The latest offering from DC Studios could be considered a real treat for those interested in Superman. Up to this point, we’ve had two-minute teaser trailers and 30-second TV spots, which were great. Seeing Krypto save Supes from the clutches of death and getting first glimpses at many characters (Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner will never be erased from my mind) is more than enough to sell me on this landmark DCU reboot. To put it bluntly, I will NOT be watching the Superman sneak peek.
Released to the public on the evening of April 3 (and handed out to numerous media outlets), this new offering is nearly five minutes long and filled with new footage. Warner Brothers might just be pulling out all the stops for their last hope toward the big-screen revitalization of the DC universe. On the other hand, this unusual amount of footage becoming public might be the result of the WB stock falling tremendously. This could have also been Gunn’s panic button from the recent supposed negative-leaning test screening reactions.
If successful, Superman will be the beginning of an entire cinematic universe. I am all for competition in the comic-book movie space. Let’s face the facts — this is the perfect time to strike. Except for the entries that seem to rely on nostalgia, Marvel movies these days either almost meet their budget or outright bomb when it comes to the box office.
The Superman “Sneak Peek” Is Not for Me
However, this newly released Superman video is not the right way to attract an audience. I was already exposed to so much that I could have dropped my jaw in the actual theater— Lex Luthor making a grand entrance looking like a James Bond villain, Superman fighting a kaiju (as well as his reaction to Kelex dying), and Metamorpho’s face revealing. You probably replayed that short teaser trailer dozens of times, just like I did. Do I want more of those same types of sequences that will inevitably steal from an already fleeting movie-going experience? No.
As someone who fell in love with comic books at a young age (thanks, Dad), I want my fascination with fanatical stories and caped heroes to continue transcending to the big screen. When I’m in the movie theater this coming July, I want emotion to take over, just like it did when I read about Superman’s battle with Doomsday for the first time many years ago. I want shivers to run up my spine and adrenaline to fill my veins. I want to leave the atrium thinking about the bright future for the DCU.
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On a surface level, Superman may just be another face within the realm of DC Comics. He stands tall alongside Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash. But there is an absolute reason why James Gunn decided to rework the timeless motto — “up, up and away” — for the movie poster. Seeing this hero flying through the sky with his red cape and right into danger for the sake of saving others is a cinematic experience that resonates with all generations. For all the good against evil fights that ensue, the city of Metropolis and all the characters residing within (Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor, Jonathan, and Martha Kent) form a world we sometimes wish was our own. I don’t want this new grasp on escapism to be dwindled down due to a gluttonous trailer.
I don’t want to spend money on a ticket only to keep reminding myself that I saw this or that in the “sneak peek.” Even after all this, you may still question how a trailer could spoil a movie. A quick Google search gives you the answer. Other media outlets (at different points in time) like The New York Times, The Guardian, Vox, Screen Rant, Collider, and CBR all seem to agree on the issue — less could potentially be more. I wonder what their reaction to a five-minute trailer is. As for me, I don’t want any more of the movie’s big-screen magic to be taken away. That is why I respectfully decline Gunn’s invitation to the Superman sneak peek. Superman is soaring into theaters on July 11, 2025.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
