Writer, director James Gunn has officially kicked open the doors to the newly minted DCU with a film that is not only a triumphant return to form for the Last Son of Krypton, but also a joyful middle finger to the grimdark legacy of the SnyderVerse. This isn’t just a new Superman movie—it’s a hard reboot of hope itself.
Let’s start by getting this out of the way: David Corenswet is Superman. There’s no getting around it. He doesn’t just wear the suit—he inhabits it, down to every last flicker of doubt, joy, pain, and yes, hope. Unlike his moody, brooding predecessor, Corenswet’s Superman is imperfect in all the right ways. He feels human, even while lifting falling skyscrapers or eye-lasering a Lex Luthor-funded army of armored death-troopers. This is a Clark Kent who flinches at loss, who stumbles emotionally before soaring physically, and who absolutely nails that impossible balance between small-town farmboy charm and godlike heroism. The man laughs, cries, and smiles, and the world does it with him. Somewhere, Christopher Reeve is beaming.
If you were worried about yet another quirked-up tech bro version of Lex Luthor (thanks for nothing, Eisenberg), breathe easy—Nicholas Hoult absolutely devours the role. Hoult’s Luthor is every inch the manipulative, ruthless, diabolically brilliant egomaniac that comic fans have been craving for years. He’s not twitchy or loud—he’s cold, composed, and terrifying in that way where you just know he has a plan within a plan within a plan. And the chemistry between him and Corenswet? Electric. Lex might not have superpowers, but Hoult’s performance makes it clear he doesn’t need them to be the most dangerous man on the planet.
Corenswet and Hoult may be the leads but they weren’t the only standouts.
We really got it give it to Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific, who lives up to the name in every sense of the word. Somehow, Gunn makes a guy named Mr. Terrific feel like the smartest person in the room and the coolest. His tech-laden fight scenes and dry one-liners turn what could’ve been a throwaway side character into a breakout star. Rachel Brosnahan also brings her A-game as Lois Lane, embodying the perfect mix of fearless journalist and emotional anchor. She’s funny, she’s fierce, and you can absolutely believe that this woman would both risk her life to expose a corrupt billionaire and kiss Superman in the clouds five minutes later.
Let’s talk about Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, because that highlighter-orange monstrosity on his head deserves its own credit. Somehow, Fillion manages to take the most punchable Green Lantern and turn him into a scene-stealing jackass you can’t help but love. We could’ve used more screen time with him—but we get it, it’s not his movie. Still, DC, if you’re listening: Green Lantern Corps: Gardner Unhinged practically writes itself.
Gunn’s direction proves once again that he knows how to make a superhero movie look like a comic book without making it feel like cosplay. The visuals pop with a primary color palette that finally says, “Hey, superhero movies can still be fun without adhering to the Marvel formula we have had for more than 15 years.” And somehow, between the bowl cuts and giant monsters stomping through Metropolis, the movie finds time to quietly make you shed a tear. A single moment where Clark hugs his parents or young children pray for Superman to save them is all you need to feel a tug at your emotional heartstrings.
Look, we’ll always have a soft spot for Henry Cavill’s tragically misused Superman. But Corenswet isn’t just filling a pair of red boots—he’s redefining what they mean. With Gunn at the helm and a cast that crushed every scene they were in, this isn’t just a promising start for the new DCU. It’s a clear declaration that there is no superhero fatigue. We just needed a fresh take on a genre that seems to have lost its way over the last few years.
We needed to believe a man can fly—and cry, and laugh, and inspire. And this Superman does all of that as it is overwhelmingly clear that the DCU is in good hands, and for the first time in a long while, we’re excited to see what’s next.
