SUPERMAN Extended Preview Draws Mixed Response From Fans - Are The Criticisms Valid?

SUPERMAN Extended Preview Draws Mixed Response From Fans - Are The Criticisms Valid?

An extended clip from James Gunn's Superman was released during CinemaCon this week, and the response from fans was decidedly mixed. Are the criticisms being levelled at the teaser valid?

Feature Opinion
By MarkCassidy - Apr 05, 2025 11:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

The extended preview of James Gunn's Superman that is currently playing in theaters ahead of IMAX screenings of A Minecraft Movie was officially released online during CinemaCon on Thursday, and the response was noticeably mixed.

The teaser begins with a 5-minute clip, showing a badly injured Man of Steel (David Corenswet) crashing into the snow near his Fortress of Solitude. Supes whistles for Krypto, and after causing the hero to call out in pain by overenthusiastically jumping all over him, the super-pooch drags him back to the Fortress.

Once inside, some robots begin to heal Superman by exposing him to the sun's rays, once again eliciting screams of agony.

Gunn's take on the material was always going to come in for criticism from those that prefer Zack Snyder's darker interpretation of the character, but this footage has also received backlash from comic book fans who feel that Superman shouldn't show such vulnerability (despite the fact that the Man of Steel has been left bruised and broken numerous times in the comics). In addition, it seems a lot of people simply can't get on board with the dog!

Here are some examples of the negative responses on social media (via THR):

— “The real Superman doesn’t need a bunch of robots to carry him over to a table to heal…and doesn’t whine like a little b*tch when the sun hits him.”

— “Snyder’s Superman literally took a nuke at point blank range and healed from the sun without feeling any pain from its radiation, which is accurate in the Comics. Gunn’s mediocre interpretation is screaming in agony.”

— “James Gunn gets it, they said. He won’t make it a stupid comedy, they said. They said he understood the assignment. That was the worst Superman clip I have ever seen. It’s an utter joke and it’s all about Krypto.”

And the positive:

— “How in the name of hell can anyone not like this preview? I’m convinced some people just like to rage hate. This looks so ‘Superman’ it’s insane.”

— “By far, far and away, the best part of this trailer is that there is ZERO cynicism, zero moral grayness, zero self loathing, zero sense that Superman is a ‘vigilante.’ It’s a romantic, idealistic, innocent vision which is pure awesome.”

— “Love the design of Fortress of Solitude and the giant double doors with the House of El symbol that lights up. We have Krypto, Kelex and the other service robots. This is very silver age and all star superman and I f*ckin’ love it!”

— “The dog being a rambunctious little sh*t jumping all over you at the worst possible time is incredibly relatable. Also, good lord, everything about the Fortress looks great. This movie is Superman as f*ck.”

How do you feel about this latest look at Gunn's Superman? Have another look at the clip below, and let us know in the comments section.

Superman also stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabel Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.

Sara Sampaio is on board as Lex's assistant/lover Eve Teschmacher, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell will play "Ma" and "Pa" Kent, and Milly Alcock's Supergirl has been confirmed to make her debut ahead of her own Woman of Tomorrow movie.

"And that’s a wrap," Gunn posted earlier this year when filming concluded. "God bless our cast and crew whose commitment, creativity, and hard work have brought this project to life. I set out to make a movie about a good man in a world that isn’t always so much. And the goodness and kindness and love I’ve encountered on a daily basis on the set has inspired me and thrust me forward when I felt too spent to move on my own.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It has been an honor. The destination has been Superman, but the journey has been the toil and the laughter and the emotions and ideas and magic we’ve shared together on set - and for that I am forever grateful."

You can check out an updated synopsis for the movie below.

"In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind."

