Superman Movie: Handling Side Characters Amid High Expectations

The Man of Steel is gearing up for a spectacular return with the latest trailer for James Gunn's upcoming film, *Superman*, set to hit theaters in July. The trailer is brimming with excitement, showcasing lead actor David Corenswet's compelling performance and the dynamic action sequences featuring Superman's loyal dog, Krypto. However, the buzz surrounding the trailer isn't just about the action—it's also about the film's ambitious scope and the numerous characters it introduces.

On the r/Superman subreddit, fans have been sharing their thoughts following the trailer's release. One user commented, "Strong start to the trailer, but then practically every shot was another new character and I started worrying how the movie was going to tell a coherent story." Another fan expressed a similar concern, saying, "I'm gonna love it, he looks great as Superman, he looks great as Clark Kent, but the movie looks like it might be a bit busy, there's a lot going on here."

A third fan noted, "Now this, I love this trailer. From someone who never really liked the dark DC vibe I’m excited to experience a true comic superhero movie. But am I the only one who is worried for all the cameos that are in the trailer? Like I swear I was counting like 8 friends and foes in this movie. I know they want to set up James Gunn’s DCU with this but I would prefer it to be less heavy on cameo fodder and take more time to develop the characters that are needed to tell the story that they’re trying to tell."

The trailer indeed showcases a wide array of characters, from Clark Kent's Earth parents to his love interest, Lois Lane (played by Rachel Brosnahan), and a variety of villains, including the central antagonist Lex Luthor (portrayed by Nicholas Hoult). While some fans are worried about the film being potentially overstuffed, many others are thrilled about the diverse character introductions.

Here's a list of all the characters revealed so far in *Superman*:

• Superman
• Lois Lane
• Lex Luthor
• Mister Terrific
• Guy Gardner
• Hawkgirl
• Metamorpho
• The Engineer
• The Hammer of Boravia
• Ultraman
• Rick Flag Sr.
• Supergirl
• Maxwell Lord
• Kryptonian robots, including Kelex
• Krypto
• Jonathan Kent
• Martha Kent
• Perry White
• Jimmy Olsen
• Steve Lombard
• Cat Grant
• Ron Troupe
• Eve Teschmacher
• Otis

Despite concerns about the film's packed cast, some fans are optimistic. One user commented, "I'm glad there's a lot going on. We've seen him fight Lex & Zod countless times at this point, I want to see him completely overwhelmed and emerge as a symbol of hope," while another added, "It’s side characters, less cameos. Like Iron Man had several side characters."

Another fan downplayed the concern, saying, "I don't feel like it's such a big deal honestly. Movies usually need secondary/side characters. Gunn here is just filling in those spots with rather big names, but I doubt he'll give them more than what they need."

Superman: Behind the Scenes Cast and Character Images

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While some fans are wondering how they’re going to shoehorn so many different characters into one movie, others believe it's manageable, with one saying, "It's not any more characters than the average comic book movie. It's fine." Another even drew a comparison, quipping, "Kinda like Guardians of the Galaxy…?"

James Gunn has addressed these concerns, emphasizing that the film is not an ensemble piece. In an Instagram Live session at the beginning of 2025, he stated, "At the middle of everything is Clark, Lois, and Lex. It’s about these three characters." How he plans to balance the focus on these key characters with the expansive cast remains to be seen.

*Superman* is set to soar into theaters on July 11, 2025, and fans are eagerly awaiting to see how this ambitious project unfolds.