few shots from Batman’s nightmare vision of the future.

The whole world is pumped for this must-see movie which will be released on March 4 in Australia and New Zealand and on March 5 in the US and UK.

Image source: Roadshow Films.

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Fearing the actions of a god-like superhero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day saviour, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

After winning over San Diego Comic Con 2015 with its awe-inspiring first trailer, this second trailer builds on the first, promising raw action, and intense characterisation in a showdown that will rock the DC Cinematic Universe to its core.

Prepare yourselves for an earth-shattering event when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is released next year on March 24, 2016 in Australia and New Zealand, and March 25, 2016 in the US and UK.

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5. ‘We know better know don’t we. Devils don’t come from hell beneath us. No, they come from the sky.’

This foreshadowing narration from Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor gave us an auditory glimpse into the soft spoken, eloquent, yet thoughtfully direct Luthor. While we’ve only seen an initial first image of Luthor, this statement, and Eisenberg’s menacing tone has us speculating on just how he’ll impact the Man of Steel.

4. False God 

Luthor’s statement, and the general tone of the trailer which plays on Superman’s messiah complex, and the idea of him as a savior, also forms the first part of the trailer. When the trailer focuses up on a statue of the Man Of Steel, with the words False God, scrawled in red spray paint over the symbol of the House of El (the symbol of hope on Krypton) we get this very real feeling that the citizens of Metropolis will turn on their hero in a rapid fury, most definitely incited by Metropolis’s favorite son Lex Luthor. Superman’s position as a savior/messiah is also cemented by a shot that show’s him being surrounded by a baying crowd, with a very distressed Henry Cavill looking perplexed at how he has to handle his god like celebrity, and drama definitely won’t let up here.

3. The Dark Knight Returns 

While the first part of the trailer focuses on Superman and his position as messiah and savior, the second part introduces the DC Cinematic Universe’s new look Batman, portrayed by Ben Affleck, and his character screams The Dark Knight Returns. Written and drawn by Frank Miller, with inks by Klaus Janson and colors by Lynn Varley, The Dark Knight Returns is the quintessential Batman graphic novel, which finds a long retired, and world weary Bruce Wayne, who dons the Batsuit one last time to save a futuristic Gotham gone to hell, resulting in a collision course with his former best friend Superman. From the new look batsuits, to the image of Batman standing on a tower with a sniper rifle in his hand, to both the return of a grittier Batmobile and Batwing, director Zack Snyder looks to be creating the most intimidating Batman ever, and is using DKR as his influence to build his Batman, and this new Gotham for the expanding DC Cinematic Universe.

2. ‘That’s how it starts. The fever, the rage….the feeling of powerlessness, that turns good men cruel.’

Spoken by Jeremy Irons unseen Alfred Pennyworth, these words frame our first look at Ben Affleck’s new look Bruce Wayne, mirroring his ice cold glare as he staunchly stares at his Batsuit; the instrument by which he will reign justice down on the streets of Gotham. With statements such as these Snyder appears to be setting up a Batman who potentially has done some unspeakable things in past in his quest for justice, and whose world view is entirely set in shades of grey. Could we see Batman going too far in Batman v Superman? We’ll have to wait and see.

1. ‘Tell Me, Do You Bleed? You Will.”

Holding our attention from its first frame, the new trailer for Batman v Superman places its audience on a knife edge until it lands at the penultimate showdown between an armored Batman, and an airborne Superman, with a promise from Batman that he will make the Superman bleed in their epic showdown. This clip, which carries an intimidation factor of 11, as well as revealing Batman’s mechanized voice, which is a nice touch, and long overdue, has us primed for March 25, 2016 when these two legends will finally go head to head in an all out battle!

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“That’s how it starts. The fever, the rage…”

Watch the official trailer for ‪#‎BatmanvSuperman‬: Dawn of Justice below.

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