The newest trailer for James Gunn’s Superman film has taken flight and, hoo boy, is it a doozy.
There’s quite a bit to unpack from the forthcoming comedian ebook movie’s latest teaser, not least the truth that Supes will battle one more villain who’s not who everybody thinks they’re (in my view, anyway). In truth, a lot is crammed into trailer #2’s two-minute runtime that there are quite a few key particulars and Easter eggs you will undoubtedly have missed upon first viewing.
Below, I’ve rounded up seven of the largest secrets and techniques hidden in Superman‘s newest spherical of footage. Potentially massive spoilers instantly observe for the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) flick, so proceed with excessive warning.
1. Paging Walter Cronkite
The DCU film’s official trailer begins with David Corenswet’s Clark Kent/Kal-El agreeing to be interviewed – as Superman, no much less – by his perennial love curiosity and fellow Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane (performed right here by Rachel Brosnahan).
It’s a sequence that seems as if it’s going to begin out as a enjoyable concept, however quickly turns right into a extra a lot dramatic affair. Indeed, as Lane politely interrogates the titular hero over latest incidents he is been concerned in that have not precisely put him or the US authorities in a great gentle, Kent will get more and more agitated over her questioning of the great he is doing on his adoptive residence, aka planet Earth.
Before the love birds’ (if the rumors are to be believed, they have been secretly courting for 3 months by the point this movie begins) interview turns into fraught, although, Kent playfully calls Lane “Cronkite” because the recorded dialog begins.
This is a tribute to the late and legendary US broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, who anchored CBS Evenings News virtually 50 years between 1937 and 1981. He reported on a few of the greatest real-life occasions of the previous 50 years, too, together with the Vietnam War, the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King, the 1969 moon touchdown, and the Watergate scandal.
2. War by no means modifications
Part of the explanation why Kent and Lane’s interview shortly turns bitter is their supposed disagreement over Superman’s involvement in stopping a battle in what seems to be the Middle East.
Now, there are apparent parallels between this battle and one presently enjoying out in the actual world, however this is not the time or place to get into the political and humanitarian weeds of that. All I’ll say is, in gentle of what is going on on proper now, I’m curious to see how a lot of Superman’s fictional battle we’ll see on this Gunn-directed flick.
But I’m getting off-topic. What battle did Supes cease to attract a lot ire from the US authorities and different events? According to X/Twitter fan account DCU Updates, plus an Instagram publish from actor Fahim Fazli, who has a minor function in Superman (due to Reddit for the catch), the fictional nations of Boravia and Jarhanpur would be the international locations concerned on this battle.
By all accounts, it appears Kal-El’s intervention stopped the previous from invading the latter, too. If true, it is not stunning that the so-called Hammer of Boravia would monitor down Superman and have interaction in a bout of fisticuffs within the skies above Metropolis.
3. Planting a Flag in a brand new authorities function
Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr has handled loads earlier than and since his DCU introduction. Not solely was his son was murdered by Peacemaker in 2021’s The Suicide Squad movie (a film many now take into account to be a progenitor to the DCU’s creation), however he was duped by Princess Ilana and virtually crushed to dying by Clayface in season 1 of Max’s grownup animated present Creature Commandos. Simply put, he deserves to catch a break.
Nevertheless, I do not assume anybody of us anticipated him to be put in because the US’ newest Secretary of Defence. Again, that is seemingly revealed throughout Kent and Lane’s stress-inducing interview, with the trailer reducing to a quick shot of Flag Sr when Lane says “Secretary of Defence”.
Now, this might be a bait and change on Gunn’s half. This would not be the primary time that some trailer trickery has been employed to recommend one factor (e.g. Flag Sr being Secretary of Defence) however imply one other (e.g. he is probably not). If he’s, although, it’s going to be a shock promotion for Grillo’s gruff military veteran and one I definitely did not seen coming.
4. Where the streets have many names
Walter Cronkite is not the one particular person to be honored with a blink and you will miss it point out within the DCU Chapter One film’s newest trailer.
In photographs the place Corenswet’s Man of Steel protects a toddler from falling particles and he is arrested by ARGUS chief Rick Flag (with assistance from Angela Spica/The Engineer and Ultraman (extra on this duo later)), the names ‘Ross’ and ‘Waid’ will be seen on two avenue signposts.
These are clear tributes to Alex Ross and Mark Waid, two of essentially the most well-known artists and writers who’ve labored for DC Comics since 1993 and 1985, respectively.
5. Engineering an entrance
But let’s return to 2 of Superman‘s aforementioned villains: The Engineer and Ultraman.
The former was largely conspicuous by her absence in Superman‘s first official trailer – certainly, save for a missable second the place she’s standing on the bridge that connects Luthercorp’s two skyscrapers collectively in that teaser, she did not characteristic as a lot as many individuals anticipated her to.
