Superman is good. Critics say so. Followers say so, and hopefully, the numbers will say so. Lex Luthor is probably the most menacing he has ever been. Lois loves laborious and is prepared to place herself in peril to assist her man. Jimmy Olsen is so charming that Lex’s lady feeds him data (who would have thought?). Nathan Fillion’s Inexperienced Lantern is macho-cool (our pretty-eyed fella may have quite a lot of convincing to do). Mr. Terrific is solely… terrific. And Krypto? Cutest canine ever.
Superman
- Launch Date
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July 9, 2025
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Director
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James Gunn
- Producers
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Lars P. Winther, Nik Korda, Peter Safran
If that is how the remainder of DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters goes to be, we’re in for a deal with. General, Superman is a reasonably easy film, with the Man of Metal doing his greatest to show to the world that he’s their protector after Lex turns public opinion in opposition to him. Nonetheless, like each different blockbuster superhero film, there are a number of references and Easter eggs you might be more likely to miss the primary time round.
Listed below are some
10
Luthorcop References ‘Smallville’
It’s at Lex Luthor’s firm the place loopy concepts are born — concepts that are usually fueled (doesn’t matter the implausibility) by impulses extra highly effective than the same old superhero film anomie. The corporate is often known as LexCorp within the comics and each different Superman film. Nonetheless, in James Gunn’s movie, the model title LuthorCorp stands proud boldly. Such wording was first seen within the CW collection Smallville, which starred Michael Rosenbaum as a younger Lex Luthor.
Model Names Matter
The title might sound insignificant, nevertheless it might be a prediction of issues to come back. Hoult’s Lex Luthor will both have a son who grows to problem him, or he’ll be compelled to rebrand resulting from enterprise developments. In Smallville, Luthorcorp is based by Lex’s father, Lionel Luthor, from insurance coverage cash he acquired after his dad and mom died in a tenement fireplace. Lex quickly breaks off from LuthorCorp to type the splinter firm, LexCorp. Later, the enduring Superman villain will get to personal your complete firm.
9
Superman Burrows Underground as a Reference to the 1978 Movie
Lex Luthor invades the Fortress of Solitude to steal the farewell message from Jor-El and Lara to make use of it to tarnish his archenemy’s title. Earlier than that, he releases a kaiju as a diversion to maintain Superman busy. Through the combat, the kaiju steps on the Man of Metal, just for him to burrow underground like a mole and burst out from the sidewalk. The scene is a reference to the 1978 film the place Superman burrows down the road to succeed in Luthor.
Wherever Can Be a Route
A mixture of tremendous energy, invulnerability, tremendous pace, and x-ray imaginative and prescient permits Superman to realize this feat. Away from the Richard Donner film, comedian followers can see Clark doing the identical factor in Motion Comics #11, the place he tunnels beneath the bottom to get into an antagonist’s base. Nonetheless, an vital query arises (a timeless one for that matter) from Superman’s motion within the newest film. Who will get to pay for repairs when he damages metropolis property like this? The short-lived, obscure DC sitcom, Powerless, tried to deal with this drawback.
8
The Most Trusted Journalist in America
Throughout Clark’s tense 12-minute interview scene with Lois Lane, he refers to her as Cronkite at one level. He’s likening her to Walter Cronkite, a broadcast journalist who served because the anchorman for the CBS Night Information from 1962 to 1981. Cronkite was labeled “probably the most trusted man in America” and acquired quite a few honors, together with an Emmy Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Acknowledging Lois Lane’s Brilliance
All through the film, Superman combines the malleability of a cartoon determine — which is anticipated in a James Gunn movie — with the strong-arm will of a drama protagonist. The interview permits him to showcase the latter facet. He’s initially unwilling to do the interview however sees advantage within the concept… and boy does he ‘prepare dinner.’ The Cronkite reference is perhaps straightforward to disregard, nevertheless it’s one other vital badge in Lois Lane’s unbelievable journalism profession, confirming that she is DC’s most trusted reporter. She is the one one with a Pulitzer in spite of everything.
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7
Basic DC Drinks and Quick Meals Locations
Varied DC-exclusive drinks and quick meals joints seem in Superman. There’s a can of Zesti Cola in Luthor’s command middle and a billboard of the gentle drink model on the facet of a constructing through the kaiju combat. Huge Stomach Burger and Chocos billboards can be noticed throughout the identical sequences. Moreover, there’s a Jitters espresso store.
The Wheels of Capitalism Hold Rolling
It might need some real-world references, however DC tends to be extra faraway from actuality than Marvel, therefore the pretend manufacturers. Zesti Cola was launched in Detective Comics #645 and is the competitor to Soder Cola. It’s Tim Drake and Dick Grayson’s favourite drink. Chocos, alternatively, first appeared in Justice League Worldwide #8 and is Martian Manhunter’s favourite snack. And when you rewatch The Flash tv collection, you’ll spot Jitters a number of occasions. Huge Stomach is owned by LexCorp on the DC pages.
