James Gunn’s newSupermanmovie is currently in active production, shooting outdoors in Cleveland, which has given fans their first looks at a number of characters featured in the film. At first, photos showcased David Corenswet’s Superman working alongside Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific. Then, we got our first glimpses ofCorenswet’s Clark Kent, along with a number of other Daily Planet staffers, including Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, as well as Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Steve Lombard, and Cat Grant. However, the most recent photos have given us the best look into what we canexpect from the film’s story.
The latest photosprovide new looks at Superman and Mister Terrific alongside other heroes who have previously been announced for the film. This includes Nathan Fillion as the Green Lantern, specifically the Guy Gardner version of the character, as well as Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl. The most interesting part about this, though, is the costumes that the characters are donning. Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mister Terrific appear to be wearing matching uniforms, withlogos indicating they are a part of the superhero team Justice League International.
The inclusion of the Justice League International in Gunn’sSupermanfilm may dramatically shift what we expected the story of the film to be. Plus, it gives a much better idea of what the state of this new DC universe will be whenSupermantakes flight in 2025. Here’s what we know:
What Makes the Justice League International Different
First off,it’s important to distinguish between the Justice League International and the more traditional Justice League. The traditional Justice League is the version of the team that most people are familiar with, consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and some variation of other mainline DC heroes. This team is usually formed and operated by the heroes themselves, and they operate out of their own Hall of Justice or other home base. We’ve seen this team on film before, primarily through 2017’sJustice Leagueand the alternateZack Snyder’s Justice Leaguecut released in 2021.
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How Superman Factors Into Justice League International
So how does Superman factor in with the Justice League International for this story? As we can see clearly, the film’s titular hero is not wearing the same kind of white LordTech branded suit as the rest of the Justice League International members we’ve seen. Instead, Corenswet’s Man of Steel dons a much moretraditional Superman suit, complete with red trunks and all. While he is seen working alongside the Justice League International in these set photos, it does not appear that he is a member of the team or that they are even happy to have him there in the first place.
From the brief descriptions that Gunn has given of the film, we know thatSuperman will be entering a world that is already full of superheroes. Considering that along with the inclusion of the corporate Justice League International and the government entity of the Authority, it seems that the introduction of Superman into this world of superheroes could be a bit controversial. The Man of Tomorrow will likely work entirely of his own accord rather than at the behest of any government or corporation.
He doesn’t answer to anyone or any agenda, instead he does the right thing purely for the sake of doing the right thing. This could also be seen asa breath of fresh air, as the joy of Superman could bring a bit more optimism into the superhero space, which appears to have become dominated by these kinds of overly formalized superhero teams.
What This Means for James Gunn’s DCU
The inclusion of both the Justice League International and the Authority in 2025’sSupermanprovide a solid idea of what we can expect from James Gunn’s new DCU. As the first feature film kicking off the rebooted DC franchise,Supermanhas a lot of work to do. It needs to establish a new universe, reintroduce iconic characters, and make it clear that this world and its heroes are firmlydisconnected from the Snyderverse, the DCEU, or any other iteration of DC that has preceded it. If any director is going to be able to handle a task that big in the comic-book movie space, it’s James Gunn.
By having these two superhero teams inSuperman, Gunn is laying the foundation for the DCU as a world in which superheroes already exist and are a part of everyday life. Unlike 2013’sMan of Steel, which kicked off the DCEU by introducing Superman into a world publicly devoid of superheroes, 2025’sSupermanwill throw the Man of Tomorrow right into a complicated soup of different characters. Superman will not be the first superhero in this world. If anything, he may be somewhat late to the party.
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By taking this approach toSuperman,Gunn will be able to clearly define what makes Superman differentcompared to the myriad of superpowered characters that have made their way to the big screen over the last 20 years. By introducing Superman into a universe that already has a preconceived notion of what a superhero is, Gunn is building the framework for Superman to defy expectations and inject new life, both into that universe’s status quo and our real world’s superhero movie landscape.
Superhero fatigue isalready a real factor in the modern cinematic landscape, and Gunn appears to be doing everything he can to actively combat that withSuperman. If he fails, DC will continue to occupy the desolate state it has been in for the last five-plus years. If he succeeds, however, Gunn may usher in (finally) the golden age of DC characters at the multiplex.Supermanis set to hit theaters on July 16, 2025.
