Superman is one of the most beloved superheroes that has ever existed. He is one of the biggest pop culture icons on the face of the earth, and one of the first names people think of when they think of the word "superhero." Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie kicked off the superhero movie craze in 1978, with Christopher Reeve donning spandex and exposed underwear for the first time. Since the Christopher Reeve films, fans have been crying out for a Man of Steel on the big screen that lives up to the legacy.

Opinions on Zack Synder's interpretation of Superman were largely negative. Many fans felt that the dark tone of Synder's DCEU was not the right fit for Superman, despite many feeling Henry Cavill was the perfect casting. But now, James Gunn has taken on the task in Superman (he recently dropped the word 'legacy' from the title). There are plenty of reasons that fans should be excited for its release in 2025.

10 James Gunn Is The Perfect Director

He's A Huge Fan Of Superman

Gunn was offered a Superman project several years ago, but turned it down because he didn't know how to tackle it. He waited until he had an idea that he felt was true to the character, but different enough to make a unique story. Gunn's willingness to wait until he felt he could do it justice shows how much he cares about the Man of Steel.

During an interview when James Gunn was promoting Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, he described how he wants people to feel when they leave one of his movies. The line justifies why he is the ideal director to present a character who is a symbol of hope:

Maybe they feel a little bit more hopeful about what the world can be from when they walked in.

9 Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Will Be Magnificent In The Role

Lois Lane is just as important as Clark Kent when casting a Superman movie. Lois Lane grounds Superman, and needs to be someone who can hold their own in a relationship with someone who is practically a god. Margot Kidder's performance of Lois as a brazen, no-nonsense reporter in Superman The Movie (1978) is timelessly iconic as the perfect counterpart to Christopher Reeve's mild-mannered reporter.

Rachel Brosnahan's performance as Miriam in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel sets her up as the ideal casting for Lois. In that show, she shows how well she portrays a character that is strong, independent, and funny. Erica Durance's Lois was a fan favorite in Smallville, as she often had some of the best comedic lines, being a somewhat normal person who is thrust into a world of superheroes and aliens. Gunn's style of comedy, mixed with Brosnahan's expert dry humor, could result in a fun character, the relatable voice of reason that every superhero story needs.

8 It is Not An Origin Story

Gunn Wants To Do Something New

The Superman origin story is one that has been told many times, and many fans were hoping they wouldn't have to see it again. Apparently, the film will not contain the destruction of Krypton. Even though it will focus on early moments in Clark Kent's life, it is not an origin story like the one fans have seen so many times.

This will allow the film to focus on telling a compelling and unique story, rather than focusing a large percentage of the movie on retelling a story that most people already know.

7 Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor

Hoult Has A Lot To Bring To The Character

Lex Luthor is one of the most well known comic book villains of all time. As the icy, calculated nemesis of Superman, he needs to have a gravitas and presence that sets him up as a legitimate threat to Superman. Nicholas Hoult has been on-screen from the age of 7 and has such a diverse range as an actor.

Recently, Hoult appeared on Inside Of You, a podcast run by Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor on Smallville. Many Superman fans, including James Gunn, have praised Rosenbaum as the best on-screen iteration of Lex. Hoult discusses his admiration for Rosenbaum on the show, and they discuss the process behind becoming Lex and getting into the mind of the character.

6 David Corenswet as Superman

Can Expertly Play Both Superman And Clark Kent

Superman is a difficult part to play, as it is essential that an actor is able to embody both Superman and Clark Kent. They need to seem different enough that people can believe that no one in the world would make the link between the two people, despite them looking the same. Following the release of a set photo of David Corenswet as the Clark Kent persona, many commented on how different Corenswet looks as Clark versus Superman.

An actor must be able to look like both a muscle-bound god, and someone who would help your granny cross the street. Superman needs to be likable and intimidating at the same time, and that's a fine line. Corenswet is a Julliard trained actor who is incredibly versatile and has a ton of experience. Because he is not so well known, he can play Superman without people associating him with a different role.

5 Lesser-Known DC Characters Will Appear

Gunn Makes Audiences Love Underrated Characters

Three little-known DC characters are set to make an appearance in Superman (2025). These will be:

• Rex Mason/Metamorpho, played by Anothony Carrigan.
• Angela Spica/The Engineer, played by Maria Gabriela De Faria.
• Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, played by Edi Gathegi.

Hardcore DC Comics fans may be aware of these characters, but the average moviegoer is probably not. This was the case with Guardians of the Galaxy before Gunn brought them into the MCU, and for Peacemaker in the DCU. Taking characters that people have not seen on screen before allows Gunn to put his own unique spin on them.

4 Based on Iconic Superman Comics

Influenced By All Star Superman & Superman: For All Seasons

All Star Superman by Grant Morrison is renowned by DC fans as one of the greatest depictions of Superman and Lex. Morrison explores the contrast between the overpowered Superhero moments and what it means to be human. Gunn has said that his movie will focus on the struggle that Superman faces when he is torn between the human world and his Kryptonian heritage, which many fans believe is when Superman stories are at their best.

Superman: For All Seasons by Jeph Loeb is praised for its focus on Clark Kent as opposed to the focus on Superman. With that in mind, it seems James Gunn wants to explore Clark as a person, rather telling a simplistic story about Superman fighting giant monsters in space.

3 Nathan Fillion as The Green Lantern

Has Voiced The Green Lantern Since 2011

Nathan Fillion is a fan-favorite Green Lantern. He has voiced the character in Green Lantern Emerald Knights, Justice League Doom, and The Death of Superman, so he has been preparing for this role for over 10 years.

Fillion will be playing Guy Gardener, who is a rude, unlikable Green Lantern with a terrible haircut. James Gunn has confirmed the terrible haircut because, as he worded it on Threads:

Giving my old pal Nate a bowl cut might have been my primary reason for casting him.

2 Will Reeve Appears Onscreen

Christopher Reeve's Son Is In The Movie

Will Reeve, the son of Christopher Reeve, will be appearing in the movie as a journalist. Funnily enough, Will Reeve is a correspondent for ABC News and Good Morning America in real life.

The appearance of Christopher Reeeve's son could give a clue as to the tone of the movie. Clearly, Gunn is taking a lot of inspiration from Superman The Movie (1978), because originally, the 1978 film was just called Superman. Gunn recently dropped the word 'legacy' from the title, which means that the new film is also just called Superman.

1 It Will Kick-Start the DCU

James Gunn Will Need To Start His DCU Off With A Bang

After making the jump from Marvel to DC, James Gunn has a lot to prove. Many movie goers, and DC fans in general, have been vocal about their dislike of many of the DC movies that have been released over the past decade. Gunn has to win people back to DC and give people a reason to invest in the future of the DCU.

Superman (2025) will need to be what Ironman was to the MCU: a starting point that sets the tone for what this universe will be. James Gunn has chosen to start his DCU with a movie based around Superman, because presumably he believes the movie will be strong enough to win people over.