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comicfan100
comicfan100 - 4/5/2025, 11:38 AM
You would be screaming too if your bones were rapidly resetting themselves. This movie isn't even out yet and it's already being picked apart with tweezers.
supermanrex
supermanrex - 4/5/2025, 12:00 PM
@comicfan100 - these haters and toxic goons are always gonna find something. really the only way to offset them is to truck on and enjoy the stuff we get and go and have fun at the theaters. krypto alone has been in demand in true fan circles. superman has always been beaten up and battered. they give us a vulnerable relatable man of steel and people bitch. the only conclusion is [frick] them and go have fun. the general audience will buy in and krypto will steal the show for them. between this and FF July is gonna be [frick]ing AWESOME!!!
comicfan100
comicfan100 - 4/5/2025, 12:32 PM
@supermanrex - Right? The Superman in Bruce Timm's universe was notorious for always getting his cheeks clapped which is why him letting loose on Darkseid in the Justice League Unlimited finale was such a big deal. But it's still considered one of the best Superman adaptations. It's honestly just the Snyder Cult.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 4/5/2025, 12:37 PM
@comicfan100 - the Marvel shills are trying so hard lol. A dog acting like a [frick]ing dog is somehow ridiculous. He isn't a talking Raccoon
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 4/5/2025, 12:55 PM
@bobevanz - Could be wrong but sounds like the negative folk responding are Snyder fans, not Marvel ones esp as mostly Marvel leaning tend not to want OP untouchables in their supes thus taking a hammering tends to be better recieved (in my experience over the last 50yrs) than it tends to with those mostly leaning DC.

Kinda why the trope tended to be along the lines of Marvel has humans aspiring to be gods whilst DC has gods learning to be more human.

I started out as a DC fan, never stopped liking DC, just by the time I hit high school I increasingly leaned more towards Marvel (before evolving towards darker comics like 2000AD in my late teens).
CaptainFlapjaks
CaptainFlapjaks - 4/5/2025, 1:10 PM
@comicfan100 - exactly. Superman is like a turtle. Hard shell to penetrate, but his insides are gooey like ours. If his insides are messed up thats gonna hurt to rebuild his organs and bones. Especially when you take into account its the heat from the sun doing it. Remember how lois was in pain when superman had to use his heat vision to cauterize her wound in mos? That's what is happening on his insides.
lord22
lord22 - 4/5/2025, 1:17 PM
@Apophis71 - it's both actualy
Scarilian
Scarilian - 4/5/2025, 1:24 PM
@comicfan100 -
If he's in pain enough to scream insanely while his bones heal... then why is Krypto breaking his bones played for laughs with him barely reacting?

Again, they can pick one or the other. Is he in pain and seriously injured in need of a painful treatment OR is he just a rag-doll for comedy up until he gets treated and then he acts like he's in pain.

The inconsistent tone/script is the problem.

Also, according to reports, this is the opening scene of the movie. This is your first interaction with Superman. You first interaction with Krypto.
comicfan100
comicfan100 - 4/5/2025, 1:27 PM
@bobevanz - Nah, MCU fans are passionate, but they've never been about tearing down the competition unless it was warranted like The Flash or Black Adam. These are Snyder Bros. They legit hate Gunn with a passion.
comicfan100
comicfan100 - 4/5/2025, 1:29 PM
@Scarilian - I don't know if we watched the same clip, but Superman was grunting and yelling like he was in real pain. A super powered dog playing with you after you've gotten a beatdown will do that to you.
TheBlueMorpho
TheBlueMorpho - 4/5/2025, 11:42 AM


I liked it.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 4/5/2025, 12:48 PM
@TheBlueMorpho - Me too. I want to see the rest.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 4/5/2025, 11:42 AM
[frick] off

For [frick]s Sske
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 4/5/2025, 11:47 AM
@THEKENDOMAN - Fans will find anything to complain about. This movie is very likely going to be a hit with the general audience, which is honestly all that matters.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 4/5/2025, 4:46 PM
@TheJok3r - Nuff said👍🏾
Arthorious
Arthorious - 4/5/2025, 11:43 AM
At first I was kind of like “hmmm not sure” but then when I watched it a second time it instantly grew on me. I’m excited to check it out. July is gonna be a fun month for movies
dandare
dandare - 4/5/2025, 11:48 AM
@Arthorious - That does sound like "instantly" if the first time was "hmmm not sure"
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 4/5/2025, 11:16 PM
@dandare - He said instantly on the second watch. Not that it was instantly good. Way to be uselessly pedantic
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