Superman Movie: Handling Side Characters and Complex Plot

The Man of Steel is making a grand return in James Gunn's upcoming film, *Superman*, with a trailer that has set the internet abuzz ahead of its July premiere. Leading man David Corenswet's portrayal of Superman, alongside the thrilling antics of his loyal dog Krypto, promises a film packed with excitement. However, what's catching fans' attention most is the sheer volume of plot elements and characters showcased in the trailer, sparking curiosity about how the film will weave a coherent narrative amidst the bustling backdrop.

On the r/Superman subreddit, fans have been quick to voice their reactions. 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 enthusiasm but 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 shared their excitement for a lighter, more comic-true superhero movie but raised concerns about the numerous cameos: "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."

Indeed, the trailer teases a plethora of characters, including Clark Kent's Earth parents, love interest Lois Lane (played by Rachel Brosnahan), and a roster of villains led by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). Despite concerns about the film being potentially overstuffed, many fans are thrilled at the prospect of these character introductions:

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

One fan countered the concerns, stating, "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 reassured, "It's side characters, less cameos. Like Iron Man had several side characters." A third perspective added, "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 the notion of the film being a bit overstuffed lingers, fans remain eager to see how it all unfolds. One user noted, "It looks good but wondering how they’re going to shoehorn so many different characters into one movie," while another reassured, "It's not any more characters than the average comic book movie. It's fine." A witty response even drew parallels to another Gunn project, "Kinda like Guardians of the Galaxy…?"

James Gunn himself has emphasized that the core of the film revolves around three key characters: Clark, Lois, and Lex. During 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 maintain this focus amidst the crowded cast remains a point of intrigue.

*Superman* is set to soar into theaters on July 11, 2025, promising fans an epic return to the iconic superhero's adventures.