This has inevitably led to comparisons with previous Superman movies, a trend that is likely to continue as we approach the film's premiere in 2025. One point of reference that has frequently emerged in these discussions is the television series Smallville, and a YouTube user known as Bauan Edits has cleverly recut the new Superman trailer with a Smallville-inspired opening. Check out the video below – we think it's a perfect match, but we'd love to hear your opinion.
The reimagined trailer begins with the instantly recognizable "Somebody Save Me" theme from Smallville, accompanying the first appearance of David Corenswet as Superman. We then see Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, followed by Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, before a montage of scenes from the film.
Later in the trailer, the focus shifts to Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, with a fleeting glimpse of Metamorpho, culminating in the same climactic moment between Superman and Lois that concludes the original trailer. You can watch the full edited trailer below:
Superman (2025) | Smallville Opening Style
Smallville offered a unique interpretation of the Superman mythos. Although the series featured numerous other superheroes, it wasn't until the finale that viewers finally saw Superman in his full costume, and even then, it was a brief appearance. This new Superman film takes a completely different approach to the costume. Not only is Kal-El already established as Superman and well into his superhero career, but he also sports a costume that pays homage to the classic comic book designs, including the instantly recognizable red trunks.
In a past interview with ComicBook, Superman director James Gunn shed light on the decision to include the trunks, revealing that he was initially opposed to the idea.
"Ultimately, the debate wasn't that heated," Gunn admitted. "It was intense for a period. I was firmly on the 'no trunks' side for a long time. Zack Snyder [director of Man of Steel] mentioned that he had experimented with countless variations of trunks during his film's production, just as we did. I kept returning to the 'no trunks' option, but eventually, I thought, 'Let's just explore it thoroughly. Let's keep trying different trunks and see what happens.' Then David Corenswet made a comment that truly resonated with me."
"We were trying on various versions of the costume and conducting screen tests with and without trunks," Gunn explained. "One thing David said was that Superman wants children to feel comfortable around him. He's an alien with extraordinary powers. He can shoot beams from his eyes and effortlessly overturn a truck. He's an incredibly powerful being who could easily be perceived as frightening, and he wants people to like him. He wants to be a symbol of hope and positivity."
