Annlyel James 
Discover my thoughts on the new Superman teaser and how it compares to previous versions. Find out what worked and what didn’t in the DC Extended Universe.
Before I delve into my thoughts on the epic new teaser for Superman, I have to admit that I’m not a mega fan of the character. The first iteration of the character that I became most familiar with was Zack Snyder‘s infamously moody version of the iconic hero. Of course, everyone knows that the greatest iteration of the character has been Christopher Reeves‘ timeless interpretation, which is as iconic as it comes. I recently watched the 1980s Superman II for the first time, and it instantly ascended into the pantheon of my favorite superhero films.
As I watched the DC Extended Universe crawl to a whimpering end, I knew that what had ultimately failed the dying franchise was its beginning. The choice to kill one of its most iconic characters, Superman, in its second film, Batman vs. Superman, was a laughably poor decision. That’s like Iron Man, the MCU’s best character at the time, dying in The Avengers. The decision was such a mishap that they instantly revived him in the poorly crafted Justice League, which felt like the official beginning of the end for the DCEU.
ENTER JAMES GUNN
Now, James Gunn has been offered the reigns for the newly minted DC Studios. His first live-action movie in this, hopefully exciting, new franchise is Superman. After the last decade, people have been clamoring for a Superman movie that showcases the character in a more hopeful, charming, and inspiring light. And if the first teaser is anything to go by, there’s a good chance that James Gunn may have understood the assignment.
While the teaser didn’t give a clear idea of what the story is about, it gives us, the fans, a nice introduction to all of the characters in the movie set to a chill-inducing rendition of John Williams’ iconic Superman theme. As I said at the beginning of this post, I’m no Superman fan, and yet, as I finished the teaser for the first time, tears instinctually came from my eyes. A teaser is not entirely indicative of a film’s quality. But if the movie is anything like this teaser, we may have a true gem on our hands.
HOPE
The scene that stood out the most to me in the teaser was seeing that little boy lifting that pole with the Superman flag and calling out for him. At that moment, it felt like Gunn was reminding us why this character had been so beloved for nearly a century. It’s not just about him having the ability to fly, his superstrength, or his love story with Lois Lane; it’s the moments of seeing him as a spark of hope for humanity. When people find themselves at their lowest, he will always be there to save the day, and it’s so lovely to see that being presented in this trailer beautifully.
Do I think this will be the best superhero movie next year? I’m not sure. I know this, though: The teaser exceeded my expectations, and now I can’t wait to see it in July, which is all I could’ve asked for.
James Gunn’s Superman will swoop into action in theatres on July 11th from DC Studios and Warner Bros.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
