In New Official ‘Superman’ Trailer, Lois Lane Questions the Hero’s Purpose

I loved Zack Snyder’s Superman. I also loved Richard Donner’s take on the character. Bruce Timm gave me a Superman show with a theme I hum to this day. More recently, Tyler Hoechlin wonderfully brought the Big Blue Boy Scout to life on the small screen. This was while Brandon Routh was returning to the character, portraying a new (to him) iteration based on a wonderful Mark Waid and Alex Ross comic book called Kingdom Come. There are many live-action iterations of Superman, and they all differ from one another (some more than others), and that rules.

If you venture to a comic book store, you will find many takes on the famed hero, as you should! He’s existed for almost 90 years. Telling the same stories over and over would be stale. While there can be a “North Star” for a serialized character, certain elements that define who they are, it can be fun (and sometimes necessary) to subvert those norms. It may not be successful in everyone’s eyes, but it helps keep a character fresh and brings renewed respect to those more stalwart elements.

Look no further than the last two big-screen actors to play Supes. Superman Returns featured Brandon Routh’s initial take on the character, which hewed closely to that of Christopher Reeve. The film featured an experienced Superman who didn’t have many fights, and I remember that being a real sticking point for folks. I loved it. Years later, Henry Cavill would don the costume as a less experienced Man of Steel who loses control and has a fight that almost leveled half of Metropolis. As you probably know, that was also a sticking point for folks. I loved it.

Regardless, Snyder’s subversive take on Supes has sent people flying with anticipation to James Gunn’s new Superman film. The initial trailers focused on Superman’s world in Gunn’s DCU, highlighting his dog, his fortress of solitude, and his fellow superheroes. Now, less than two months out from its release, Gunn has dropped a new trailer that shows fans aren’t the only ones questioning what Superman should and shouldn’t be doing.

Gunn’s new movie seems to embrace all iterations of the character. It looks loaded with action, while also discussing what purpose Superman serves in a modern society (something Snyder touched on as well). When everyone has their definition of what is “good” or “right,” how can Supes save the day without backlash? Should he be helping people if it causes an international incident? Does he need permission from the President? And is that President Lex Luthor (which the trailer seems to suggest)? Supes abandoned “Truth, Justice and the American Way” in the comics years ago, could onscreen Supes take a similar stance?

I’m a total mark for Superman (and James Gunn, to be honest). I also fell in love with David Corenswet thanks to his work on Pearl, one of the best horror films of the last decade. Gunn would have to really screw the pooch (not that one, oh gawd) for me to not enjoy this flick. July can’t come fast enough (and not just because I’m also seeing Weird Al in concert the next night).