Krypto vs. Lex Luthor? Superman Trailer Gives Fans a Superdog Showdown

DC Studios is embracing the summer heat this July with a rebooted version of the popular superhero Superman, coming to theaters this year from writer-director James Gunn. The trailer has been long-awaited after months of teasing, and now that we have the full thing, there is more than enough to be excited about. New actors, new faces, new DC heroes and villains, and a big ‘ole fuzzy superdog, Superman sets itself up to be a fun and relatable reboot.

Origins Aren’t the Focus This Time Around

First off, Gunn has already said it is not an origin story. Instead, the narrative arc will center on Clark Kent’s inner conflict. On one side, there is the genetic power and royalty of his Kryptonian birth; on the other, there is his simple, small-town Kansas upbringing as a normal, even awkward boy. Finding his place in the world is the heart of the emotional core in this film.

Lead actor David Corenswet, who is probably best known for his roles in Pearl and Hollywood, plays the title character as a 25-year-old who is a little more worldly and jaded than his wide-eyed, green-suited predecessors. Not much is said in the trailer about how Clark Kent and Superman will play out as characters, but his relationship with Lois Lane will be the center of his story.

Joining Corenswet is Rachel Brosnahan, best known for her work in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The trailer shows Lois as a tough, no-nonsense reporter who gets challenged in a cute way by “Superman.” Lois is running through her job interview for a story on Superman when the Kryptonian shows up to disrupt things—only it’s Clark Kent, which the trailer strongly suggests she does not know. But does she? Some are in the debate. Some, like this writer, do not think she knows; the way the actors are making their faces at each other in this exchange is a big tell. We’ll have to wait and see, but either way, it’s a good setup for Lois and Clark’s story.

Lex Luthor, as played by Nicholas Hoult, is the other big-name character shown in the trailer, and he lives up to his character’s nerd villain status. He does not do much more than throw threats in Superman’s direction and act as the typical megalomaniac corporate villain. Not that he is not going to have a great character arc. Hoult’s Lex Luthor is just supported by other interesting villains on his team, like Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, and Terence Rosemore as Otis.

Krypto, Kaiju, and Supporting Characters

The first notable character, other than our big blue-skinned hero and Lois Lane, is Krypto, Superman’s white dog. This dog has been in the hearts of fans since the initial teaser trailer was released in December, when we were all astounded to see the supercanine drag a lifeless, beaten Superman to the Fortress of Solitude. The official trailer picks up on this moment by not only giving us more screen time of our furry hero, but also placing him in a fight against Luthor and another big bad in the film.

Meet The Engineer, also known as Angela Spica, played by Maria Gabriela de Faria. Outfitted in a black body-suit and an arsenal of razor-sharp rotating blades, the villain is a master of nanotechnology-based attacks and puts up quite a fight with Krypto. Aerial acrobatics and hints of kaiju aside, the trailer does not shy away from giving an ensemble of lesser-known but compelling DC characters their spotlight. Nathan Fillion makes a cameo as Guy Gardner, the bowl-cut-wearing Green Lantern; Anthony Carrigan plays Rex Mason, a.k.a. the shape-shifting elemental wizard Metamorpho; Isabela Merced is Hawkgirl, the winged warrior princess; and Edi Gathegi is Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, a tech genius-turned-costumed crime fighter.

Joining the leading cast as Superman’s cousin and fellow Kryptonian is Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, or Supergirl. This gives viewers and fans a little more insight into the Kryptonian family story that may be at play. Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell complete the family with Jonathan and Martha Kent, the adoptive parents of Clark.

DC Legends and More

Fans of the animated series Creature Commandos will also recognize Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. in a brief cameo in the trailer, as will fans of The Guardians of the Galaxy films in the form of Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord.

Balance is Key

Action-packed, heart-on-its-sleeve, and with more to chew on in every frame, Superman manages to fill the boots of the DC U prior while also reimagining what fans have come to expect. From rooftop parkour to saving the world from kaiju and high-tech villains, one of the most humanizing sequences comes at the end of Clark’s impressive feat of super strength. Superman is confronted by Lois as to how he can fly around without consent, and how the media and the U.S. Secretary of Defense are not happy with his public display. Clark is rightfully incensed by the question, shooting back, “People were going to die!” Again, this notion of right and wrong and how it translates to the audience or world at large seems to be a big question in Superman’s story. It will be interesting to see if there are shades of gray as to whether he is right or wrong.

Pulling back on the cliffhanger, however, is a simple moment of humanity: Superman gets a rare moment of peace and lies in bed and… woofs. As Krypto, super dog extraordinaire, rests on top of his chest. It’s a small shot, but it is both emotional and relatable, and probably what Gunn is going for. Super heroics that hit at a grand scale but are balanced by a heart at the center.

Overall, with a stacked cast of beloved stars and bright newcomers, a modern, nuanced tone, and a character-driven narrative, Superman is shaping up to not just be a reboot, but a reset for the entire DCU. And based on the action-packed trailer, it looks like a great reset at that.