Superman was released on July 11, 2025. July 11th was chosen as it was also the birthday of James Gunn's father, whose death was a large influence on the script. The movie, the first theatrical picture of the relaunched DCU taken over by James Gunn, was under fire even before the film was released. One group attacking it was the Snyderverse fans that attacked anything not a part of the Snyderverse and hoped to some how restore the killed franchise. The other group was right wing influencers who attacked the film as being Woke. Iconic Superman actor Christopher Reeve's youngest son made a cameo as a reporter. Smallville's Lex Luther actor Michael Rosenbaum played one of the Raptors in the film. The movie marked the first theatric live action appearances of Mr Terrific , Hawkgirl, Krypto, Cat Grant, Metamorpho, Guy Gardner, Ultraman, Kryptonian Robots, and the Engineer. The character Otis Berg was named after Lex Luther's henchman's proposed location in Superman (1978). The film featured David Corenswet (Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Wendell Pierce (Perry White), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Mikaela Hoover (Cat Grant), Beck Bennett (Steve Lombard), Michael Ian Black (Clovis Thornwaite), Pruitt Taylor Vince (Pa Kent), Neva Howell (Ma Kent), Michael Rooker (Robot 1), Alan Tudyk (Gary), Bradley Cooper (Jor-El), Angela Sarafyan (Lara), Nicholas Hault (Lex Luthor), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), Maria Gabriela de Faria (the Engineer), Frank Grillo (Rick Flag Sr), Edi Gathegi (Mr Terrific), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardener), and Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl). It was the first Superman film since Superman Returns (2006) to utilize John William's Superman theme (1978). (Superman, DCU Event)