Dissecting the text that begins James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s restart of Superman (2025) reveals a grand vision. Even with some unusual choices in supporting roles to introduce this tale, this movie is terrific for fans of the “Gods and Monsters” narrative arc as they reinvent what the animated film, Justice League: Gods and Monsters tried a decade ago. Alan Burnett and Bruce Timm packed a lot of ideas into a 75 minute film. I loved it, but sadly, the reception for it was poor. Even though the ideas continued to be explored in future DC Comics / Warner Bros. releases, not every work was as hardcore.
Gunn’s story establishes who are the major players. If Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) are the first team to form what we as fans know as the Justice League later on, then the choices are unique. Technically, they are a group Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) sponsors and unless everyone knows who he is, this is a story thread which needs expansion. Because of him, that’s why this trio is wearing alternate costumes.
Gathegi clearly enjoyed playing this character, and his importance is a direction I did not expect coming. However, I suspect Merced struggled with giving her moments meaning. The lack of revelation regarding Hawkgirl’s heritage left some viewers unsatisfied. She deserves better, and the only moment that mattered is in when she shows why she’s likely a member of The Authority. She’s less concerned with playing by a code all superheroes abide by, especially after her last scene. As for Green Lantern, he’s rather abrasive and I suspect not everyone will appreciate this character.
When the intro raises the question of why certain versions of heroes exist and do what they do, the first thing I noticed is that the Man of Steel (David Corenswet) is fighting a foe who is as strong as him! Not everyone can cause him to bleed. When we learn Lex Luthor created these grunts to do his dirty work, there are some familiar elements to like. Science created both—technology mostly created Angela (María Gabriela de Faría), and someone bio-engineered the other, perhaps like Doctor Frankenstein’s monster! We can infer the entrepreneur’s god complex from what the film omits, and comparing Lex (Nicholas Hoult) to Pontius Pilate suggests upcoming narrative developments.
When the last three years showed Superman being hailed as a savior by many, the Biblical references are everywhere! From the visual moments which feel like The Second Coming to an over-reliance of emphasizing there are three, just what they all mean is not always clear. But to compare Luthor to this Roman ruler of the region is appropriate. His reaction is fitting given his dislike of Superman’s emergence and the public’s hailing him as a savior.
Story-wise, this rival’s hatred goes beyond simply seeing the big boy in blue six feet under. In the comics (Final Crisis) and animated series (Justice League Unlimited), he fears death, and wants to conquer it; he’s after the Anti-life equation and even met Death (from the Sandman comics)! Here, he’s not just a cackling megalomaniac, but a deeply flawed man making a “rational” evil choice for the sake of humanity and what he believes is a greater good.
Like Pilate, he may even agonize over it, see himself as misunderstood or even noble. These moments only add to the moral complexity of what defines this individual. And when he’s able to come up with the equations to build a Boom Tube and have a working clone, oh boy! All these nuances align well with how James Gunn often colours his characters. They come from a morally gray ethos. The winning line that conveys the fact he’s like Pilate is when Luthor stated, “I’ve reviewed the data. I’ve watched him. And I find… no clear threat. But he could be one.”
Development-wise, I do not think anyone can measure up to all the works offered prior. The Justice League animated universe and Smallville television series made Lex memorable. Clancy Brown’s take is simply delightful and Michael Rosenbaum’s performance shows a gravitas that Hoult needs to amp up. He’s not like Standartenführer Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds; Hoult’s moments need significantly more resonance before he can be ranked.
As for Clark Kent, Corenswet is brilliant as Clark Kent. That awkwardness we see from this alter-ego offers something different from what Christopher Reeve did and it’s about time! When his glasses are off, the difference in how he presents himself is much more defined. Also, after learning the allegedly real reason for being on Earth, he’s questioning everything. As the trailers suggested, he’s treated like a monster–and the question of what motivates someone to do good or bad deeds arises.
After that, his most trusted friends need to redeem him. When I’m very familiar with past takes in the animated series and films, I get why the world fears and cheers for those who can make a difference. In Justice League, “A Better World” shows how the metas can take over; and in Superman: The Animated Series, the two-part episode “Legacy,” shows how Superman, brainwashed by Darkseid, conquers Earth. Those stories showcase what the world fears should the superheroes take charge.
Luthor’s involvement becomes more paramount because he knows how to deal with these threats. James Gunn’s Superman certainly shows what he’s capable of offering, even though he has other agendas and purposes in mind. Even the movie poster proclaims, “It begins,” although this word’s meaning is unclear. Hopefully, the next film will reveal what to dread as the themes Gunn wants to explore from “Gods and Monsters” are further explored.
3½ Stars out of 5
Superman 2025 Trailer
