Like just about everyone else, I was THRILLED beyond belief to hear that there was going to be new Superman movie footage attached to the Minecraft movie. Truth be told, I bought a movie ticket for Minecraft- in the middle of my work day- to go with my wife and kids just to see the new footage and then leave. I’m obsessed, I know.

Oy.

I am glad that DC put the new footage out there, but after I saw it I got very, very nervous. It seems all my fears for the film were coming true- goofy tone, Silver Age silliness, unnecessary political messaging… man, I was feeling pretty down.

Why ruin a seemingly emotional, high stakes moment of a beaten up Superman in the snow with Krypto (who I am not a fan of to begin with) jumping all over him? Why play the Fortress robots over the top? Why is it that it looks like the makeup department used ten boxes of dye on David Corenswet’s hair?

And that suit… man, it’s not the greatest.

I get that All-Star Superman is very clearly an inspiration here, even down to the slightly baggy suit, and hey, at least we got to hear Nicholas Hoult speak some lines, but more and more I was feeling like this movie is just not going to be my cup of tea.

Gunn has been assuring fans left and right that this will not be Superman in Guardians of the Galaxy, but in some of these scenes, you could have fooled me. Maybe the silliness was intentionally aimed at the kids seeing Minecraft? Still…

And then I see this interview with Gunn and the cast from Cinemacon.

Wow.

I have long said that my main reason for optimism for this movie so far is the casting. Here, not only do we see them LOOK the part, but my goodness, everything they are saying, every question they answer, everything they are passionate about seems absolutely 100% spot on.

Whether they are talking about Superman, Lex, Lois, the DC Universe, films in general, you name it, everyone in this interview demonstrates that there is a strong understanding of what the property is. To say that my hope was rekindled would be an accurate statement.

And boy was it needed after that preview footage!

Unlike other creators who have handled Superman- in film or otherwise- these folks sound like they get it. We don’t need to be convinced of Superman’s “relevance,” or create a new canon, or slavishly repeat 1-2 stories without looking broadly at the mythos.

The character and his world are fine and work the way they are. Just make that please, James.

I will be seeing this opening night for sure, and really, really hope I feel like an idiot afterward for worrying about this so much. I want to feel like a million bucks leaving the theater, ready to debate the film’s place in all time superhero movie rankings!

It’s just that Superman doesn’t get a solo movie very often, and the superhero genre right now is falling out of favor (I don’t believe in “superhero fatigue” though, just bad movie fatigue). If the film works, we will get more DC and superhero movies, and I for one would love that. I just hope this movie lands, that’s all. Time will tell, as always.

Here’s hoping.