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After what feels like an eternity of anticipation, the first official trailer for Superman: Legacy has finally landed, sending fans into a frenzy. This monumental moment not only offers a glimpse of the upcoming film’s tone but also introduces the fresh face of Clark Kent, with David Corenswet taking up the iconic mantle of Superman.
In the world of cinematic Clark Kents, Corenswet now stands among an elite and rare group. The trailer reveals him as the latest to don the cape, becoming only the fifth actor to play Superman in a film, following in the footsteps of legends like Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill.
And, of course, we’ll leave out the brief appearance of Nicolas Cage in The Flash for now.
This reboot of the DC universe, under the creative leadership of Guardians of the Galaxy mastermind James Gunn, marks a major shift, kicking off a new era for the iconic hero. Superman: Legacy follows Creature Commandos in the new DC era, with Gunn at the helm directing Clark Kent’s thrilling new adventure.
But it’s not just Corenswet’s Superman that’s stealing the show. The trailer also teases the first look at Nicholas Hoult—known for his breakout role in Skins—as the infamous bald villain, Lex Luthor. The cast continues to impress, with Rachel Brosnahan taking on the role of Lois Lane, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Milly Alcock as Supergirl, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.
The trailer’s tagline, “Look up,” has fans buzzing with excitement, and the reveal has certainly given Superman aficionados plenty to talk about.
In a roundtable interview, Gunn shared his deep commitment to the project, describing how he was “giving up everything in [his] life and soul” for Superman: Legacy. When reflecting on the casting choice of Corenswet, Gunn explained, “I’ve always believed that the casting is the most important, and that as long as the actor is the best possible choice for the role, that matters more than the name.”
He continued, “A lot of people auditioned, and the strange thing is I was so incredibly nervous about getting Superman right. On the very first day of tapes coming in, I had seen [David] Corenswet in Pearl. I said, ‘Get him on the tape.’”
The excitement was palpable for Gunn after viewing Corenswet and Brosnahan’s auditions. He recalled, “The very first day, I saw both David’s tape and Rachel’s, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to be okay.’ Both of these actors are amazing. There were other great choices for these roles, but at the end of the day, it was them—individually—that felt right.”
In interviews, Gunn also revealed that his conversations with Corenswet played a key role in revisiting the idea of Superman’s iconic red trunks, which had been notably absent in Zack Snyder’s portrayal of the character. Gunn explained, “We tested different versions, both with trunks and without.”
It was during this process that Corenswet’s perspective made a lasting impact on the director. “One of the things David said was that Superman wants kids to not be afraid of him. He’s incredibly powerful and could be seen as intimidating, but he wants people to like him. He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity.”
The actor’s insight helped shape the visual decision. Gunn continued, “He dresses like a professional wrestler. He dresses in a way that makes people unafraid of him. It’s about showing hope, showing positivity. And that really clicked for me.”
With the trailer now out, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how this fresh new take on Superman will evolve on the big screen. With such a stellar cast and Gunn’s creative vision, Superman: Legacy is already shaping up to be a thrilling addition to the DC Universe.
