Fans Are a Wondering How the Superman Movie Is Going to Deal With All Those Side Characters: 'There's a Lot Going on Here'

The Man of Steel is making a thrilling return in James Gunn's upcoming film, Superman, set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025. The recently released trailer has fans buzzing with excitement, thanks to David Corenswet's captivating performance and the dynamic presence of Superman's beloved dog, Krypto. However, the trailer has sparked a notable debate among fans about the sheer number of characters and plot points introduced, raising questions about how the film will manage to tell a coherent story.

On the r/Superman subreddit, reactions were mixed but passionate. 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 added, "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 expressed concern over the cameo-heavy approach, stating, "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 diverse array of characters, including Clark Kent's Earth parents, love interest Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and several villains led by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). While some fans worry about the film being too crowded, others are thrilled by the potential these character introductions bring. One enthusiast noted, "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." Another defended the cast size, saying, "It’s side characters, less cameos. Like Iron Man had several side characters." A third user downplayed the concerns, commenting, "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."

Despite worries about the film being overstuffed, the excitement for Superman remains high. One fan expressed curiosity about the runtime, saying, "It looks good but wondering how they’re going to shoehorn so many different characters into one movie." Another reassured, "It's not any more characters than the average comic book movie. It's fine." A witty response even likened it to another Gunn project: "Kinda like Guardians of the Galaxy…?"

James Gunn has emphasized that the film is not an ensemble piece, focusing on the core trio of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor. In an Instagram Live session at the beginning of 2025, Gunn stated, "At the middle of everything is Clark, Lois, and Lex. It’s about these three characters." How he balances this focus with the expansive cast will be crucial to the film's success.

Superman: Behind the Scenes Cast and Character Images

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