Stanisland Magazine

The latest DC Cinematic Universe promo clip offers insights into what we can expect: here’s what we know so far.

We didn’t get a teaser trailer. Instead, we got a full-length taster of what to expect. So far, fans appear divided over what’s to come, so perhaps we can feel a little more excited if we break down everything featured in James Gunn’s new Superman movie promo.

The on-screen romanticism with the Man of Steel has long been a fascination of comic book fans, let alone DC readers. The question of whether a film will be good always comes down to story, faithfulness to the source material, and casting.

So far, followers of Clark Kent’s story are generally united over Chritsopher Reeve’s interpretation of the Kryptonian, but there is much to build upon if we’re to see a great adaptation.

Main Heroes in the New Superman Film

We have a pretty good picture of the protagonists set to feature, having counted several names, including Guy Gardner, aka Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), Supergirl (Milly Alcock) and, of course, Superman. But other names may elude casual viewers of the franchise. They include:

Rex Mason/Metamorpho

Played by Anthony Carrigan, Metamorpho is able to manipulate the elements to survive in harsh environments. In the comic book, he is known to recreate kryptonite simply by touching it. His origin story is classic: involved in an industrial accident, this event gave him powers but also left him disfigured, which led him to a life of reclusivity.

Hawkgirl

There are two versions of Hawkgirl. The first is a rebirth of an Egyptian princess known as Chay-Ara, who, along with her lover Khufu (aka Hawkman), was cursed to be born again and again through time.

Her wings are powered by Nth metal, a powerful element in the DC Universe with the ability to strengthen and heal. Her talents include a specialism with melee weapons, such as her iconic mace, which can reflect and disrupt magic.

Another iteration of the character leans on her origins being from the planet Thanagar, where her name is Shayera Hol, a warrior raised in a militant society. In the upcoming movie, she is played by Isabela Merced.

Michael Holt/Mister Terrific

Mister Terrific better live up to his name. His secret identity is Michael Holt, an inventor and polymath known for his genius insight and introspection. His name was adopted from the original superhero Terry Sloane, who was known as the “Man of a Thousand Talents.”

Holt’s abilities include a learned application of every academic field and a use of advanced technology, including flight-equipped orbs known as T-Spheres that can attack, hack, and project images (including holograms), as well as a talent for martial arts.

Who Will Be the Villain?

This is where it comes down to speculation. There is a reason James Gunn chose not to reveal too much, and that is because we are now left with an air of mystery.

Perhaps choosing to withhold this information helps to instil a real-life sense of anxiety for what to expect. Not in a literal sense, but if you walk into a movie theatre knowing the schedule of events, your imagination will not get carried away.

Brainiac Is a Candidate

One can surmise Braniac might just be the main antagonist. He is obsessed with increasing his knowledge. To do this, he uses advanced technology to capture cities from across the universe, shrinking them for preservation.

This aligns well with the theory, as it could be the unidentified creatures we see are enlarged or escape beings from his collection. In the trailer: kaiju-style giants, including a multicoloured tentacle-laden creature and a huge lizard-like being.

Real name Vril Dox, he is an alien of the species Coluan. In the comic books, one story sees Brainiac team up with Lex Luthor, making him an arch nemesis of Superman.

As a universal threat, his presence in the film could raise the stakes compared to the film’s predecessors. Dox will see the entire cast as an inconvenience, rather than an obstacle.

Alan Tudyk’s role hasn’t yet been revealed, and it could be he is set to play the world-collecting foe. Given his character in Resident Alien as an extraterrestrial, he is practically ready-made to play the space villain.