6
Galaxy Broadcasting System
Many Hollywood productions have used real-world information networks like CNN and the BBC for scenes concerning the broadcasting of main developments, however DC films and reveals have the Galaxy Broadcasting System (GBS). Christopher Reeve’s son, Will Reeve, makes a cameo as a GBS reporter, narrating the occasions concerning the Kaiju in Metropolis, and the arrival of the Justice Gang. CNN anchor Jake Tapper seems, too, as a GBS anchor named “Jake Tapir” who was beforehand featured in Creature Commandos.
Information Is Every part
Having Christopher Reeve’s son play a reporter, in keeping with his real-world occupation, is a superb nod to the person thought-about the best Superman actor of all time. Superman has at all times been an emblem of journalism, and it’s terrific that Reeve’s son selected to pursue this particular profession. The historical past of GBS dates again to the Bronze Age difficulty, Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #133, the place the community was revealed because the Each day Planet’s mother or father firm through the Bronze Age. Clark Kent served as a TV reporter for GBS from 1970-1986.
5
The Geography of Metropolis
In a single scene, Lex palms the Boravian president a donut from Park Ridge. It is a neighborhood in Metropolis. Lois says she’s from Bakerline, a well-liked borough within the metropolis, established within the comics. And in line with Miss Lane’s license plate, this model of Metropolis is within the state of Delaware, a reality initially instructed in Amazing World of DC Comics #14 and repeated in Atlas of the DC Universe.
Metropolis of Chaos
There are some things to notice from the geographical data supplied in Superman. On DC’s colourful pages, Bakerline was the house of Jimmy Olsen, not Lois. It’s additionally clear that the quite a few artistic minds in DC usually fail to agree on which state Metropolis must be. For instance, Metropolis is positioned in Kansas within the TV present, Smallville, the identical state as Clark Kent’s hometown, Smallville. Different comics have positioned it within the State of New York.
4
Belle Reve Correctional Facility
On the finish of the film, Luthor and some of his buddies are all cuffed, and people trapped in his pocket universe are freed. We study that the villain will serve time at Belle Reve, the identical correctional facility run by Amanda Waller and A.R.G.U.S. Can April depend on new pals on the facility to assist her set issues proper?
Jail Break Incoming?
First seen in Suicide Squad #1 within the ‘80s, the jail has appeared in two of James Gunn’s different DC productions, specifically The Suicide Squad and Creature Commandos. Given Luthor’s present residence, he’s more likely to seem within the upcoming Waller TV collection, along with a number of different cool inmates, and there’s little doubt he’ll nonetheless stand out. Hoult enjoys enjoying the über-smooth tycoon and has no problem stealing by scheming and getting individuals tortured.
3
Batman Lore
The evacuation sequence is extremely entertaining, with a jarring emphasis on bounce cuts, alternating narrative, and quite a few dizzying crane photographs. As all the things is going on, an interstate signal referencing Gotham Metropolis seems. Elsewhere, an image of Catwoman’s enemy, Mister Good-looking, seems on Lex Luthor’s desk throughout his confrontation with Superman. Later, the character is seen residing within the Pocket Universe, the place he helps transport prisoners by way of a tony cargo ship.
Hardly Good-looking
Gunn’s model of Mister Good-looking could be very totally different from the one comedian followers are used to. How the character ended up serving Luthor is a thriller since he’s usually a crimelord in Gotham. He instructions the Mannequin Military, a big group of lackeys who use “good-looking males” masks. However because the interstate signal reveals, Gotham isn’t too far-off. Mister Good-looking would possibly now be on his manner there to arrange his felony empire after being launched from the Pocket Universe. Except he was imprisoned with Luthor, too (the film doesn’t make it clear). And we now know that Batman would possibly present up anytime.
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2
Lois Lane’s Purple Prime
Lois is seen sporting a purple high all through Superman’s final act. The style alternative is a visible reference to the well-known model of the character from Superman: The Animated Sequence. Within the present, Lois not often wears every other shade.
Purple is the Warmest Shade
James Gunn clearly loves animation. Proof of that lies in his listing of favourite superhero films, which incorporates Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He should have both watched Superman: The Animated Sequence when it first aired or researched closely on it when making his Man of Metal film, therefore the Lois apparel reference.
1
Markovia
Lex Luthor’s girlfriend in Superman is Eve Teschmacher, however over time, the partnership finally ends up having profound repercussions, each skilled and private. When she begins to expertise the crushing oppression of courting such a psycho, she activates him. Initially, Eve looks like the everyday trophy girlfriend who does nothing however take selfies all day, however all her photos include incriminating details about Luthor within the background.
Extra Metahumans on the Approach?
If you pay shut consideration to the map in one in every of her selfies, you see Markovia. Within the comics, Markovia is the house nation of the metahuman siblings Geo-Drive and Terra. The nation doesn’t have any plot significance in Superman, however Geo-Drive makes an look within the Arrowverse collection, Black Lightning, the place he’s a highschool pupil. Given James Gunn’s love for minor characters, an up to date model of Geo-Drive is more likely to present up in future installments of the DCU.