Fans Are a Wondering How the Superman Movie Is Going to Deal With All Those Side Characters: 'There's a Lot Going on Here'

The Man of Steel is back, and the excitement is palpable. The latest trailer for James Gunn’s upcoming film, Superman, set to launch in July, has fans buzzing with anticipation. Leading man David Corenswet's portrayal of Superman and the dynamic action sequences featuring his beloved dog Krypto are just some of the highlights. However, the sheer volume of characters and plot elements introduced in the trailer has sparked a mix of excitement and concern among fans about how the film will manage its narrative.

On Reddit's r/Superman, fans have been vocal about 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 a similar sentiment, stating, "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."

Concerns about the film being overloaded with cameos were also prevalent. A fan remarked, "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 showcases a plethora of characters, including Clark Kent's Earth parents, love interest Lois Lane (played by Rachel Brosnahan), and various villains, with Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) as the central antagonist. While some fans worry about the film being overstuffed, others are thrilled at the prospect of these new character introductions.

Here’s a list of 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

Some fans embrace the busy narrative. One user stated, "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," while another defended the inclusion of secondary characters, saying, "It’s side characters, less cameos. Like Iron Man had several side characters." A third fan 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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Despite concerns about the film being overcrowded, fans remain enthusiastic. One user shared, "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 third even drew a comparison to another Gunn project, quipping, "Kinda like Guardians of the Galaxy…?"

James Gunn has addressed these concerns, emphasizing that the film is not an ensemble piece. During an Instagram Live session at the beginning of 2025, he clarified, "At the middle of everything is Clark, Lois, and Lex. It’s about these three characters." How he manages to balance this focus with the extensive cast remains to be seen.

Superman will soar into theaters on July 11, 2025.