Thankfully, Maria Gabriela de Faria’s nanotech-infused antagonist earns extra screentime in trailer #2. She’s seen going to city on the jaw-dropping Fortress of Solitude’s android staffers earlier than receiving a swift paw within the jaw from the lovely but boisterous Krypto the Superdog. Spica will be noticed later within the trailer, too, when she’s seen battling Superman alongside Ultraman.
Speaking of Ultraman – that is the identify that followers have given this mysterious, black-clad villain, anyway – it appears he will have a extra integral function within the story than many suspected.
Initially, it appeared he was going to be the muscle that Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor employs when issues are about to get bodily. However, some observers imagine Ultraman won’t solely wind up being the first villain in one in every of 2025’s most anticipated new motion pictures, however can even be unmasked as none apart from a genetically-engineered clone of the eponymous Son of Krypton himself.
I’ve already sifted by means of a lot of the proof that backs up this fan idea in my essential Superman trailer #2 article, which I linked to on this piece’s introduction. But, there’s yet another signal that means this speculation is not as outlandish because it sounds.
This trailer confirms that Luthor and firm will acquire entry to the Fortress of Solitude in some unspecified time in the future. However, within the comics, there are solely two ways in which somebody can enter Supes’ secret hideout.
The first, which was used within the early years of Superman literature, entails discovering after which utilizing an enormous key. Kal-El is the one being sturdy sufficient to raise it within the comics, although, and we already know this technique will not be utilized in Superman’s newest big-screen reboot. Indeed, the Fortress of Solitude clip article I linked to earlier confirms Krypton-originating people, equivalent to Kent and Krypto, can acquire entry to it through some type of vocal command.
I do not assume that is the one manner for anybody to enter the DCU’s tackle Superman’s Arctic-based HQ, although. That’s as a result of, within the comics, the second technique normally entails some type of extremely superior safety system.
This is the place Ultraman comes into play. If he’s a clone of Kal-El, he might merely take away his face protecting in entrance of the Fortress’ seemingly hidden safety cameras. They’ll certainly acknowledge him as Superman and permit him (plus Spica, Luthor, and the latter’s girlfriend Eve, who will be briefly noticed when the group enters the Fortress) to set foot in it. It’s that, or Ultraman utters a command that solely Kryptonians would know, which might unlock the Fortress’ entrance door. Either manner, he appears key to the group’s profitable try and make their manner inside.
6. Journeying to the Phantom Zone
Later on within the teaser, we see Lane and Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific exploring what seems to be a cavernous, underground lair.
What if this is not an Earth-based location, although? Instead, what if it is one in every of our first glimpses on the DCU’s tackle Pocket Universes (basically, alternate realities which are tied to a different dimension) and, extra importantly, one referred to as the Phantom Zone that Kryptonian criminals are banished to?
This is not as massive a stretch as you may assume. For starters, Superman‘s two essential trailers have included photographs of him being incarcerated in an undisclosed location. It’s seemingly that he is jailed following his arrest by Flag and firm, too.
However, human prisons would not be capable to maintain him. As such, I predict that, underneath Luthor’s orders, Kent will probably be despatched to and imprisoned within the Phantom Zone, i.e. a spot the place no one ought to be capable to discover him. Well, until you are a roving investigative reporter like Lane and a scientific genius like Mister Terrific…
7. Not quicker than a rushing Kryptonite bullet
The Phantom Zone needs to be the least of Superman’s worries, thoughts you, as a result of it appears he’ll be injured by an Kryptonite bullet at some stage, too.
Before you scoff on the concept, hear me out. First, take into account what Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho – one in every of Supes’ fellow imprisoned metahumans – is creating within the trailer. For the uninitiated, Metamorpho is a superpowered being who could make any substance within the recognized universe, so it is not outlandish to imagine that he’d be capable to craft Kryptonite (Superman’s one and solely main weak spot) out of skinny air.
Next, take a great take a look at the above picture. More importantly, take a look at Metamorpho’s left hand. Why is it glowing inexperienced? There’s just one logical resolution: he is created a small quantity of Kryptonite, whose main colour is – yep, you guessed it – inexperienced.
That’s not all. In each trailers, we see Luthor brandishing a revolver whose cartridge chamber he is seen spinning. If Metamorpho has reluctantly crafted a Kryptonite bullet, it is logical to imagine that Luthor would load his weapon with it and play a rigged sport of Russian Roulette with Superman. If Supes works out that Luthor is not enjoying truthful, that might be the catalyst for him punching his manner out of his glass box-based cell. Again, we see this in each trailers.
However, to paraphrase a traditional Superman line from the comics, it appears he is not quicker than a rushing Kryptonite bullet.
Another clip in trailer #2 exhibits Kent’s adoptive dad and mom watching over their bed-bound surrogate son. Take a better take a look at the higher left facet of Kent’s head, and you will see what seems to be a bullet wound and a few type of an infection round his left temple.
This has to be the aftermath of not solely Supes’ escape from the Phantom Zone, but additionally the Kryptonite bullet hanging the titular superhero. It’s a great job, then, that Lane and Terrific appear to be available to assist Supes escape and make his manner again to the Kent residence to relaxation and recuperate.
