Superman Film's Many Characters Spark Fan Questions

The Man of Steel makes a powerful return—almost. The newest trailer for James Gunn's upcoming film, Superman, has premiered ahead of its July release, delivering an action-packed glimpse. Between David Corenswet's compelling take on the hero and the impressive combat skills of Superman's loyal dog Krypto, there's plenty to excite fans. Yet, the biggest talking point appears to be the sheer number of characters and plot threads introduced—and how the film aims to weave them all together smoothly.

“The trailer begins on a high note,” one Reddit user commented in an r/Superman post shortly after its debut. “But then practically every shot introduced a new face, and I became concerned about the film maintaining a clear, cohesive storyline.” Another added: “I’m definitely going to enjoy it—he truly embodies both Superman and Clark Kent. However, the pacing seems incredibly fast, with so many elements competing for attention.”

“I adore this trailer. As someone who never resonated with DC's dark tone, I'm thrilled to finally experience a classic comic-book superhero film. Still, does anyone else feel uneasy about the number of cameos featured in the preview?” one fan remarked in the comments. “It felt like I counted nearly eight allies and enemies. While I understand James Gunn wants to establish his new DC Universe here, I hope the film focuses more on developing key characters rather than packing in too many supporting roles.”

To be fair, the trailer does feature an extensive cast—Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, his love interest Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and multiple powerful villains, including the central antagonist Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). While some viewers are concerned about potential overcrowding, many others are excited by the prospect of so many characters coming together.

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

“I’m actually glad it’s packed with content. We’ve seen Superman battle Lex Luthor and General Zod countless times. It’s refreshing to see him truly tested before emerging as a symbol of hope,” one supporter noted, while another echoed: “These aren’t just cameos—they’re essential supporting roles. Think of the multiple characters in the first Iron Man.”

A third fan pointed out that such a lineup isn’t unusual. “Honestly, I don’t see the issue. Almost every film needs a strong supporting cast,” they wrote. “James Gunn is simply filling those roles with well-known actors, but I’m sure he won’t give them more screen time than necessary.”

Superman: Behind the Scenes Cast and Character Images

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Even so, the idea of an overstuffed story—and the inevitable curiosity about its runtime—hasn’t dampened the excitement for many. “The visuals look impressive, but I'm curious how they'll manage to fit in so many distinct characters within a single film,” one user wrote. Another replied, “It’s really no more crowded than your average superhero movie. I think it’ll work out fine.” A third fan even joked: “Reminds me a bit of Guardians of the Galaxy…?” Honestly? Fair point.

Ultimately, James Gunn has repeatedly emphasized that this is not an ensemble film. “At its heart, the story revolves around Clark, Lois, and Lex,” he explained during an Instagram Live session earlier this year. “These three characters anchor the entire movie.” We’ll have to wait and see how he brings that vision to life.

Superman soars into theaters on July 11, 2025.