Ivan Radford | On 27, Aug 2025

Director: James Gunn
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Nathan Fillion, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio
Certificate: 12

“I am as human as anyone,” declares Superman (David Corenswet) in James Gunn’s new take on the Man of Steel. “I love, I get scared. I wake up every morning and, despite not knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other and make the best choices that I can.” It’s a refreshingly flawed approach to the Kryptonian superhero, who has in the past has often been impervious, perfect and (whisper it) a little bit boring.

We pick things up, in another welcome twist, with Superman already well underway in his dual life of international beacon of hope and bumbling newspaper reporter Clark Kent – and his colleague at the Daily Planet, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), is already aware of his identity and in a relationship with him. But while life might seem sorted and in motion, Superman’s sense of self is soon uprooted by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who hates him with an unrelenting obsession. Breaking into Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, he unearths a video message from Superman’s parents – and then relays it around the world as proof that Supermans is an outsider with a hidden, nefarious intent to rule over the human race.

It’s an inspired idea for a blockbuster because, by its very nature, it forces the drama to be rooted in Superman’s own character. That gives David Corenswet ample room to make his mark as Superman, beyond just donning the red and blue costume. And he does it with an immediate charm and charisma that’s more than just looking the part. His Superman is young and immature, still learning his strengths, his weaknesses and his boundaries – he can be determined as well as frustrated, amused as well as vulnerable, arrogant as well as bruised. (We first meet him, tellingly, just after he’s lost a fight for the first time.) He’s possibly the most rounded take on Clark Kent and Superman we’ve ever seen, partly because there’s not the biggest gulf between the two parts of his identity – but Superman builds on Clark’s very human attachment to his earthly upbringing as the foundation of his sense of duty and compassion. As he puts it, referring to a poster on his childhood bedroom wall, being kind is “the real punk rock”.

Rachel Brosnahan, likewise, is a fantastic Lois Lane, bringing all the spiky energy of Mrs Maisel into a role that feels at once timeless and modern. She and Corenswet are an excellent double-act with instantly believable chemistry, something that beautifully comes to the fore in a scene where she interviews Superman/Clark, unafraid to call him out on his irresponsible behaviour – while caring enough about him that she wants to help. They don’t always see eye to eye, and she isn’t afraid to persuade him to look at things through her perspective – they make for a witty, warm and passionate duo, as much friends as they are partners.

As for that irresponsible behaviour, Superman makes the rash decision to stop the invasion of Jarhanpur by the forces of Boravia – a move that has geopolitical consequences Superman simply didn’t stop to think about. Enter Lex Luthor, as well as US politicians, plus the “Justice Gang” – a hilariously ragtag group of superheroes, including the rude Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), the heartfelt Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), the swaggering but kind-hearted Mister Terrific (a scene-stealing Edi Gathegi), and the outspoken Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) – who all add to the mess by trying to stabilise the chaos.

What ensues is part political conspiracy, part corporate corruption and part moral dilemma about where the line is between justice and impartiality – and how commerce interferes with that. But James Gunn knows to keep the tone light, with laughs aplenty coming from Sara Sampaio as Eve, Luthor’s self-absorbed girlfriend, and Skyler Gisondo as the youthful photographer Jimmy Olsen – and, crucially, Superman himself. Gunn’s direction keeps things bright and breezy, from the kind of needle-drops you’d expect from the Guardians of the Galaxy helmer to the primary-coloured costuming, glowing visuals and cosmic creativity.

The brief appearances of Supergirl and Krypto, along with Peacemaker and Maxwell Lord, all serve as teases for Gunn’s future director for the revamped DC Universe, but this first outing in a new era for the comic giant’s cinematic output is notable because it doesn’t feel like homework or stage-setting. That’s largely due to the self-contained story, which stops the scale of plotting and characters overwhelming the central focus on Supes himself – and his rivalry with Lex Luthor. Hoult is superb as the scientific sociopath, playing him as a bitter, envious techbro full of petulant entitlement. He’s an excellent foil for Corenswet’s Kal-El, who is reintroduced to us with a renewed sense of humour and humanity. This Superman is kind, relatable and actually, well, fun. What a breath of fresh air this film is.

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