During CinemaCon yesterday, Fandango’s Nikki Novak sat down with “Superman” Director James Gunn, and actors David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult, to chat about what we can expect from the new take on the iconic superhero.
James Gunn revealed that attendees at CinemaCon were treated to a sneak peek of the movie’s opening moments. This wasn’t the full monty, but a “truncated version” designed to whet appetites. The footage spotlighted two pivotal relationships: Superman’s “unique relationship with Krypto” and the budding “romance between Lois” Lane and the Man of Steel.
The dynamic between Superman and his superdog, Krypto, is far from straightforward. It seems “Krypto needs Superman, Superman doesn’t need Krypto”. Superman has essentially taken in Krypto, who, despite the affection between them, is hilariously described as “the worst dog in the world with superpowers”. Expect scenes of chaos as Krypto reportedly wreaks havoc on the Fortress of Solitude, indulges in super-powered wildlife hunts, and generally refuses to listen. While there’s love there, the cast joked that Krypto is “honestly more trouble than he’s worth”. Whether this troublesome pup will eventually win Superman over remains to be seen, hinting that audiences will have to catch the film to find out.
The romantic angle between Lois and Superman is also shaping up to be a compelling part of the film. We learned that Lois and Superman are indeed dating. However, their relationship is at a crucial early stage, where they’re questioning whether it’s a casual fling or something with long-term potential. Despite sharing core values like the “relentless pursuit of truth and justice”, their approaches couldn’t be more different. Superman is portrayed as someone who is “radically present” and focused on immediate good, sometimes overlooking broader implications. Lois, on the other hand, is always thinking ahead and starts from a place of distrust. Their fundamental philosophical divide lies in their priorities: Superman champions the sanctity of life above all, while Lois leans towards a utilitarian view, aiming for the greatest good even if it means making tough choices. Despite these contrasting worldviews, the interview highlighted a strong magnetic attraction between them, suggesting that their relationship will explore how these differences play out in a super-powered world and ultimately bring out their shared humanity.
Even the antagonist, Lex Luthor, promises to be a complex and formidable foe. Nicholas Hoult spoke of the character’s rich history and the desire to explore new facets. This iteration of Lex is driven by a “relentless end goal”, with a philosophy that “the means he justifies any way possible to get to that”. He’s portrayed as someone who disregards consequences in his pursuit of his objectives, believing he is ultimately right. Interestingly, Lex’s core motivation seems rooted in “scientific inquiry”, valuing scientific advancement to such an extent that he might even disregard human life in its pursuit. This paints a picture of a chillingly intelligent and ruthlessly ambitious villain.
The snippets revealed during this Fandango interview offer an exciting glimpse into the new “Superman” film. With a potentially chaotic yet endearing dynamic between Superman and Krypto, a nuanced and philosophically engaging romance with Lois Lane, and a Lex Luthor driven by a terrifyingly single-minded pursuit of science, this new film looks set to offer a fresh and compelling take on the Superman mythos.
“Superman” will be in theaters and IMAX nationwide on July 11, 2025, and internationally beginning 9 July 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
